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Photo Lab Assistant Jobs in Surrey, BC (NOW HIRING)

Staff - Union Job Category CUPE 116 Job ProfileCUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4 ... Supervises darkrooms and maintains photography, film processing, darkroom, and computer digital lab ...

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Photo Lab Assistant information

What is the difference between Photo Lab Assistant vs Photo Printer?

AspectPhoto Lab AssistantPhoto Printer
Required SkillsKnowledge of photo processing, customer service, basic equipment operationFocus on printing technology, color management, equipment operation
Work EnvironmentPhoto labs, retail stores, camera shopsPrinting facilities, retail stores, photo labs
CertificationsNone typically required, some technical trainingTechnical training or certification may be preferred
Job FocusAssisting with photo processing, customer service, equipment maintenanceOperating printing equipment, color correction, quality control

The main difference between a Photo Lab Assistant and a Photo Printer is that the Photo Lab Assistant handles a broader range of tasks including customer service and photo processing, while the Photo Printer primarily focuses on operating printing equipment and ensuring print quality. Both roles are essential in photo labs and retail environments, but the Photo Lab Assistant typically requires a broader skill set related to customer interaction and photo processing techniques.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Photo Lab Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Photo Lab Assistant, you need a solid understanding of photographic processes, attention to detail, and basic computer skills, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with digital photo editing software, photo printing equipment, and point-of-sale systems is typically required. Strong customer service, time management, and teamwork abilities help you excel in a customer-facing and deadline-driven environment. These skills ensure accurate photo production, efficient workflow, and positive client experiences in a fast-paced lab setting.

What exactly does a lab assistant do?

A photo lab assistant is responsible for developing, printing, and organizing photographs using specialized equipment and chemicals. They may also assist customers, maintain the lab's cleanliness, and ensure quality control during the photo processing process. Basic knowledge of photography and attention to detail are important skills for this role.

What do photography assistants do?

Photography assistants support photographers by setting up equipment, managing lighting, and preparing scenes for shoots. They may also handle tasks such as organizing gear, assisting with photo editing, and ensuring the studio or location is ready, often requiring knowledge of camera equipment and photo editing software.

What are Photo Lab Assistants?

Photo Lab Assistants are professionals who work in photo processing labs, helping to develop, print, and sometimes digitally enhance photographs. They handle photographic equipment and chemicals, assist customers with printing orders, and ensure that images are processed accurately and efficiently. Their duties may also include maintaining lab equipment, managing digital files, and providing customer service related to photo products. This role requires attention to detail, technical skills, and knowledge of both traditional and digital photo processing.

What are some common challenges faced by Photo Lab Assistants, and how can they be overcome?

Photo Lab Assistants often encounter challenges such as managing tight deadlines, ensuring high-quality output, and handling a variety of customer requests simultaneously. To overcome these, strong organizational skills and attention to detail are essential. Developing familiarity with lab equipment and photo editing software can help process orders efficiently, while clear communication with both customers and team members ensures that expectations are met and issues are resolved quickly.

How to work in a photo lab?

A Photo Lab Assistant is responsible for processing and developing photographs, operating printing and enlarging equipment, and maintaining a clean work environment. They should have knowledge of photo processing techniques, be detail-oriented, and often use tools like photo printers and scanners. Good organizational skills and attention to safety procedures are also important.

What qualifications do I need to be a lab assistant?

To be a photo lab assistant, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Basic knowledge of photography, familiarity with photo processing equipment, and attention to detail are important skills. Some positions may require training on specific tools or software used in the lab.
What cities near Surrey, BC are hiring for Photo Lab Assistant jobs? Cities near Surrey, BC with the most Photo Lab Assistant job openings:
Infographic showing various Photo Lab Assistant job openings in Surrey, BC as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Photo Digital Technician

Ubc

Vancouver, BC

CA$5.7K - CA$6.2K/mo

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


United Brotherhood Of Carpenters rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 29 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 12 rated unions


Job description

Staff - UnionJob CategoryCUPE 116Job ProfileCUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4Job TitlePhoto Digital TechnicianDepartmentProgram Administration | Department of Art History, Visual Art and TheoryCompensation Range$5,770.00 - $6,270.00 CAD MonthlyPosting End DateAugust 10, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.


Job Summary

The Photo Digital Technician contributes to the instruction, practice, and research of photography for the Department of Art History, Visual Art & Theory (AHVAT). Major responsibilities include: overseeing daily operations of photography facilities; ensuring the safe use, maintenance, and supervision of photographic facilities and equipment, orienting students at all levels in studio, darkroom and digital imaging practices; performance of highly skilled technical tasks requiring education, training and experience in the field of photography; and working collaboratively with colleagues to support delivery of the visual art curriculum with an emphasis on photography.

