As you know I’m very much in favor of photographers getting together and sharing their knowledge over a few beers. But don’t just stick to the beers and shooting for fun. One of the best ways to learn something is to join other photographers on real assignments. And if you’re there you might as well assist too.
Pieter dropped by for a coffee and a chat because he had to shoot one of his famous L-style Sessions in my neighborhood. We meet pretty often but I’ve only seen him at work a few times. Since I’ve had nothing to do and needed some fresh air anyway, I just invited myself to trail along on his shoot. I operated the Sunbounce a couple of times but I also had some time to fire off a couple of shots of Pieter at work with the Leica M4-2, I borrowed from Wilhelm.
Although I know Pieter’s style pretty well, it was still very interesting to see how he gets those pictures. The other thing that’s always interesting is to see how other photographers interact with their clients. You can’t just copy someone else but there are always a couple of things that are worth trying out to incorporate in your own style.
So what did I learn? No big secrets but the way Pieter directs and poses his subjects is phenomenal. I also really like how he frees his mind and back by working mainly with one camera, one lens and natural light. That might give him less technical options but also lets him work fast and concentrate on the subject.
Assisting fellow photographers benefits both the photographer and the assistant. The assistant learns something and the photographer has an extra pair of hands available. And if he’s lucky he’ll get some very flattering behind-the-scenes pictures when the assistant takes out his Hasselblad and concentrates on the photographer’s best part.
I’m certainly going to assist more in the future. What about you, do you ever assist? What did you learn?
Lately, i’ve been more assisting other photographers than shooting myself. Both experienced and inexperienced photographers i also have learned a lot by watching how other people work. I think it’s one of those things a photographer needs to do (together with standing on the other side of the camera). It brings things in another perspective.
And it’s good for your own karma… and next time you need an assistant, it’s more likely they say yes.
Nice shots from behind-the-scene. This is in Hofstade, right?
Very good post Bert. I have assisted on a few of my fellow shooters shoots and i agree with everything you have said. with 2 shooters you also get a different point of view and can bounce ideas off each other about compositions, poses and angles. Makes for an interesting mix! the client wins every time!
Hi Bert-I’m a big fan, i have found the idea of assisting for Professionals here in ireland is met with a big NO WAY.I believe that they are afraid enthusiast photographers and that we eventually will take the clients they have.And is probably true as they don’t seem to make an effort in the learning curve.
I assisted a Love Music Love Food (http://www.lovemusiclovefood.org) shoot in a studio in London a month or so ago.
Very different to my small 8′x10′ home studio setup and was working with 3 other assistants as well as the photographer and 2 makeup/stylists.
Learned a lot that day. From photographer/talent interaction as well as my first time with a Hassleblad and using a MAC (I use PCs) + strobe heads powered by powerpacks rather than the monoblocks I use.
Steep curve, but it all made sense
I could imagine everything that is mentionned above, however, for now I only operated the camera and never assisted a pro. As learning is mostly practising, but also very mucht watching what others do, I think it’s great to see someone interact with the ‘client’. Different styles give different results, thus learning from each other really is a great thing to do. Thus, if you would ever need someone, count me in as a candidate
.
Well, I have not yet done any assistance except with my boss …. but I think it really helps
So Bert … need any assistance ?
I’ve assisted a few times and I’m sorry to say that it hurt my self-esteem as a photographer. The first photog I ever assisted with was one who I really, really admired. She was very generous to give me the gig when I had barely ever shot anything and really just had an interest in learning. She gushed about my performance that day, but then… I never heard from her again. Did I do something? Oh, maybe it was just an anomaly.
But since then, it has happened twice more. Photogs who go AWOL after I shoot with them. They never give me constructive criticism or feedback, only praise. But I’m desperate for one of them to tell me what I did do wrong, because as an assistant, I work really hard to be there when the photographer needs me, not be in the way, be polite and professional with the clients and get good shots.
Photogs, if you’re going to have an assistant, please, PLEASE give feedback. We all want it. We want to know what we did right, but we also want to know what we could improve. That’s the reason I became an assistant. But I don’t want to be one anymore – it makes me wind up doubting myself.
