How I Went From Photographing School Plays to Assisting in Entertainment

Throughout school, I had too many creative loves.
I acted in theatre productions. I photographed my friends at graduation. I pursued a college degree in photography. And because my energy was split in so many directions, none of those passions got my full attention. My photography especially suffered for it.

By the end of my junior year, with graduation suddenly feeling very close, the reality of it all hit me. My portfolio wasn’t where it needed to be. I didn’t have nearly enough professional work to confidently pitch to clients. I hadn’t built strong relationships. I didn’t have the connections everyone tells you are essential. And on top of that, I was preparing to pitch my senior thesis—a year-long project that would become my capstone.

I knew something had to change.

So I did what I always do in a crisis: I let the panic monster take over… and then I locked in.

I started showing up everywhere. Workshops. Photography meetups. Conversations with total strangers. I introduced myself even when it felt awkward, even when I doubted myself. In Los Angeles, connection is currency, and I finally started treating it that way. What I learned quickly is that work truly does breed work. Opportunities grow out of consistency, presence, and effort—but it takes a lot of time, energy, and vulnerability to get there.

Slowly, things began to shift. Doors started opening. I was invited to present my work at Red Bull headquarters in Santa Monica.

And then, eventually, everything aligned when I was offered a spot in a prestigious internship with one of the top photographers in the Hollywood and entertainment space.

After graduating and presenting my senior thesis to a panel of critics, I began working as a photography assistant in Los Angeles. The job was so much more exspansive than I ever imagined. I learned how to build massive lighting sets on sound stages. I worked alongside A-list clients. I observed how high-level creatives move through the world. I learned that there is no single “right” way to build a career—only your way. Some paths are messier than others, but they are all valid.

That internship gave me more experience, more knowledge, and more meaningful connections than I ever would have gained if I hadn’t finally decided to take myself seriously.

Chloe Christine on set @ NBC

If there’s one takeaway I hope you carry with you, it’s this: don’t wait for inspiration to strike, and don’t wait for the panic monster to force you into motion. You lose too much time that could be spent studying your work, refining your voice, and improving your craft. One uninspired hour spent building your business is still infinitely better than zero.

Time is the greatest currency we have. How you choose to spend it shapes everything.