Author Topic: Making the Best Use of Your Assistant (Read 13073 times)

leaf · « **on:** June 09, 2011, 14:41 »

For those of you who hire someone as an assistant, what do you have them doing all day when you are shooting?

I have been hiring an assistant this year to help out at the shoots, but lots of the time there isn't much for them to do other than sit and watch me shoot. Today I had a 7 hour shoot.. the assistant helped lots loading / unloading and moving lights around when needed and cleaned up unused areas etc. etc., took care of the new models as they arrived, welcomed them and gave them the model releases and made sure they were filled out properly ... so it was all very usefull, and saved me a lot of headache, but there was still about ~~5 hours~~ (on second thought perhaps more like 3 or 4 hours) where there wasn't much for the assistant to do.

What does your assistant do while you are busy shooting?

I don't shoot tethered, perhaps the assistant could begin sorting images if I did? ... perhaps that is another discussion.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2011, 14:44 »

Well, I have an assistant, but not for shooting. She does all the uploading work :-) Sometimes I feel really guilty seeing her suffering after image #231 ;-)

leaf · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2011, 14:53 »

Quote from: velocicarpo on June 09, 2011, 14:44

Well, I have an assistant, but not for shooting. She does all the uploading work :-) Sometimes I feel really guilty seeing her suffering after image #231 ;-)

really? as you already have someone helping you, you don't drag them along on shoots?

lisafx · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2011, 15:03 »

I make extremely good use of my assistant. He's my hubby, so he works for free.

He helps me organize and load my gear into the car, and sets up and moves lights and reflectors throughout the shoot, as we move from one setup to another.

He organizes and keeps track of props, and sets them up or hands them to the models when I need him to.

He also passes out drinks and snacks to the models when they want them.

He double checks that I have gotten properly executed releases from everyone.

I am afraid of heights, so when I am on a ladder he puts his hand on my back to steady me.

I also use him to help get proper expressions from the models. If they are nervous and I am having trouble getting a sincere smile or laugh out of them, he says or does something funny.

Sometimes, looking through the camera, I don't notice if a collar, or necklace, or stray hair is out of place. He keeps an eye out for those things.

He also has great ideas sometimes, in the middle of a shoot, and we can include those.

And of course, he is awesome about stepping in and modeling if I need him to.

Then of course he does the teardown and puts everything in the car. By that time I can literally hardly move at all.

As you can see, he does countless things to make my shoots easier on me. I probably could not run my business without him.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2011, 15:07 »

Quote from: leaf on June 09, 2011, 14:53

Quote from: velocicarpo on June 09, 2011, 14:44
Well, I have an assistant, but not for shooting. She does all the uploading work :-) Sometimes I feel really guilty seeing her suffering after image #231 ;-)

really? as you already have someone helping you, you don't drag them along on shoots?

No, usually not. She works most of the time from home and the workflow is organized online / using a little server.
If I would like to bring her to the shootings it would be more complicated to coordinate and I would have to pay more. I don`t specifically require a assistance while shooting, only sometimes and I have some photoq students here which are willing and helpful. Maybe I am just used on organizing everything on my own....

RT · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2011, 16:38 »

Quote from: leaf on June 09, 2011, 14:41

......... but there was still about 5 hours where there wasn't much for the assistant to do.

Then stick them in the shoot as an extra model, or whilst not doing a shoot give them some of your accounts to do, give them a prop and a piece of paper and get them to list as many ideas as they can for using that prop, get them to research some ideas on the internet, get them to set up some still life shots, buy them a camera and train them to do some still life shots.........the list goes on. The most important thing my assisitant does on any shoot is to concentrate on the details of the image while I worry about the technical side of things, I've lost count of the number of times she's spotted something vital in 'the set' that I've missed or forgotten.

To be honest I've never had a situation where my assistant doesn't have something to do, and don't take this the wrong way but if you've got an assistant who on a 7 hour shoot has nothing to do for 5 of those hours you should think about getting one that's a bit more self motivated or ask yourself do you really need an assistant?

leaf · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2011, 16:53 »

thanks for the thoughts everyone. I know I need to be better at directing my assistant and letting them know what i expect .. or be more proactive in getting them involved in the shoot. I tell them to look for things 'wrong' in the shoot and they have mentioned a few things from time to time, although not a lot.

