About the role#
The Photography Intern documents the programs and events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. You will work with the Marketing and Communications team to capture the story of the 2027 Festival through high-quality imagery. This role requires a commitment of at least one full semester, with preference given to those available for both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.
What you'll do#
- Capture photos at large-scale Signature Events, Community Programs, and events hosted by participating organizations.
- Create detailed shot lists to ensure all coverage aligns with festival branding.
- Organize, manage, and upload photographs to the internal photo gallery and management system.
- Apply consistent file naming conventions, keywords, and tags to all assets.
- Perform basic photo editing tasks including cropping, color correction, resizing, and optimization.
- Assist the marketing team by sourcing imagery for campaigns and special projects.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student.
- Experience operating a DSLR camera in both indoor and outdoor environments.
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for photo editing.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- A portfolio showcasing your visual storytelling skills.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Location & details#
- This internship is based in Washington, DC.
- The work modality is primarily on-site with limited remote options.
- This is an unpaid internship, though college credit may be available through your institution.
- A monthly stipend is provided to help cover commuting costs.
About National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. Founded in 2000, it produces annual events that celebrate spring and the 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees. The festival highlights the friendship between the United States and Japan through arts, culture, and community programming. Most of its events are free and open to the public.
How to get in at National Cherry Blossom Festival
Securing an internship with the National Cherry Blossom Festival requires timing, as early applicants are often reviewed before the volume of interest becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role is published, helping you apply among the first and stay ahead of the pile. When you apply early, you ensure your materials are seen while the team is still actively building their candidate pool. Reaching out to the right person can also change your experience, as direct contact often beats the standard queue. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral. This approach materially improves your response rates compared to submitting a cold application.
