Is that okay if I send an email together with my resume and portfolio to the photographers in my town and ask them whether they like to hire me as assistant photographer?
I don't see any harm in that. I would suggest personalizing the email and only contacting photographers you are truly interested in assisting. Instead of simply shotgunning the same correspondence to everyone.
Right Poes
Posts: 635
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
I do set help, pack mule and other assisting a local who I feel is the most for real commercial guy these parts have to offer. I cannot express how awesome of a learning experience it has been. I will admit though that I pursued working with him and not just anyone. There are several others I would love to get some set time with and that may or may not happen.
The reason this guys good to work with is he is a great mentor who loves his craft and doesn't mind sharing his skills with anyone willing to pay attention. He has no patience for incompetence yet he doesn't run anyone down for being where their at in their pursuits so long as they try to keep up with bettering them. His catalog sets do need a team so its not just mercy work. He will toast you buy the end of the day.
Good luck on working on others teams, it's a great gig when you can get it.
Images by MR
Posts: 6,127
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Houmaan Photography wrote: Is that okay if I send an email together with my resume and portfolio to the photographers in my town and ask them whether they like to hire me as assistant photographer?
Houmaan Photography wrote: Is that okay if I send an email together with my resume and portfolio to the photographers in my town and ask them whether they like to hire me as assistant photographer?
I'd consider that for those times when my wife, or my regular "backup" assistant, aren't available.
I heard somewhere you should offer to buy lunch for the photographer you want to work for (from a photographer I am sure of it!)
I would love to be an unpaid intern or assistant. I don't know where you live, but even the really good photographers around here aren't making much money at all and I am positive most cannot afford to pay an assistant...
This is sort of on the same topic, but does anybody know about how to become a digital assistant and whether it is easier or harder to be hired as the digital person rather the normal assistant who takes care of lighting gear etc. ?
Images by MR wrote: Hire.. as in pay you $$ to assist ?
Houmaan Photography wrote: Yeah! Isn't it normal?
Images by MR wrote: Why would a photographer pay you to learn?
In theory, because you can do enough other things to make it worthwhile. Like carry stuff, or run errands, or who knows what, depending on the OP's skill set. How many photographers can afford such an expense is another matter.
GoldieImages
Posts: 102
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Research the photographers in your area, and then try and meet them in person, introduce yourself and shake their hand. Be prepared with your portfolio in hand that's been tailored to match the sort of photography they do. Then they'll see that you'll know enough to be of some used to them, as well as having enough to learn to keep you interested and motivated.
If you just mail them your resume/port, and not appear to show any real effort or desire to work with them, then you'll most likely get binned.
Best bet is to look for a photography trade group in your area. Sign up and help out with events so you get to meet some of the professionals in the area.
When I was starting out here in Los Angeles many years ago, I signed up with two of the most active associations in town: ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) and APA (Advertising Photographers of America). Then I offered to help out with events (collect tickets, do sign-ins, rack chairs etc).
Not only did I get to attend the events for free, I found out who the most successful photographers in town were, and they got to see that I was willing to work hard. Within a couple of months I had more assisting gigs than I could handle (I was also a full time student at the time).
Assisting is a great way to learn, and to see how business is done.
It is the way to do it. None will hire you as pay you. If you send emails asking to be paid you will not even get a reply.
If you take out the hire part, you might be lucky to get one reply out of 50.
It's just these days it's so hard to get any paying work that photographers who can pay for assistants will always look to persistent solid candidates that start off by interning for free.
Images by MR wrote: Hire.. as in pay you $$ to assist ?
Houmaan Photography wrote: Yeah! Isn't it normal?
Images by MR wrote: Why would a photographer pay you to learn?
In smaller markets you may have to work free once or twice to show you are competent. But in big cities like LA, NY and Miami, working professional photographers always pay their assistants. Generally editorial shooters pay on the low end, while advertising and car-shooters pay more.
