Icelandair’s viral social media that advertises a job search for a poorly skilled photographer is, in fact, real, the company said a new social media post.
The Nordic airline made international headlines last week after it posted an image of a newspaper clipping promoting a 10-day temporary gig for a “really bad photographer” who has no understanding of basic photography framing or other artistic elements.
The job listing boasts an all-expenses paid trip with travel and accommodations included with the only caveat being that the candidate must not have photography skills.
“Preferably bad at framing, not familiar with composition, white balance, colour theory, or image-making in general,” the post reads.
Interested applicants are encouraged to visit reallybadphotographer.com for additional information. Visitors to the site were treated to more details, including that the trip also comes with a $50,000 payout for “photographs, content and participation.”
Photos from the short pro-photography stint could also be used in the company’s global campaigns.
The post led to stories across major publications around the globe, with many organization positing if it was a real job offer, a one-off social media post or just a clever marketing gimmick.
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On Tuesday, Icelandair confirmed that the search was not fake and was ongoing, although whether or not it’s for marketing purposes wasn’t explicitly stated.
The “official statement” reads:
The search for a really bad photographer is in fact … real. Yes, we will pay them. No, this is not a joke – and yes, we’re a little nervous about what we’ve unleashed.
The latest update, as expected, led to more banter and people volunteering as tribute. Some social media commenters joked that their boyfriend or significant other would be a highly qualified candidate, while others flagged the applications of their elderly parents.
How to apply for Icelandair’s ‘bad’ photographer opening
While Icelandair has not given any indication about how the search is going, other than interest in it being greater than expected, it continues to encourage potential candidates to apply online.
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Interested parties can apply on the dedicated website until April 30. Applicants will need to answer “six simple questions” and, optionally, upload a video to describe their worst photo fails.
Application questions are as follows:
- How would you describe your photography skills?
- How do you photos compared to those taken by friends?
- How do people usually react to your photos?
- How would you rate your English skills?
- If something fun happens on a trip, what are you most likely to do?
- How comfortable are you with being in front of a camera (for a video or photo)?
If you or someone you know is interested in applying for Icelandair’s bad photographer job, visit reallybadphotographer.com and apply.