You have always been inspiration for many photographers you are transparent with your knowledge and I think that it is what makes more valuable your work and your ability to teach everything you have learned with time and practice thanks for showing impressive and fantastic pictures around the world in seconds.
I’ve been really wanting to be an assistant. I’m just entering into portrait/lifestyle photography coming from a more journalisic/documentary/nature style before. Before I just took groups of crowds of people or landscapes but no real one to one interactions with people. And being introverted doesn’t help things any. Been trudging through the few photo shoots I’ve done so far but I know I’d gain a lot of insight from observing someone else.
I totally agree.
But it is almost impossible to find an unpaid job as an assistant of a pro or semi pro in Belgium.
Forums and blogs doesn’t seem to be the right approach. Maybe I have to start spamming all pro’s in Belgium. You never know….
Thanks, Bert. I agree, too. I had a 200 head shot shoot and I had assistance. If the assistant is another photographer, he has your back. That is to say that if I was forgetting the details because I was doing something else, the assistant flagged it with the question, shouldn’t you be doing, getting, setting and it was this dynamic that made the project flow smoothly. It was a great dynamic and made the project more creative. Learning from you, I try to share my knowledge and I would love to assist to learn more, myself If you are in Los Angeles or Central New York, Master Bert, let me know — I’d love to assist for you.
i never did any assistance but if wee all help others in assistance we can learn great things
I tried but the shooter said “no we dont need ya” That seemes to be the standard answer:D And he was not even that good that I could have learned I just wanted to meet the folks.
Im trying to arrange these shooting days where there is 2-3 models, 3 photogs and everybody gets to shoot and assist. With new faces there is always something to learn if you keep your eyes and ears open.. and most importantly are willing to listen!
I’ve tried to help guys out and point out some issues but usualy they don’t care “its fine” and the images are crappy because the light was 8ft away. Whats the point if you are not willing to learn ;D
Jussi,
You discovered one of the laws: “A” level people are not afraid of hiring “A” level folks (or better). They are the smart once, confident in who their are, and what they know. “B” level people will hire “C” level people, “C” level people hire only “F” level people, in a hope that their skills will shine in comparison with their subordinates… well, they don’t realize (to dumb for it) that everybody else sees it, and usually they are first to go, when firing squad is on a hunt for heads.
Don’t give up, you will find some “A” level people, someday.
Bert:
Love the “candid” shot of your “behind-the-scene” picture. Also, Pieter’s L-session clip with the wedding blog entries are very interesting indeed. His shots made me think on what is possible, and so easily overlooked by amateurs like me.
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Great post Bert,
I was on the verge of getting $40,000 in debt to go to photography school, but instead decided to
work as an assistant for local pros. I drafted a cover letter, made a zip file of my portfolio, googled
“Professional Photographer Vancouver” and emailed every one that I felt I’d like to work with.
40 emails got me a reply from one photographer, and I’ve worked with him about 25 times in the last 4 months.
I’ve learned more that I ever would in school, had the opportunity to use gear that I’m a long way off from
affording, and gained insight into the business aspect of photography.
I feel that I’m al lot better off than going to school as now I’m in the process of saving some money to
get some lights and gear (I’ve got a Canon 30D and a kit lens) and then I’ll be off to the races!
I can definitely suggest assisting to anyone; newbies, students, and pros~ there’s always something to learn
if you’re willing to learn it!!
I think that many pros don’t appreciate assistants for a number of reasons, and it’s a shame. I hope to treat all of
my assistants with the utmost kindness and do my best to teach them as much as I can, because I know that each and
every one of them are far more than just another ‘voice activated light stand’!!
So Bert…If I fly out there can I assist you!??!
This is a very good tip, Bert.
Image #4 is priceless.
Hi Bert,
As always, I really enjoyed the post and I was also interested in reading the comments as well. I completely agree that the best way for anyone to learn is actually on the job with someone else. I have never been to photo school for anything other than learning how to develop and print. I think everything else I learned was from friends who were working as photographers and were kind enough to show me through the ropes in their studios as well as in a few shoots every now and again. After that, I worked as second shooter for dents and fashion shows, spent all my time finding out as much as ai could about photography, sharing ideas with other photographers, getting out and shooting whatever came my way and trying to find as many new clients as I could.
