 Scott Barker |
Becoming a Photographers Assistant I have been in photography for about 5 years. I have my own business, for studio shots and the such. I was wanting to get into doing weddings, but need to learn the art, there is just a huge difference between shooting studio shots and weddings. I was wanting to find out about how to become a photographers assistant to a wedding photographer so that I can learn more about this type of photography. I am in the nashville Tn area, but have no clue where to start to find someone to teach me. Any help would be great.
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Mark Feldstein |
Sooooooooooooo, let me ask you Scott: In five years that you've "been in photography and owned your own studio, you never joined a professional association and attended local meetings? Ever considered PPofA or WPA? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm??? Some of us refer to this as "networking" others call it "meeting people in the business" while even others call it "offering services as an assistant" by making your intentions known. (And btw, having your own studio doesn't necessarily get you special dispensation (or higher hourly rates) when you're asking someone to apprentice you in another part of the business). Then, there's always the yellow pages, a CV/Resume, a portfolio like when you're looking for a job and...the telephone. ;>) Take it light ;>) Mark
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Christopher A. Walrath |
Mark's got it (as usual), Scott. POUND PAVEMENT. Get out there, find photographers and see who needs the grunt work done in exchange for tips on the trade. You probably won't get paid much in exchange for the teaching. BUt it can pay dividends beyond your hopes and you only stand to improve yourself. If you really want to do this, then just do it. We got faith inya. Thanks
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Jerry Frazier |
Ditto to what everyone has said, but one last thing. Weddings are very competitive, and getting more so as it seems that everyone and their uncle with a new dslr is shooting weddings. Having a studio is probably not going to win you points, nor is it going to make another wedding photographer comfortable with training their competition. So, when you approach them, you need to let them know how you will help them, not how they can help you. They don't care about you.
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Jerry Frazier |
OK, I came off wrong. What I was trying to say was that I get approached almost everyday with someone who has recently bought a new camera, has a lens and a flash and wants to get into weddings. It is really pathetic. Alot of wedding pros are getting a little fed up of this, and it is eating into our actual profits because all these people are willing to shoot weddings for next to nothing. Just look at Craig's list these days. Wedding photography for $895. Give me a break! Combine that with the economy tanking, and it's getting really bad for some of us. I am telling you this so you might have some perspective on how to approach a pro who makes their living from this. It is not fun. I mean it is, but it's no game. And, you have to understand that you are threatening their livlihood, possibly. So, approach them with respect and dignity and appreciate that they might not want you help, especially if you want to do just enough to learn and then go out on your own. I've had people shoot 3 weddings with me, and then go shoot on their own after that. I don't care for that kind of thing. I want people who are willing to learn and stay a while.
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Mark Feldstein |
I don't think you came off wrong at all Jer and I completely agree with you as well. That's one reason I suggested that Scott join and participate in professional associations on a local level. It's like the gal who said she shot a wedding recently for $25 bucks. I saw that and had to disconnect my keyboard for two days. It's absolutely not fair to you guys who earn a living shooting weddings. It's like a guy who purchases a DSLR wants to compete with me for an AP dugout slot by offering services to the Giants while envisioning himself as a globetrotting shooter for NG at some point in the near future. It's a fantasy. But one thing I'd also suggest based on what Jerry said is that if you go to work as an assistant for a wedding shooter, make your intentions fully known in advance AND work out a transition period and tacit agreement that you won't undercut their pricing. That's simply ripping off the hand that helped feed you.
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Jerry Frazier |
That's a great suggestion Mark. The idea would be that once the assistant was ready to go shoot on their own, they will be a professional, charging professional rates.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Mark, send me money!
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Mark Feldstein |
Whaddya banannas? I'm a photographer, I don't HAVE any money. But look ya big ape, if you REALLY need money, go shoot a wedding for 25 bucks and quit monkeying around. LOL !!! M.
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