Assisting rate

[Cleggster]

I just did an assisting job for a photographer for free to learn the business. She liked me and said she would be willing to hire me for pay and possible recommend me. But she also said that I need to give a rate. Now this caused my gut to lurch. I have never set my own rate before. So after looking through this site and it wonderful people, I am thinking about charging $125 a day. I agree, 1/2 days don't work. Don't want to spend time looking at the clock.

My question is for any pro's working in the MA. area. Is $125 a day for an assistant who is starting out reasonable or am I pricing myself out of work? I expect that I will raise my rates as I gather more experience and get a larger (hopefully better) reputation.

[StealthLude]

Assuming you work 8 hours a day thats about 15.60 / hour...

I don't understand the point of a "day rate" My shoots can be 3 hours long or they can be 20 hours long. I sure am not going to be paying for $125 for 3 hours of work, and Id love to pay you $125 for 20 hours of work.

My advise to you is to pick an hourly rate, and $15/hour sounds about right assuming you are actually doing something worth while.

I except my assistant to do things from setup of backdrops, lights, stands, carry camera gear, understand a little about strobes and lighting. I except them to learn and know how to use my light meter, and take readings. If I said I wanted a 2:1 radio beteween two lights I except one to be able to do that. Learn how I identify my gear like lenses. Be computer savy and be able to download photos from compact flash onto laptop or assist in shooting teathered. If I am doing portrait shoots of multiple familys, take care of the paperwork and billing/payment information. I would also except them to be somewhat of a sales person for upselling packages and things like that.

An assistant who can hold their own and have technical knowledge and work very hard, I would feel comfortable paying $15-$20 for sure, maybe up to $25/hr if they had the sales thing down. If the assistant lacks the technical knowledge and isnt much of a sales person (which IMO is very important because they more than pay for themselves in the long run) I would start them at minimum wage since its not hard to setup a stand or carry a camera bag. I look for something special in an assistant, otherwise I can hire anyone to carry something for me.

[PhotosGuy]

My question is for any pro's working in the MA. area. You already know a pro in the area. What did she say?

[tcphoto1]

As a longtime assistant, I would suggest $175. a day. A day is 9 hours and you get overtime if applicable. A better, more experienced Assistant will get $225 and more. If you are processing and editing files, you are bordering on a Digital Tech's job which is more like $400. a day. If a Photographer does not see the value in your job, find another one to work/learn from. The Client pays your rate, the Photographer should know the going rate.

[Cleggster]

She was reluctant to actualy give me a quote. Said that I should do the research on my own. When i pressed, she mentioned that an average is 90-125 for a half day, and 150-200 for a full day. After duing some reading, half days don't dound like a good idea. I don't want to be watching the clock when I should be paying close attention to the job. I not crazy about hourly because I then if it's a really short shoot, I could crew myself. Especialy if it halfway across the state. ALso I don't want to be loking at the clock again. I like a simple day rate, adjustible if thing go really long. I don't want to undercut any other asistants, but I recongize that I don't have the experience yet.

And thank you for the responses. All have been helpfull. By the way, what is a half day? 4 hours or less?

[PhotosGuy]

All have been helpfull. By the way, what is a half day? 4 hours or less? Depends, I guess.
I quoted a day rate as 10 hours My-door-to-my-door & included 50 "Free" miles. (That's how much I hate paperwork & I'm not going to nickel & dime a client anyway).
For a good client who's in a budget bind, I'd offer an (infrequent) 5-hour 1/2 day rate. Keep in mind that the first time you cut your prices for someone, everyone else will hear about it & it will soon become your "Normal" rate. ;)

[mntbikejack]

ALso I don't want to be loking at the clock again. I like a simple day rate, adjustible if thing go really long.

I’m not a photographer by profession. But my day job is generally priced per hour with a minimum of hours to be charged per job. Travel is also additional.