A visual explanation for visual folks on why you can’t not afford these workshops
Get a Grip: Hands-on Clinic
Who is this clinic for?
Anyone who wants to get into photo assisting, especially those who have limited or no set experience or access to industry standard gear. I created this workshop in response to a demand from my Start Smart workshop attendees, which covers the business aspect and mind set of assisting. They wanted access to a commercial studio space where they could learn about and practice with grip before being on a job.
Participants at the Spring 2023 workshop hosted by Little Giant Lighting & Grip Co. Credit: Valeria de Barros.
“The ‘Get a Grip’ workshop provided me with an insider’s view of the dynamics of photo assisting, as well as practical lessons in handling equipment on a shoot. I learned the right way to handle a C-stand and light modifiers - the advice was highly practical and will (hopefully) save me from embarrassment during a future assisting job.
Jung is highly organized and offers explanations with clarity. I can see that she wants success for all her students. I can’t recommend this class enough!.”
What does it include? How is it structured?
The goal of the workshop is to provide experience with grip and gear that a photo assistant may encounter. The clinic will provide:
New! Expanded from 4 to 5 hours to allow for more time for hands-on practice
Hands-on practice to gain familiarity and basic proficiency with using grip and gear including c-stands, light stands, backdrops, reflectors, flags, scrims, v-flats, and other equipment that may be used on set
Opportunity for participants to work in pairs, rotating with each other to network and learn together
Time for Q&A
Interested in preparing for the business aspects of assisting? Sign up for both this and my Smart Start workshop.
“The hands on experience is essential for any beginner photo assistant. Jung has put together a fun and informative workshop of must know information that I’m sure to use at every job I’ll be on.”
Survey says: feedback from workshop attendees
What percentage of the information was new to you?
I can use what I learned in Get a Grip:
Post-workshop feedback from attendees, participation =75% - Updated Aug 2023
Participants getting hands on overview of Profoto power packs at the Spring 2023 workshop hosted by Little Giant Lighting & Grip Co. Credit: Valeria de Barros.
Workshop Match Scholarship Fund
I remember when I was starting out that I would not have been able to afford a workshop like this but that participating in a series like this would have been exactly what I wanted and needed to get a head start with my assisting game (which is why I developed these!) In order to make attending both workshops accessible, I’ve partnered with the local businesses listed in the sponsor section below to create a match scholarship fund. Here are the details:
There are a limited number of match scholarships available.
Applicants must register and pay for one workshop to hold their seat in that workshop in order to receive a scholarship application.
Applicants must submit a separate scholarship application.
Deadline to apply is Friday September 29th at noon. All applicants will be notified of their scholarship application decision by end of day Friday October 6th.
Scholarship recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated level of need and the subjective merit of their responses.
If you are selected for a match scholarship, you will be enrolled in the second workshop. Your $250 for the workshop you registered for is matched by our sponsors for the second workshop.
If you cannot make the second workshop, the match scholarship will be awarded to someone else. The scholarship is not redeemable for cash value.
The Match Scholarship Fund was created for the benefit of participants who would not otherwise be able to attend both workshops. If you can afford to pay for the workshops, please leave the scholarship for those who need them the most.
Tell me more!
Currently, this workshop is offered twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
This is an in-person event. Masks are optional. Safety measures may be enforced per the changing public health situation.
A limited number of match scholarships, provided by our community sponsors below, are available to help participants with financial need attend both workshops. A separate application is required and shared for those who indicate hardship in registration.
No refunds unless someone can replace you from the waitlist.
“I appreciated Jung’s emphasis on work safety and her well-organized hands-on clinic. Practicing with several types and brands of gear was so helpful, both for my own photo business and my assisting other photographers.”
Generously hosted by
Thank you to our community sponsors!
About the Instructor
Jung Fitzpatrick is an SF-based photographer who loves working with small businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives, and change makers. In a former life, Jung was a nonprofit strategic planning consultant. When she took the leap to pursue her dream of becoming a photographer, she attended City College of San Francisco for their great technical training in photo and video production.
Jung is also, at her core, an educator and loves empowering others to achieve their goals. She created this workshop because she wished she had known more about photo assisting when she started working in the industry. As the course creator and instructor, Jung shares 8 years of experience working on and around sets with photographers across roles as a studio manager, photo/production/styling assistant, Covid Compliance Officer, and sometimes model.
Participants at the Spring 2023 workshop hosted by Little Giant Lighting & Grip Co. Credit: Valeria de Barros.