I'm very used to working alone, so I'm still struggling at working with an assistant in a productive way.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:02 »

Quote from: leaf on June 09, 2011, 16:53

thanks for the thoughts everyone. I know I need to be better at directing my assistant and letting them know what i expect .. or be more proactive in getting them involved in the shoot. I tell them to look for things 'wrong' in the shoot and they have mentioned a few things from time to time, although not a lot.

I'm very used to working alone, so I'm still struggling at working with an assistant in a productive way.

Although I am not shooting with mine, I can tell you that it takes some time to get everything flowing.
On one hand I had to get used to the "chief" role and the new situation. It`s a learning curve for the "boss" too ... how to transmit Ideas, teach things, instruct effectively, be tolerant etc.
On the other hand it may take a couple of weeks until a assistant gets into the vibe of the business and understands the bigger picture of everything. Once this has happened usually you shouldn`t have to have to tell them much what they have to do, or the Assistant may be a not-so-good choice.

Slovenian · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:02 »

Quote from: RT on June 09, 2011, 16:38

To be honest I've never had a situation where my assistant doesn't have something to do, and don't take this the wrong way but if you've got an assistant who on a 7 hour shoot has nothing to do for 5 of those hours you should think about getting one that's a bit more self motivated or ask yourself do you really need an assistant?

It also depends on how much you're paying him, or if you're paying him at all. If you're paying him well, than he/she really should be very self motivated, showing initiative, being your right hand. He should be doing everything, except shooting. But if he/she is just your friend who tags along on the shoot, helping you because you asked him for a friendly favor, well than you can be just happy he's willing to do it for free, as a favor. Same goes for someone who wants to learn from you, you can't really dictate him around and (almost) bark orders at him, although he came there to learn and you're paying him with knowledge.

ShadySue · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:20 »

Quote from: Slovenian on June 09, 2011, 17:02

Quote from: RT on June 09, 2011, 16:38
To be honest I've never had a situation where my assistant doesn't have something to do, and don't take this the wrong way but if you've got an assistant who on a 7 hour shoot has nothing to do for 5 of those hours you should think about getting one that's a bit more self motivated or ask yourself do you really need an assistant?

It also depends on how much you're paying him, or if you're paying him at all. If you're paying him well, than he/she really should be very self motivated, showing initiative, being your right hand. He should be doing everything, except shooting. But if he/she is just your friend who tags along on the shoot, helping you because you asked him for a friendly favor, well than you can be just happy he's willing to do it for free, as a favor. Same goes for someone who wants to learn from you, you can't really dictate him around and (almost) bark orders at him, although he came there to learn and you're paying him with knowledge.

I'm guessing that someone who's doing it for a friendly favour won't do it again, if they had to waste five hours doing zilch.

Slovenian · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:33 »

Quote from: ShadySue on June 09, 2011, 17:20

Quote from: Slovenian on June 09, 2011, 17:02
Quote from: RT on June 09, 2011, 16:38
To be honest I've never had a situation where my assistant doesn't have something to do, and don't take this the wrong way but if you've got an assistant who on a 7 hour shoot has nothing to do for 5 of those hours you should think about getting one that's a bit more self motivated or ask yourself do you really need an assistant?

It also depends on how much you're paying him, or if you're paying him at all. If you're paying him well, than he/she really should be very self motivated, showing initiative, being your right hand. He should be doing everything, except shooting. But if he/she is just your friend who tags along on the shoot, helping you because you asked him for a friendly favor, well than you can be just happy he's willing to do it for free, as a favor. Same goes for someone who wants to learn from you, you can't really dictate him around and (almost) bark orders at him, although he came there to learn and you're paying him with knowledge.
I'm guessing that someone who's doing it for a friendly favour won't do it again, if they had to waste five hours doing zilch.