The department is housed in several buildings at UBC Vancouver campus: the Frederic Lasserre Building, Auditorium Annex A, Wesbrook Building, B.C. Binning Studios, Dorothy Somerset Studios, and the Audain Art Centre. Based at BC Binning studios, the Technician interacts frequently with AHVA's Visual Art faculty, sessional lecturers, staff, undergraduate and graduate students.
Organizational Status


Reports to the Senior Manager, Administration and Manager, Studios, Exhibitions, and Facilities; works directly with all Visual Art facultyandtechnical staff; liaises and collaborateswithArt Historyfacultyandfellow staffinthedepartmentaswellascolleaguesinArtsISIT, Information Technology (IT), Facilities Management,Safety & RiskServices, and Building Operations.
Work Performed


  • Oversees the operations of photographic facilities at BC Binning Studios.
  • Supervises darkrooms and maintains photography, film processing, darkroom, and computer digital lab imaging equipment, printers, scanners and work areas for student and faculty use
  • Consults with individual course instructors on the technical and digital processes used in the design, development, and teaching of photography and lens-based media courses.
  • Supports the development of learning resources by initiating technical and digital processes for the design and delivery of courses.
  • Provides guidance and develops resources for faculty and sessional instructors to enable photographic and lens-based research, learning, and practice.
  • Prepares materials, chemicals, and equipment for demonstrations and practice.
  • Performs routine equipment maintenance and develops signage and usage guides.
  • Demonstrates studio photography, darkroom, and digital imaging techniques.
  • Demonstrates proper handling and use of photography equipment and digital imaging equipment.
  • Contributes to the development of safety standards through independent research and consultation with specialized resources.
  • Collaborates with colleagues to design equipment-handling and safety training for photographic facility and equipment users.
  • Ensures safety standards are met and complied with.
  • Is available outside of scheduled class time to assist students and faculty in photographic and imaging techniques.
  • Remains current with developments in photographic practices generally and with particular emphasis on photo digital applications, IT developments, related equipment and maintenance.
  • Researches and advises colleagues and students on new products and techniques in the areas of photography, digital imaging, and computer hard/software.
  • Arranges repairs of equipment when necessary.
  • Develops proposals for upgrades to photographic facilities and associated teaching and learning spaces.
  • Participates in ongoing reviews of long-term departmental instructional support needs and assists in coordinating applications for support.
  • Alerts Campus Security, Administration and/or Facilities Management immediately of core building concerns and/or security issues in the areas overseen.
  • Prepares budgets for areas overseen in collaboration with colleagues and faculty and on approval of the Administrator and Head.
  • Hires and manages student assistants to support facility and instructional needs.
  • Procures approved budgeted items, tracks expenditures, monitors stock inventories and cost recoveries, and work learn student staff hours, and meets periodically to review actuals with the Administrator and Manager.
  • Updates the online store and prepares receipts for photographic supplies and printing sales.
  • Reconciles purchases, according to established procedures, and submits to the department administrator.
  • Receives and safely stores supplies and equipment and maintains availability for distribution as required.
  • Manages and maintains the online equipment inventory.
  • Manages use of equipment from the equipment cage and photo digital supplies used by faculty and students, and supervises distribution and return of all equipment.
  • Photo documents departmental activities for archival purposes and public relations initiatives.
  • Identifies and supports opportunities for ad hoc student exhibitions and critiques at BC Binning Studios.
  • Liaises with other university departments as required.
  • Performs other related duties that may arise.

Consequence of Error/Judgement


As this position is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the photography and digital facilities at BC Binning Studios and requires contact with faculty, staff and students, the technician is given wide latitude for exercising independent initiative and judgment in order to create a good teaching and learning environment. Prompt attention to potential problems in all areas of responsibility is essential to the smooth running of these areas of the department.
Supervision Received


Works independently under the general direction of faculty and administration and in collaboration with other technicians. Reports to the Senior Manager, Administration and Manager, Studios, Exhibitions, and Facilities. Receives initial instruction on duties and thereafter only on new or unusual problems.
Supervision Given


Supervises the work of work learn students, and demonstrates techniques to other staff and, undergraduate, and graduate students; frequently assists and advises faculty.
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion


Preferred Qualifications


  • University degree or technical college training of at least three years in both technical and creative aspects of photography, including a demonstrated knowledge of darkroom printing processes and other advanced techniques.
  • Athorough understanding of both field and studio equipment and techniques, including35mm, large format cameras and lighting.
  • Knowledge of computer hardware and software for digital imaging, including Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Workingknowledge of some,orall,ofthe following core equipment:digital cameras, lighting equipment, scanners, large format printers, projectors, monitors,macOS/Windows/Linuxplatforms, etc.
  • Abilitytocoordinateandoverseeworkprocesses.
  • Abilitytoeffectivelyusespreadsheets,wordprocessing,calendar,communication andemailapplicationsata basic level (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) in a PC/Macenvironment.
  • Abilityto communicate effectively both verbally and inwriting.
  • Abilitytodeal effectively with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effectivemanner.
  • Abilityto prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meetdeadlines.
  • Abilityto work effectively independently and in a teamenvironment.
  • Willingnesstorespectdiverseperspectives,includingperspectivesinconflictwithone'sown.
  • Demonstrated commitmenttoenhancingone'sownawareness,knowledge,andskillsrelated to equity,diversity,andinclusion.
  • Abilityto exercisetact,discretion,and judgment.
  • Demonstratedability to coordinate and schedule the work ofstudents
  • Knowledgeof studio art theory and practice, and art history isrecommended.
  • Ability and experience inthe instruction and demonstration ofthe handling of photography and lighting equipment,computer hardware andsoftware.
  • Experience installing photographicartworksfor exhibitionsis an asset.

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