Assistants for weddings

[tim]

Of you professional wedding photographers, how many of you have assistants? Of those, how many use them as 2nd shooters? I'm seriously considering it. I'm finding I could use some help, mainly to help with lighting, gear, and somtimes to cover other angles. I also want radio slaves, and about five times as much time as I usually have available.

[ahalowell]

Hi TIm!

I'm not a professional. I used to do weddings many years ago with medium format equipment - got to be just about every weekend. That became a drag and I quit. However, the one thing that made my photos extraordinary was my wife. She went with me and she posed all the shots. She made sure EVERY SINGLE line was perfect before she let me shoot. She reloaded my film backs while she was doing this, I might add. There was never a crooked tie, an arm out of place or someone with their eyes closed.

She has a keen eye and is much more detail-oriented than me. As a result, our work received high honors from our customers and every subsequent customer was a referral from a previous customer. It was pretty amazing. I do have to say it took a lot of the pressure off me. I just took the photos, processed the film and printed the images. She did the hard work.

So, for what it's worth, if you have someone who can do that for you I think you will find it much less complicated, shall we say??

Good luck!

[CyberPet]

Well, I have about the same amount of weddings under my belt as you Tim, but I find an assistant being good, for helping with the gear. At some times a second shooter would be great too, but the assistant/second shooter I tried out last shoot was a disaster. He was trying ot "outshoot" me and hogged my equipment instead of helping me *with* the equipment. I was struggling enough as it was. So be careful with whom you choose, be sure you are on the same side so you don't end up blowing a fuse because that "helpful" asssitant is trying to be better than you (luckily the guy wasn't good, but he did end up being in my way instead of helping me).

[C at Carol's Photography]

Hi Tim
I've been a professional wedding photographer for 10 years now, I do have an assistant with me to cover most of my larger weddings. The best way to learn the wedding business is to work under a professional for awhile. You have to start somewhere, it's much better to learn from the best. They can teach you so much, most photographers I know are willing to hire and train a new comer. Check out my web site www.carolsphotography.net All the best.
C at Carol's Photography

[NGrinerPhoto]

i always have an a second shooter who's main purpose is to be an assistant.

[cmM]

I don't have one, and I only will if the wedding is big enough or if the couple wants it.

[PIXI_666]

Tim,

hehe i use my husband as my "Apprentice" he enjoys the subject but doesn't want to do it as much as me, so he is only too happy to help me make some cahs on the side. He passes me lenses, cameras, and also holds up reflectors etc. It's ALL you really need, becaus eyou dont want a 2nd photographer taking away your shots hahahaha - thats the way i see it anyway!!

Del

[PIXI_666]

Oh and i didnt want to offend anybody either, i was looking at it from a "Home Business" POV, as in having the cash for yourself and only doing a few weddings per year, if i were a pro i think an assistant would be handy for larger weddings....

[tim]

My girlfriend lives too far away to help out

What I mainly need to do is help people plan their wedding day more, so i'm not quite so rushed.

[dsze]

Tim, I have done them without anyone else and with my wife as an assistant. I can tell you that the wedding itself is much more fun and creative with my wife as the assist. and the images are better too. I think if you have the right assistant, then it makes a world of difference. A bad assist. would make a world of difference too, I imagine I've got myself a good one! ....and I don't even have to pay her! Ok, ok... she has her costs, but .....

[kawter2]

I try to use an assistant 100% of the time. but they never (i should say VERY rarely) carry my gear or anything like that..

Bottom line is I cant shoot PJ by myself. I need someone complementing my angles and shots etc. IMO if you are shooting posed shots all day long, it is not really needed,

But it KILLS me when i go out without a good assistant..

[ricohcam01]

Hey Tim:

I have about 20 or so weddings under my belt now and have about 22 booked for this year. I find when using an assistant you can be more artistic. The reason for this is because you do not worried about getting the classic photos because the assistant is getting shots aswell. The other reason I like them is because of the clients. People just like to see two photographers at a wedding if makes them feel like they are getting the coverage they are asking for. There are two words I like to use in my own mind. Overkill and redondancey. (spl). LOL Just my two cents worth. I hope it helps.

[blueminnie]

I absolutely use an assistant for weddings! Wouldn't do it any other way-She helps with my equipment, set up, tear down, setting up the shots, making sure we are checking off the list of shots, etc. To have the extra set of eyes is invaluable to me because of the fast pace of weddings. This year she will also be shooting so we can capture twice as many shots.

Can people give a range of what they pay their assistants?? How have you come up with your numbers

[kawter2]

going rate around these parts is

minimum wage for non shooting assistants

$10-15-20 for shooting assistants w/o own gear

$20-30 for shooting assistants with their own gear

[SR071]

Tim,

Just make sure whoever you choose WANTS to be there....

I was in a wedding party and the photog had an assistant who was obviously someone he also used as a model - and she had that model's pout to perfection. She looked like she was disgusted with the lot of us the whole time - she was constantly looking at her watch, was slow to move around with a reflector and never once smiled...I had a bet (unclaimed) $50 to any groomsman who makes her at least smile....