How To Be A Good Photo Assistant

By Scott Bourne

I’ve seen many articles popping up on various photo-related web sites about photo assistants lately. This is a good way to break into the pro market. Spend some time assisting established, working photographers. Learn via osmosis.

The only problem with this approach is that the answer to “What do photographers want out of an assistant?” is variable. No two photographers are alike. No two will necessarily seek the same traits in an assistant. That said, there are a few common sense things to consider…

1. Don’t pretend to know everything. If you’re there as an assistant, remember that humility trumps ability every time (Thanks Bambi Cantrell.)

2. Don’t get in the way. The primary job of an assistant, particularly a new one, is to do no harm. Don’t get in the way. Don’t break things.

3. Don’t be needy. You are supposed to be helping the photographer – not the other way around. Figure out when lunch is, where the deli is located, where the bathroom is and anything else you have to without getting in the photographer’s face about it.

4. Pay attention. Concentrate. Focus. This is not a time to be texting or checking your e-mail on your iPhone. Stay in the game. You need to be engaged. Think about the shoot and nothing else for your own benefit as well as for the benefit of the photographer and the client.

5. Ask the photographer for feedback. Just reading lists of what to do and not do as an assistant, unless they are very general, won’t get the job done for you. Ask the photographer and ask them to be frank. Ask them if you’re helping. Ask them if there’s something you could improve.

Remember assistants assist. They don’t boss, they don’t intrude, they don’t chat up the talent, they don’t get to throw hissy fits. They just get to help. And if they pay attention while doing so, they learn invaluable lessons about going pro.

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4 Responses to “How To Be A Good Photo Assistant”

1. Brent Watkins says:

   2010/07/29 at 9:53 am

   Good points – and true ones. I’d like to add and expand a bit.

   -Don’t get in the way : but don’t be TOO far away either. A lot of times your job is to be a sherpa. You carry things and hand them over when asked for/needed. If I have to hunt for you, I might as well be carrying my on bag – think of it as geeing a really good caddy.

   -Do figure out where the bathroom, lunch cart etc. and tell the photog when he/she needs it. Be our extra eyes and ears.

   -Don’t chat up the client: but DO engage the client. My assistants are always female for a very important reason: I’m a dude. There are things I can’t touch/adjust/move without a potential harassment suit, so the talent/bride/whatever should be comfortable with you. Be fun and funny.

   -Assistants make the world go round. Good ones are worth their weight in gold.
2. admin says:

   2010/07/29 at 9:56 am

   @Brent all good points but also an illustration of the problem I was trying to point out. You say DO engage the client. That would get an assistant fired in my studio. Which is why I want people who read this post to ask the photographer they work for about all these things. Every photographer is different.
3. Brent Watkins says:

   2010/07/29 at 11:08 am

   You are absolutely right. Know who you are working for and ask for the guideline upfront. I bring my team and think of it more like a band. I’m the frontman, but everyone needs to do their part for the event to work.

   Thanks for the great article.
4. Jackie Lamas says:

   2010/07/29 at 10:50 pm

   in my past experience trying to anticipate what the photographer needs is also very helpful. it shows that you’re paying attention to what’s going on and really being there to help and not to bug or get in the way.

   also, it helps to know the equipment. if you don’t know what a 70-200 looks like or what it is, then you need to do some initial research. photographers like it when their assistants know the equipment and are able to get what they need when asked once. it can be the difference in getting the shot and missing it.