Photo Assistants: What You Need to Know

If you are a beginner and are interested in being an assistant to a photographer – OR – if you are a professional who is looking for a photo assistant, this article is for you. There are a lot of important characteristics of an assistant that you need to take into consideration. There are technical, social, intellectual, and fashionable traits to look for.

Technical:

Need to have a basic knowledge about: cameras, reflectors,  lighting, tripods, backdrops, etc. etc. etc. You should know how to angle reflectors to fill in shadows, and where the lights need to be placed. You should know enough about the technical aspect to be able to take direction and understand any of the technical vocabulary.

Social:

You need to be comfortable in front of clients. If you are painfully shy, this probably isn’t the job for you. You need to be able to communicate effectively. You need to know your boundaries – don’t interrupt the photographer. If you have a good idea, know how to express that idea effectively and properly. You should be able to help the clients feel comfortable and relaxed. Unless asked, you should not be doing funny faces and bunny ears behind the camera to get someone to laugh. In other words – don’t be annoying.

Intellectual:

You may be asked to help with paperwork/ filing/ billing/ etc. You should be good with numbers and have a good memory. You should be organized and always be aware of the time. You should know photography terms and be familiar with the photographer’s work.

Fashionable:

Maybe fashionable isn’t the right word, but if you are going to be interacting with the clients, you should know what poses look good, and SHOW them how to look fabulous. You should know when to fix their hair, or help them with any wardrobe malfunctions. You should know how to create space and lines. You should know enough to make any client – short, tall, fat, or skinny, look flattering in front of the camera. It’s good to take a few tips from Tyra on how to extend your neck, drop your chin, and smile with your eyes (the one good thing I’ve ever learned from her). Small changes like that make a huge difference in the shot.

Most important of all, you should support the photographer. You should only say kind things about him/her, even when you are off set. Be professional and be open minded. You will learn the most by being on set at photo shoots, so be grateful for opportunities to learn in these situations. These are prime chances to grow as an artist and as a business person. The more you assist with, the more the photographer can focus on getting the perfect exposures/focus/framing. Work as a team. The better you get at assisting, the better prepared you will be to get behind the camera and get out on your own. While browsing, I found this assistant’s online resume that I thought was a good idea. Best of luck!