A photo assistant is there to work first and foremost. Learning happens more with just keeping your eyes and ears open, and paying attention to how things work. I know some photo assistants who are quite happy being just assistants, making $150/day to $250/day.
Are you seeking the position to assist a photographer as a job? Or as a learning opportunity? While you might consider it both, which is your primary reason?
If you need a job, then seeking payment is fine. Few photographers feel the need to hire an unknown assistant. They probably already have one if they want one. You might only get calls as a backup, but your value would only be there if you knew how to work with that photographer in those limited situations.
If you are seeking experience and learning how another photographer works, consider it an internship. Offer your services for free, at least in the beginning. Once your value is known, payment can be discussed.
Jasper Johal Photo wrote: Best bet is to look for a photography trade group in your area. Sign up and help out with events so you get to meet some of the professionals in the area.
When I was starting out here in Los Angeles many years ago, I signed up with two of the most active associations in town: ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) and APA (Advertising Photographers of America). Then I offered to help out with events (collect tickets, do sign-ins, rack chairs etc).
Not only did I get to attend the events for free, I found out who the most successful photographers in town were, and they got to see that I was willing to work hard. Within a couple of months I had more assisting gigs than I could handle (I was also a full time student at the time).
Assisting is a great way to learn, and to see how business is done.
This is how it is done. Network. This applies to assistants and even photographers. Join groups who's memberships is made up of the people you want to be in front of, then don't just join those groups, get involved so that the people, your target market, start to see view you as a go getter, problem solver, hard worker, pleasant to be around person. This is better than being just another want-to-be.
Most photographers have their go to assistant or full time assistant. But, most of those people last about two years. They ether are good and move on to becoming photographers themselves or they go and seek more lucrative careers in other lines of work.
Your goal, is to be top of mind when that main assistant moves on.
J M
Posts: 359
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Neil Snape wrote: It is the way to do it. None will hire you as pay you. If you send emails asking to be paid you will not even get a reply.
If you take out the hire part, you might be lucky to get one reply out of 50.
It's just these days it's so hard to get any paying work that photographers who can pay for assistants will always look to persistent solid candidates that start off by interning for free.
While this may be true in the big fashion industry centres, I've found the opposite in my area, ( and I don't like to ever disagree with you ) that assisting has been relatively easy to come by. All I had to do was send a couple of emails to different photographers, and got a gig assisting on some tests as a sort of meet and greet, from there I've been regularly assisting on campaigns, interstate and local, magazine shoots and other things, paid and non paid depending on budget.
I met another one at fashion shows.
I haven't had one fail to reply to me yet and all of them have had me working with them on set. Some have even pitched me jobs (shooting video helps a lot) and helped me with contacts for locations, or stylist. I feel in this day and age too many young photographers are looking at the blogs and posts by idk say Emily whatever that facebook girl with lots of likes is, and thinking they can do it themselves so start pulling clothes from op shops and shooting.
Most of their advice is telling me to move asap..
To others saying to call or turn up at their studio.
Email really is the only way to go at least in my area, not many fashion photographers have studio's least of all in a lower budget area, plus we all know photographers love to email and not be put on the spot on the phone.
Houmaan Photography wrote:
They are not going to pay me to learn!!
I know enough! They pay me to make their job easier!
Not likely to happen. There are two ways of making a living off as an assistant that I've seen, 1. Paying your dues, doing free fat the start and some paid with as much as you can then your name becomes known around town if your work ethic is good, and you'll then get the gigs, or 2. Work for a rental studio as their assistant if anyone needs to hire an assistant with rental.
Otherwise you are competing with young determined photographers that many are getting by on spouses or familys, and are willing to do lots of assisting just to learn who will become photographers 1st assistants, as they are their go to guy (or girl)
the only time we can pay assistants is on weddings where we're getting paid enough to be able to afford some help. and then we're looking for guys better than we are. otherwise the pay is just the chance to observe and learn. although technically i guess interns are supposed to get paid or you are violating the law (but i guess it's not enforced much). kind of a gray area in the US at least. small business can be like that. we're not IBM. no human resources department.
there is a local photographer who has a couple young ladies working for him (they got senior pictures from him and then became his workerbees).
if we hired someone it would probably be like that. someone that the senior girls could relate to. or the brides. or maybe someone with hispanic connections. something that would help us book more business.
working in a camera store is another way to possibly make connections. at least you get paid something.
