[Ali]

Personally I couldn’t pull a sicky, never have, never will. I would to be honest and upfront. My decision would have to depend on how much I actually needed this particular paid job and how easy it will be to find another part time job that suits your needs. If you just want a job to provide an income to allow you to concentrate on your photography, surely anything goes - supermarket, bar work, waitressing?

I think would ask my employers for the time off, and if they were unable to accommodate I would either leave the job entirely (if viable) or forfeit the chance to assist.

Trouble with forfeiting the chance to assist, you might not get asked again.