 BetterPhoto Member |
Photo Assistant: How to Get Started? I would like to learn how to become a photography assistant or meet a photographer that will be willing to mentor a beginner. I am very dedicated and hard working person, and would like the opportunity to learn under a professional. I am interested in wedding and studio photography. I would greatly appreciate any advice and how to get started. Thank you.
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BetterPhoto Member |
Megan, I have used many assistants over the last 25 years. I am contacted constantly by photographers wanting to be assistants. This is a fabulous way for you to learn the business if that is your goal, but not the only way. I look for a couple things when meeting and talking with these people. First, how are they dressed and how do they look? Can I take them with me to shoot a corporate executive and not make myself look bad? Do they talk too much ... meaning, will they try to help solve problems on a shoot that I am discussing with the client, and the assistant has no business with that? Are they looking to learn, and are they willing to do all the grunt work? This means carry the gear, load and unload my truck after a shoot, clean my gear, clean my studio after a shoot, dash to the lab with the film and then go pick it up, run errands, and so on. That is what being an assistant is about. But you also get to help while doing shoots and you can learn a lot. Assistants make about $25 an hour in my area. I have had plenty of people want to be my assistant because it paid $25 an hour, but they had no experience. So they wanted me to teach them how to set up my lights, load film into a back, feather a light, assemble a Chimera box, and so on, and they wanted to make $25 an hour while I taught them. It didn't happen! I hire the assistants who have taken workshops, gone to photography school, or worked for someone else for a while and know all that stuff. There are so many qualified assistants out there who have learned how to be an assistant, why would I want to teach? I just don't have time to teach, but would consider accepting payment in exchange for teaching someone to be my assistant. That is why I do workshops. So my point is to educate yourself as much as you can by taking classes and workshops and anything else that you can do to learn how to set up lights, how to help at a wedding shoot, portrait setup, etc. You need to make yourself an asset to have around the studio. Then the real learning begins.
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Mike Carpenter |
Charlie, That is GREAT advice for a beginner! I would love to be an assistant but my focus is on outdoor photography. I spend as much time as I can taking photos, and I research as much as possible but the real learning experience is being there with someone who really knows what they are doing. I plan on taking some workshops but of course $ comes into play. I thank you for the fantastic advice, and this site is so great because of pros like yourself willing to take the time.
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Mark Feldstein |
Here's part of the reply I posted to a similar question about wedding photography: Greetings Megan, Essentially, I think the way to go about getting a gig as an assistant is the same as looking for any other job. Although I do commercial work for advertising and corporate image shooting and I have one full-time assistant, sometimes we need an extra pair of hands or two. Initially, if I'm short on resumes, I'll check the registry of assistants with ASMP: http://www.asmp.org. You may qualify to sign up on the call list there which may not get you weddings but if you're called, it'll get you experience plus pay for your efforts. Also, joining a local chapter of a professional association like WPPA, PPA, ASMP, etc., will help you meet potential pros you can work for on one basis or another. It'll also contribute to your education on practices and pricing. When I interview someone who's interested in an assistant position, I expect them to show up with some kind of self-promotional enthusiasm beyond "Hey, dude, I wanna be an assistant". I like to see some kind of portfolio of their work but nothing fancy; some type of resume with a work and education summary, even if it's only being a high school student bagging groceries at a local market; a certain level of enthusiasm is appreciated; a neat appearance and some kind of idea about how much they want for salary. I also appreciate people who interview me at the same time, asking questions like, "Why should I want to be your assistant?" or "What could I expect to learn working here?". Personally, I tend to appreciate those who express a willingness to do scut work initially, cleaning up, packing and unpacking gear, cleaning equipment, sweeping studio floors, straightening up, etc., but at the same time, letting them observe studio shoots. They also get familiar with equipment, enough to assist in studio and on location shoots. It's called "paying dues". Wedding photography should be no different. Getting a well-rounded education is also helpful, including classes in photography, design, art history perhaps, among others. Meanwhile, best wishes in your quest, Megan. Let me (us) know how you fared. Mark
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