Photographer's Assistant? Is there such a Thing?

[DragonRider51]

Photographers hire assistants as well as 2nd shooters. The pay for this job varies by market but can run from $25/hr to more the $100/hr depending on the market, your experience level and other details like who provides the equipment, who owns the copyrights to the images, etc.

I have found that most of the photographers I have met to be very nice, but very competitive and resistant to anyone else infringing on their potential tuff. This is, I sorry to say, most common. Some are also abrasive and rude to newbie's to the photography industry and things heat up and become more competitive in the marketplace.

The evolution of the digital camera is really the tool that has created this competitive environment and threatens so many pros that rely on photography as their sole source of income. Lots of people get their hands on a digital camera and believe that they are ready to become photographers. Those individuals that are already shooting as a professional sometimes fail to act like a professional and forget that they were once a "newbie" too. Everyone has to start somewhere and the marketplace will decide who has enough talent to survive. We, as professionals, need to support each other and share knowledge and experience whenever, and where ever we can.

[Mamarazzi_2008]

Originally Posted by DragonRider51

Photographers hire assistants as well as 2nd shooters. The pay for this job varies by market but can run from $25/hr to more the $100/hr depending on the market, your experience level and other details like who provides the equipment, who owns the copyrights to the images, etc.

I have found that most of the photographers I have met to be very nice, but very competitive and resistant to anyone else infringing on their potential tuff. This is, I sorry to say, most common. Some are also abrasive and rude to newbie's to the photography industry and things heat up and become more competitive in the marketplace.

The evolution of the digital camera is really the tool that has created this competitive environment and threatens so many pros that rely on photography as their sole source of income. Lots of people get their hands on a digital camera and believe that they are ready to become photographers. Those individuals that are already shooting as a professional sometimes fail to act like a professional and forget that they were once a "newbie" too. Everyone has to start somewhere and the marketplace will decide who has enough talent to survive. We, as professionals, need to support each other and share knowledge and experience whenever, and where ever we can.

I have been too nervous to even ask anyone for fear they would feel I could potentially be a competitor. Im not sure I even intend on really marketing myself in any way. I just enjoy photography and want to learn more about it. There is a LOT to learn and/or know in photography.
I sure hope I will eventually find someone kind enough to give me a chance. But until then, I plan on taking some courses in the summer when I get my Canon DSLR.

[F Stop]

I hire assistants constantly. I'd die if the well ran dry. Assistance are a huge help in this industry as are second shooters. Heck I'm the owner of The Image Group Photography and I still second shoot for other photographers. I love to shoot, and if I can shoot and not have to worry about all of the business at the end of the day than it's been a great day for me. All of my photographers were at one time assistance and second shooters. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[MySepiaSoul]

Some states and major cities have PPA (Professional Photography Association) clubs and the one in my city has a sign-up sheet for people interested in assisting. You might join a meeting to see if your's does.

It's been several years since I've assisted now but I used to earn about $10 an hour for weddings. So I usually came home with about $80-100 in my pocket.

[HockeyFan]

Thanks for the info. This is something I hadn't thought of before.

[IcyMirage]

working as an assistent for a photographer sounds great, a fun and good way to learn... but I wouldn't know how to find a photographer who would want me around them to 'help'... I'm so much of a beginner (I think) that I wouldn't be much of a helper...what do the assistants do?

[MySepiaSoul]

IcyMirage,

When I was a beginner assitant, I did a minimum of shooting (if at all). Of course that was back in the "film" days (do you know what "film" is?) and it was expensive to have a second shooter because you still had to cover film and processing. Mostly I juggled cameras, followed the pro around with the equipment and assisted with lighting (holding reflectors). But the advantage was to get to see the pro in action. I learned more by getting to see what the various pros did for posing, angles, how they handled different lighting and difficult situations and how they interacted with the subjects. There's no better training than hand-on training but shadowing is definately the next best thing.

And of course, once you become more comfortable photographing, you can always work as a second shooter.

[IcyMirage]

thanks for explaining must have been hard times in the 'film' days indeed... I've develloped and printed only one time with help of my dad, but gave up after that...

[Chronicdiving]

I worked as a photographers assistant under www.PeterCuttsPhotography.com it was an hourly rate and definetly a lot of fun. There's no better way to learn about photography!