They are not going to pay me to learn!!
I know enough! They pay me to make their job easier!
Good. Make sure you include in your resume, cover letter and email how you will make their lives easier:
- familiarity with different types of equipment
- knowledge of exposure, white balance, ratios.
- customer service skills
I wish I had someone contacting me with a good cover letter and resume. Some people want to be taken under the photographer's wing and be thought everything about photography. Not going to happen.
correct. it has to be win-win. what's in it for the photographer? is the assistant going to make themselves incredibly useful or just trying to get some free training? i don't need another shooter so much as a sherpa, coffee-bringer, watch the stuff, go get that shot someone just asked for, chat with the mother so i can work type person. like in grey's anatomy with the guy who was intern for mcsteamy.
if all they want is training go get a subscription to kelby and watch all the courses. then watch creativelive and lynda. then watch ...
me voy wrote: I wish I had someone contacting me with a good cover letter and resume. Some people want to be taken under the photographer's wing and be thought everything about photography. Not going to happen.
Good. Make sure you include in your resume, cover letter and email how you will make their lives easier:
- familiarity with different types of equipment
- knowledge of exposure, white balance, ratios.
- customer service skills
I wish I had someone contacting me with a good cover letter and resume. Some people want to be taken under the photographer's wing and be thought everything about photography. Not going to happen.
Wish you were in Toronto that I could send my stuff to you
If you came in with that as your answer, I'd never hire you.
No one knows enough. To improve, we are all constantly learning.
Something to ponder: If you know enough already, you'd probably not have any free time to assist another photographer.
My direction is toward the studios that at least four photographers working in it and need some one to help them with gears, know lighting patterns, know the lighting ratios, can act as a retoucher. Not those who has a camera and a lens in their backpack and they claim they are professional photographers!
twoharts wrote: correct. it has to be win-win. what's in it for the photographer? is the assistant going to make themselves incredibly useful or just trying to get some free training? i don't need another shooter so much as a sherpa, coffee-bringer, watch the stuff, go get that shot someone just asked for, chat with the mother so i can work type person. like in grey's anatomy with the guy who was intern for mcsteamy.
if all they want is training go get a subscription to kelby and watch all the courses. then watch creativelive and lynda. then watch ...
Consider you have a photo-shoot scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00am. You don't like that when you arrive at 8:55, everything things are perfectly set?? Strobes are in the correct positions, in correct power, already shoot the test shot with the model, you will shoot, take the memory out of the camera, hand it over to the assistant that can take care of retouch too????
That was very good compliment that you dubbed me coffee-bringer! Or maybe your business is in the scale that you need a coffee bringer rather than assistant photographer.
it's about the attitude. some people have approached me and all they want is shots for their portfolio and to steal my setups. well they can get their own damn shoots. lol.
Houmaan Photography wrote: That was very good compliment that you dubbed me coffee-bringer! Or maybe your business is in the scale that you need a coffee bringer rather than assistant photographer.
that would be wonderful but around here families won't pay more than $100 for a shoot (and sears advertises $7.99 which includes prints). hard to find much left to pay an assistant out of that. in fact many of the pros with studios now work at the mall photo places.
but if someone wanted to hustle for experience then i would help them learn in exchange for just what you describe (which admittedly sounds pretty good. i'd have a bigger ego if i could just swing in and start shooting).
my situation is a little different because i work with my wife. but we could definitely use another wife!
Houmaan Photography wrote: Consider you have a photo-shoot scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00am. You don't like that when you arrive at 8:55, everything things are perfectly set?? Strobes are in the correct positions, in correct power, already shoot the test shot with the model, you will shoot, take the memory out of the camera, hand it over to the assistant that can take care of retouch too????
