Photographer Assistant ... ?

hi,

I have many q? about Photographer Assistant and wanna help plz

1- who is Photographer Assistant ?

2- what is his job and what are works he does ?

3- what is skills he should have ?

4- as a Photographer do u need one ? and why ?

thanx

I recently hired an assistant. Their job is to do anything it takes to help me take great photos. This means helping pack and unpack gear, carry things, watch for details I miss, drive sometimes when I don't want to, that sort of thing. They're to make my life easier.

As it happens my assistant is a photography student, so they also take photos some times. To start with I assumed anything they took would be useless, and I was half right, but as she learned what I want and got better with the equipment her work's become more useful. I supply all the equipment. She's also started doing some post processing for me, which makes my life a LOT easier. But this isn't typical of what an assistant does I don't think.

thanx Tim

any other review

I've only used two assistants before and got kinda a bad taste, one was good and one was definitely not so I stopped using them all together and did everything on my own. Doing it solo can wear on you pretty quick so currently looking for one to do part time work this year - basically as Tim said they're there to make life easier. Main use will be for T&I so they'll be helping setting up the equipment, getting the kids organized, collecting envelopes and getting the kids to choose a pose, then helping set up the pose before moving on to the next kid, looking to see if I missed anything, etc. After the shoot will be helping sort and mark off orders - count and record what was pulled in, etc.

Requirements, well it's not much photographic work but someone who is interested in photography would help. Also preferably female because it's always good just in case one of the girls needs something, hair adjusted or along those lines. Of course good with kids, an obvious requirement for youth T&I.

Everything else I do on my own right now so only aspect I need an assistant in.

I use assistants on most of my assignments, and have two I work with regularly, and a few others that I use on occasion. For the most part, I typically only have one assistant working with me at a time, but have had up to 4 on larger projects along with the stylists, MUA's, models, etc.

Generally, the assistants handle all of the gear for me. Packing and unpacking, setting up strobes, tripod, backgrounds, some set work, preparing the shooting area, etc. While shooting, they may be adjusting the strobes for me under my direction, taking meter readings, holding reflectors, fixing background set and prop issues, handing me cards, light meter, second camera body, or lenses as needed. If I shoot tethered to a laptop, they may also watch the images coming in for focus, exposure, and to make sure the images are captured to both hard drives.

On larger projects where I have multiple assistants, I divide those jobs up between the assistants. Those assistants that have the most time and experience with me in the past generally take on the most demanding or critical tasks, while the others go down the chain. The newest will pretty much spend time moving stuff around, packing equipment, being a gofer, and doing all those little things that seem to crop up. New assistants will usually work with my first assistant more than with me directly. But after a few projects, will take on more and more tasks once they learn my equipment, how I like things done, get familiar with the routine, etc.

What I look for most in a new assistant is reliability, personality, attitude, and a willingness to put in the time to learn. I generally don't care much about their photographic background, since they won't be shooting. I care more about how quick they learn, if they are self motivated, what kind of equipment they are really 'intimate' with, and not a long list of equipment they may have touched at some point in time. Ie, sure, they may have shot with specific camera, but if they really know the ins and outs, custom functions, cameras quirks, etc, that is a real plus.

I also do a lot of self projects for my portfolio, and usually thats where I first work with a new assistant. It gives me a chance to meet them, work with them, and see how things go while not under the pressures from a paying client. It also gives me more time to give them direction, explain how we do things, etc, which prepares them for a project funded by a paying client. The risk is much lower to me on a personal project, than it is on a clients project. I do the same with new models, MUA's, stylists, and producers. Rarely will I ever hire on someone for a paying project that I haven't worked with before in some fashion. The risk of loosing a client for any number of reasons is too great. So I never take that risk.

Most importantly for me, I like shooting on a fun set. While we all work hard, its very important that we all get along and have fun while shooting. Anyone that disrupts that doesn't get invited back. So personality is very high up on the list

My assistant is more of a partner, really. She has her own company, I have mine, and to get more work we hire each other. Only I'm better at actually getting clients booked so I've hired her, like, a dozen times and she has yet to need me. Probably the way it'll be for a while. Anyway, her job is to help me get full coverage. At a wedding I can't be getting the bride walking down the aisle AND get the reaction of the groom when he sees her for the first time. My assistant's job is to stay on the groom so I don't have to worry about that.

Then when I'm running around everywhere else it's her job to make sure my stuff doesn't get stolen/locked in the church/etc. and get it put in my car in one piece. Then on long days I can take a break when she shoots for half an hour or so, which is always nice. I also give her my shot list and she makes sure I get it all. It's actually a pretty hard job... probably harder then mine come to think of it.

I don't think you need one, but they help a lot.

Because you have a descriptive title, you can look at the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom-left of this page for more info.

Got good responses from some of the best photographers on here, wow, can't ask for much better than that.

tim, MJPhotos24, and sfaust ----> Thanx a lot, it's really very useful.

PeaceFire ----> I do like to have like this, Thanx

PhotosGuy ---> I checked it, didn't find what i need

Karl Johnston --> it's true, thanx for all of them

I'm my wife's assistant, so I'm probably not typical. I serve as a second shooter when needed. I research equipment purchases and tech stuff. I carry equipment and handle set-up for a shoot. I scout locations. I recruit models for projects. I make sure there are refreshments available on a shoot. I hold the reflector (pretty good at that) and act as a second set of eyes. I'm a troubleshooter if something's not working for a shot. I'm a test model. I PP my own work, but she PPs everything she shoots--and sometimes mine. I'm a sounding board for ideas.

She's making the jump from part-time to full-time photographer in the next year, whereas I'm always going to be part-time. But I'm getting almost competent behind the lens, so as far as assistants go, I'm a bargain.

I'm also probably the only person who'd tolerate being called "Lensboy," so there's that, too.

jblaschke wrote in post #7604008
I'm also probably the only person who'd tolerate being called "Lensboy," so there's that, too.

That's funny because my wife is my assistant, yet I'm still called "Lensboy"...LOL And here I thought I was the only one

Since my assistant does a lot of lighting work with me, I sometimes call her Phil.

EveryMilesAMemory wrote in post #7605005
That's funny because my wife is my assistant, yet I'm still called "Lensboy

jblaschke wrote in post #7604008
I'm also probably the only person who'd tolerate being called "Lensboy," so there's that, too.

Beat being called "Lensbaby".