First Assistant Job - help please from the pros

Hi to all you wedding pros out there...

I have been wanting to get a start in wedding photography for a long time now. Have studied here, read books, etc. I have just been asked by a pro wedding photog to be her assistant for a day, she said she really liked my work and we met once before.

She knows I have no specific wedding experience. She basically just wants an assistant since the event is far away ( long drive, parking, etc ) and she is used to shooting alone, but says I am free to pick up one of her cameras and shoot if I want to - no pressure. So I am excited about the opportunity to learn and think it is the ideal way to get started.

What I really want to know is exactly what to do and what not to do? What is your idea of a great assistant, and what would an awful one do? I 'd love to hear any and all input and guidance here. I just want to do a good job.
Thanks!

My idea of a great assistant is someone who does what I ask, when I ask, and the rest of the time stays out of the way but somewhere nearby so they can help when needed. I also want them to do what I ask, not what they think I want based on the opinions of people on the internet who have no idea how I work My point is... don't ask us, ask her.

I have an assistant sometimes. I have had 3 different people do the job. These are the things I like about the one that has done the best job.

She does not ask me alot of questions she just watches.
She always stays out of my shot. Nothing is more annoying than when I notice my assistant is somewhere in the background of my image.
She always has a cold bottle of water ready for me. When she sees me slowing down for a moment she will say Water?? and have the lid off and every thing for me.
If something doesn't look right to her she doesn't say it loudly in front of everyone. She says it in a way that only I hear.
She always wears pants with pockets.
She always carries my ladder and can set it up very quickly.
She sneaks off and fixes me a plate during the reception so I can have a snack

My regular assistant and I are very comfortable with eachother and have gotten to know eachother pretty well. She knows my wedding behavior and habits pretty well now.

I know those might sound like minor things, but that is why I love my assistant

Having recently started as an assisstant I can offer this advice:

Be aware! Dont get yourself in any pictures... so far I've only been in 2, and 1 of them was because I was holding the umbrella!

Listen.

Be prepared to carry stuff all day, and keep smiling!

Offer to help with PP, album design etc... the actual wedding is only half the work.

I've learnt so much over the last 2 months and must have made a good impression that my 'boss' has set me up to do the PP for 2 of his employee's weddings and also I'm doing my first wedding as a 2nd next month. All paid. We're also in talks for me to open a new branch of his company next year.

My assistant:

- Anticipates my needs and has a CF card and/or battery ready whenever I need it;
- Carries all the heavy equipment and takes care of any setting up;
- Keeps an eye on my gear to make sure no one walks off with it;
- Stays out of the way;
- Does anything else I ask;
- Does not take photographs. That's what a second shooter does. The two terms are usually not synonymous.

My husband is usually my assistant. My son is sometimes. They don't shoot, they just carry stuff. My son is by far the better assistant because he can read my mind. When I allow him to shoot, he's very tall, his perspective is much taller than mine, so I am shocked at the results, but usually, he's better. Dang it! I asked a photography student to help me sometimes. Communication is the key. Tell them up front what they will be paid and what you expect. If you trust your assistant to set up shots for you, you are the luckiest person here.

Boy, are you guys tough or what? You want your water bottles opened, snacks served, heavy things carried around for you? I definitely would not want to be assisting you in any wedding. The next thing I will hear is probably give me a foot message at the end of the day I guess. Relax guys, you are hiring a photography assistant; not a slave. Shheesh.

If I WERE looking for an assistant position, I'd expect the pro to give me in on his techniques. I am there to help AND learn photography. Serving snacks is what the waitresses do.

When I had an assistant, I used her to catch the shots that I could not. She was in the bride's room while I was with the groom and groomsmen. While I was shooting wide, she was shooting telephoto. We were trying to catch all the possible shots together; not fetch me a Coke, bring me this or bring me that. And I also was giving her tips and hints how to catch shots and what settings to use etc so that she improves her style of photography not her skills of serving beverages.

Vinmum, MY advice to you, if anybody asks you to do the things these guys are talking about here, just say NO.

MALI

Like I said, "assistant" and "second shooter" aren't the same thing, IMO. My assistant is 15 and is pretty much my lackey.