Jesse, they are in Toronto.
I grew up there, moved to the west. I returned a few times, last year as well for 2 months.
I hope I am wrong. Yet all the photographers I talked to and hung out with would not reply to people asking for paid work.
To be honest I had a lot of photographers asking to assist me, even though they shouldn't. Never once did any ask for pay,a s they know what the answer would be.
OF course maybe the OP is asking photographers that would need arms and legs, then sure they may be paid, and may reply if they never have offers for internship from the schools etc.
When I started in Vancouver assisting for free was already the norm. It wasn't until you proved yourself to be worth something that you could charge.
In those days you needed to know different things to be a good assistant, yet the one common task of light hasn't changed at all.
J M
Posts: 359
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Neil Snape wrote: Jesse, they are in Toronto.
I grew up there, moved to the west. I returned a few times, last year as well for 2 months.
I hope I am wrong. Yet all the photographers I talked to and hung out with would not reply to people asking for paid work.
To be honest I had a lot of photographers asking to assist me, even though they shouldn't. Never once did any ask for pay,a s they know what the answer would be.
OF course maybe the OP is asking photographers that would need arms and legs, then sure they may be paid, and may reply if they never have offers for internship from the schools etc.
When I started in Vancouver assisting for free was already the norm. It wasn't until you proved yourself to be worth something that you could charge.
In those days you needed to know different things to be a good assistant, yet the one common task of light hasn't changed at all.
I guess like anything where the competition is fierces spots are more limited. I hope by the time I make my move I'll be a good enough assistant or have made a few contacts to pick up a spot as a first photographer, although I guess what would be even better would be having even more of my own work booked, I would still love to learn from the best whenever possible though.
I wouldn't expect people to reply to asking for paid work, especially for someone who will benefit from the experience going in with that idea has certain arrogance to it, at least in the beauty / fashion industries I think we're discussing.
c_h_r_i_s
Posts: 13,496
Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
I got paid, some I assisted some photographers for one day others for one year....... mostly freelance.
Lots of perks, free use of a studio, equip, lighting, camera, free film, polaroid, processing. models for testing.
If a photographer had some small still life jobs he couldn't be bothered with I shot them and got paid.
Best were the lunches as photographers eat well. Mini bar in hire studios and drinks in the pub after the shoot.
Images by MR wrote: Why would a photographer pay you to learn?
I do weddings mainly ...
I would pay a barely trained assistant because their main job wouldn't be photography but pack mule, crowd management, gear management and MAYBE a bit of portrait work (I offer what I call we photobook guestbook: my assistant does simple 2 light portraits of the guests during the reception using a small portable "studio").
Thomas Van Dyke
Posts: 1,213
Washington, District of Columbia, US
Houmaan Photography wrote: Or maybe your business is in the scale that you need a coffee bringer rather than assistant photographer.
Houmaan, perhaps you might benefit if you rethink this...
I'm hired as a photo-assistant and not as an assistant photographer...
The Lion's share of these paid assignment come via the ASMP's Assistant List and I've paid my dues to get on this (literally and figuratively) albeit, the ASMP is focused on the US so you'll have to find another professional organization germane to your market...
btw, twoharts pretty much nailed it...
twoharts wrote: ...it has to be win-win. what's in it for the photographer? is the assistant going to make themselves incredibly useful or just trying to get some free training? i don't need another shooter so much as a sherpa, coffee-bringer, watch the stuff...
All my assisting assignments have been location work... sometimes of an entire weeks duration... per-diem is included btw...
The number one rule is you are on site as a contract employee (W-9's required here in the states) and you NEVER EVER solicit while on the job or after, it is the kiss of death in assisting... you always defer anyone inquiring about your availability to your contracting photographer... again, let me make this perfectly clear... this is not an opportunity to grow your client base...
