Hi there. I posted in a group about a possible career transition and a photographer reached out to me about needing an assistant. I made sure they were legit. I posted that I have experience in customer services, office services, education services, childcare services, etc. And that I have a bachelor’s degree in Child Development. They commented about working in a studio w/ newborns, children, families, and various types of different photoshoots w/ props and settings. I told them I have no experience in photography however I did love supporting creative jobs such as these and that I used to love backstage when I did theatre such as props, makeups, costumes, and stage settings. So that being said if everything goes right and I get the job offer I’m curious what it’s like working as an assistant to a photographer w/ their own mini studio.
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I was a photography assistant way back in the 1990’s, pre-digital. I learned a tremendous amount about photography and the business of photography. I worked for commercial and advertising photographers in Chicago. Even though the experience was incredible in terms of learning and skill development, eventually I realized that I needed to, at some point, decide on an exit plan IF I wanted to become a professional photographer myself. I met a lot of full time professional “lifer” assistants who would never break away and start their own studio.
Well I am a production assistant, not exactly photo but I’ve load and unload gear, set up and break down, operate lights (and mics), assist in battery and lens changes, help set the background including moving things around, assist with problem solving, shooting as a second cam or the occasional solo shoot, talking with clients sometimes, runs to the truck or for food (almost out for gear so I’ll including that), coordinating other crew members, picking up gear and I think that’s it so far.
I also make sure the videographer (your case, photographer) doesn’t forget anything
Photographers expectations of an assistant will vary somewhat based on the scale of the shoot. I think the basic expectations from a technical standpoint at the scale you’ve mentioned would be
• digitech (managing files on a computer if shooting tethered. Marking good shots etc. capture one is the industry standard software) • facilitating lens changes/battery swaps (so worth understanding some basics about camera gear like lens focal lengths. The photographer will most likely say “can you grab me the fifty?” And you need to know how to identify the 50mm lens quickly. • moving lighting based on direction from photographer (look up how to safely set up a C stand and add sand bags, and how to safely reposition them)
Beyond the technical bits each photographer is different, I personally love creative input and suggestions from my assistants to a degree, but some photographers may not like that. Thats where you figure out how that photographer likes to work. If in doubt, ask!
There’s also a chance this photographer may need more help in the admin side of their businesses and may be expecting you to help with some bookkeeping, organising shoots, client emails and file delivery etc.
Key thing for assistants on set: NEVER guess. If you’re unsure, then ask. Especially when it comes to lights on stands near the public and newborns!
As a photography assistant, I have:
Driven the car.
Unloaded and set up gear.
Driven to Home Depot to buy decor.
Inventory/charge/empty/dump batteries and memory cards before and after shoots to make sure we never have a chance of running out of anything or losing data.
Book travel plans and rental gear.
Answered questions from clients, collected payments/deposits, fended off botherers
Ordered the food.
Dumped and organized the files.
Ensured backups are running.
Waved meat and cheese in front of subjects.
Etc.
I’ve worked as an assistant a few times and it included:
- lugging gear
- running wires for lights, monitors, power, etc.
- wrangling people so they’re ready for the next shot
- positioning lights, repositioning lights, re-repositioning lights
- holding reflectors… usually in the wrong spot
- blocking lights from windows
- monitoring gear to assure we have sufficient charge, memory, audio levels, etc.
Doing what you’re told quickly and with little explanation is the minimal expectation. Being able to do as much as possible without supervision is what makes you valuable.