He will if he's a good/true friend;)

Shooting mostly half naked girls might make him want to do it again as well:) (although, there's a low probability of happening, if I get serious for a moment, since this type of images don't sell as MS)

melastmohican · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:42 »

Quote from: lisafx on June 09, 2011, 15:03

He's my hubby, so he works for free.

If I want my wife to assist me, she wants to take photos and I become an assistant :-)

RT · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2011, 17:56 »

Quote from: leaf on June 09, 2011, 16:53

I'm very used to working alone, so I'm still struggling at working with an assistant in a productive way.

I'm guessing you're struggling to allow yourself to hand over some responsibility to your assistant, happened to me at first and I guess pretty much everyone in our situation, the trouble is we want the end result to be perfect and we think that can only be achieved if we do everything.

Here's something to try, set up a series of still life shoots where you have to be high up a ladder to take the shot, and set it so you have to use every single light, reflector and piece of kit you've got - I'll guarantee you that after the second shot you'll be training your assistant to work the lights and equipment and what things to look out for in a scene.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2011, 21:30 »

easy!

getting coffee, making lunch, clean lens even if they are cleaned, tell her/him to stand up because you might need help, did I mentioned dinner?

p.s: never had an assistant!

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2011, 23:04 »

I have asked my assistant to get a full time day job to help supplement my photography income.

Slovenian · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2011, 03:08 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on June 09, 2011, 23:04

I have asked my assistant to get a full time day job to help supplement my photography income.

Now that's the best advice you could give. I'd actually need a few assistants like that

RT · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2011, 03:24 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on June 09, 2011, 23:04

I have asked my assistant to get a full time day job to help supplement my photography income.

Brilliant post

Perry · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2011, 03:28 »

I have sometimes had an assistant that knows about photography. It's really great to have someone you can tell to move/adjust lighting without needing to explain it three times.

You can always tell the assistant to keep an eye on clothing/hair/jewellery, so none of those gets into a wrong position during shooting. (The big guys of course have their own hairdresser and stylist to do that)

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2011, 12:54 »

7 hours? After 2, 2.5, I'm done.

Slovenian · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2011, 14:37 »

Quote from: sjlocke on June 10, 2011, 12:54

7 hours? After 2, 2.5, I'm done.

Me too, but I'm just a beginner, I though you pros mostly have 8+ hors shoots.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2011, 15:43 »

Good lord no.

lisafx · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2011, 16:55 »

Most of mine are in the 4-6 hour range. I only shoot once a month or so, though, so I am fitting multiple concepts setups, and sometimes locations into one shoot.

trek · « **Reply #22 on:** June 10, 2011, 17:46 »

I've considered hiring part time help but I'm not sure how to do it without creating a liability risk (USA). Do you guys have them sign a independent contractor agreement? Is there a standard form? Do you carry insurance for them? I've just been a low key solo shooter so far. Thanks

luissantos84 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 10, 2011, 17:50 »

Quote from: trek on June 10, 2011, 17:46

I've considered hiring part time help but I'm not sure how to do it without creating a liability risk (USA). Do you guys have them sign a independent contractor agreement? Is there a standard form? Do you carry insurance for them? I've just been a low key solo shooter so far. Thanks

I am more a high key

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #24 on:** June 10, 2011, 17:53 »

Quote from: trek on June 10, 2011, 17:46

I've considered hiring part time help but I'm not sure how to do it without creating a liability risk (USA). Do you guys have them sign a independent contractor agreement? Is there a standard form? Do you carry insurance for them? I've just been a low key solo shooter so far. Thanks

"Hey, I need some help with the model releases and props on my shoot. Hows $25?"

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Author Topic: Making the Best Use of Your Assistant (Read 13073 times)

leaf

velocicarpo

leaf

lisafx

velocicarpo

RT

leaf

velocicarpo

Slovenian

ShadySue

Slovenian

melastmohican

RT

luissantos84

PaulieWalnuts

Slovenian

RT

Perry

Sean Locke Photography

Slovenian

Sean Locke Photography

lisafx

trek

luissantos84

Sean Locke Photography

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