Many of my clients hire me again and again because I've built a reputation locally as focused on the assignment mission... totally
It would be in your best interest to remove any delusions of using this as a vehicle to obtain clients as a graphic artist i.e. retoucher... You seriously need to market that skill set separately... photo-assisting is as two-hearts mentioned... being a stellar silent Sherpa... it really, really helps to be clairvoyant i.e. being extremely alert as to what is happening on site and constantly being in the right place at the right time... Be prepared for 12 to 14 hours days.... seriously...
Something to keep in mind is you'll need a professional presence within the industry that will allow the photographer to justify your billing rate to their client... no professional tenure and/or presence, then no pay... there are too many talented emerging professional who are standing in line for this type of opportunity...
we got hired to shoot a pre-wedding reception/party and they set up a little photo area with streamers as backdrop and a bunch of props. i set up a couple alienbees and we shot people doing silly stuff. that's the kind of thing where it's helpful to have someone to go get the people and let them know they can get their photos taken and also to man the camera so i can take a break or take the couple outside for a bit.
it would be nice to have someone get things setup for me in the studio but events are really where having help would be nice at times.
the wife and i are 50'ish so having a youngster might be helpful in terms of energy and public relations. if i spend all night chatting with the guests i'm not getting pictures taken.
Eric Lefebvre wrote: I would pay a barely trained assistant because their main job wouldn't be photography but pack mule, crowd management, gear management and MAYBE a bit of portrait work (I offer what I call we photobook guestbook: my assistant does simple 2 light portraits of the guests during the reception using a small portable "studio").
twoharts wrote: we got hired to shoot a pre-wedding reception/party and they set up a little photo area with streamers as backdrop and a bunch of props. i set up a couple alienbees and we shot people doing silly stuff. that's the kind of thing where it's helpful to have someone to go get the people and let them know they can get their photos taken and also to man the camera so i can take a break or take the couple outside for a bit.
Here's one example page forma photobook guestbook:
Here is another (without the signature)
So a simple 2 or 3 light setup done with some cheapo triggers and YN460's and some softboxes/umbrellas.
This is the only photography my assistants really do at a wedding.
Interesting question with many possible twist and turns - some photographers will think you are trying to get into his/her pocket book (steal clients) and some photographers will want your assistance and welcome it.
I think a casting call would be more effective (least you would know how many people looked at the casting / plus models may want to hire you) - blind emails either go into spam or are ignored...
I routine hire assitant photographers for my human statue picture project.
Azimuth Arts
Posts: 1,165
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Neil Snape wrote: Jesse, they are in Toronto.
I grew up there, moved to the west. I returned a few times, last year as well for 2 months.
I hope I am wrong. Yet all the photographers I talked to and hung out with would not reply to people asking for paid work.
To be honest I had a lot of photographers asking to assist me, even though they shouldn't. Never once did any ask for pay,a s they know what the answer would be.
OF course maybe the OP is asking photographers that would need arms and legs, then sure they may be paid, and may reply if they never have offers for internship from the schools etc.
When I started in Vancouver assisting for free was already the norm. It wasn't until you proved yourself to be worth something that you could charge.
In those days you needed to know different things to be a good assistant, yet the one common task of light hasn't changed at all.
Neil,
I'd happily assist you (for no pay) but I am sure you could do better than me. I'd much rather hire you to assist me. But that's not what this thread is about.
To the OP,
There are certainly pros here in Toronto that do hire assistants and pay them. These are commercial shooters who are doing large projects for ad agencies. Their assistants range from minimum wage gofers who take care of coffee and lugging around the heavy gear, to highly trained and experienced photographers, many who do are the primary shooter for their own commercial projects, usually on a smaller scale.
Getting these jobs is not easy, and honestly I don't know where you would start other than to ask one of the photographers who is hiring. Check local marketing websites and magazines to see who is shooting the latest campaigns and get in touch. You will need a very strong portfolio, if you can't shoot at a level close to the person hiring you then you won't be of any use to them.
I don't think you will find many of the pros like this on Model Mayhem, at least not using their real names.
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