In the last year or so I’ve had to hire second photographers and assistants and I’ve also managed to help some friends who are wanting a foot in the door get some access to portfolio enhaning shoots as it were and I did get quite mixed feelings from the results. Recently at Japan fashion week, I managed to get a street fashion photographer friend access to runway shows as my assistant, but in reality all he had to do was get some hints at what he should do, take his own shots and work out what he liked to do over the series of several shows. I really enjoyed spending time with him, we fed off each other, I picked up some ideas from him as well, we both enjoyedthe shows and got good shots and we both learned something (no photographer ever stops learning).
On the flip side, I also had a very bad experience with someone I hired for a large event recently. We had a tough 10 hour schedule shooting a very large corporate event with stage shows, booths, demonstrations, attendees etc. The person I hired had a very good portfolio of portraits and product shots, he had been asking me for months to let him work with me so he was keen and he assured me he would deliver whatever I asked. I didn’t ask him to do so much, but he even offered to turn up early and help me more for the same price so he could get experience. To cut a long story short, after a couple of hours he was exhausted, he didn’t do what was asked of him, he couldn’t deliver the images within the specified deadline and most importantly, crucial parts of the day that should have been thoroughly covered as a team were only half done. Luckily I had enough good work to keep my client happy and I retained the contract, but it made me really wary about who I work with. I explained to the second shooter where he went wrong and I hope e learned something, but I also learned something about where I might have went wrong with my explanations etc, so hopefully a good learning experience for us all.
So, I guess for me now, if I am hiring someone, I think I am best to pay more money to get someone who is established and reliable, but if I have someone assisting me for experience, I would prefer they do it on an unpaid basis and they can get shots for their own education rather than something I have to rely on to send a client.
I thought about assisting photographers, I guess I haven’t really try it. There’s this problem in our town, people often afraid you copied their style… ummm
so i just stick to a bunch of photographer that stick to a pro.
That way I learn something too although not directly from the pro. I’d already very happy about it.
Cheers Bert! See you in Twitter @netsterz
Bert,
I know it’s a very true issue for all photographers. It has nothing to do with copying like I read in some of the comments it’s just about giving your professional life more oxygen.
To be honest I haven’t assist yet but it’s not easy forcing the challenge. I believe that it’s not only the ‘to assist’ story but also be that photographer who’s willing to accept an assistant for once in a while.
Best regards,
Jasper
I like Boggy Man’s “A people hire A people, B people hire C people” statement a lot. Typically, especially the assistant will learn a lot but by hiring the good folks you can learn a thing or 2 yourself as well, which is just as nice. Also, an assistant gets to shoot the exact same scenes from another angle at times, or can focus on details that are more risky – the main shooter needs to get at least a minimum number of shots ‘on the money’ to get the job done but an assistant can take some more risk in just trying out things. And once in a while, something really nice pops up… It’s also great to have people with a completely different approach and/or style get together for shooting – the combination can be awesome, albeit a little difficult if a homogenous presentation of the results has to be delivered.
Excellent post, really!
Many years ago, I was hired as an assistant photographer. I was pretty green and glad to get the work. Because of my lack of experience working with (or as) a pro, I didn’t realize at the time, that assisting is a two-way street.
The photographer I worked for, did not take the time to explain, instruct, or ask. Just barked out orders and gave no feedback. And I quickly realized that this particular photographer’s style was to work as though their clients were an assembly line of paycheques, nothing more.
Because I didn’t feel that our personalities or styles were a good fit, I didn’t stay long with that photographer. But I gained something really valuable nonetheless…
Because I so strongly disagreed with pretty much everything about that photographer’s work, personality, methods and style, in a short time, I learned an enormous amount about what NOT to do.
Working as a pro myself for quite some time now, when I have the rare occasion to bring on an assistant shooter, I take a lot of care to be instructive, kind, informative and to listen to them as much as I expect them to listen to me.
So for those people who unfortunately have bad experiences working as an assistant, bear in mind that sometimes the worst experience can teach you a lot about who you are and who you want to be.
Hi Bert,
That’s a real great idea, normally when I go out with friends on a shoot we’re competing for the best shots/angles/compositions but to just sit back and assist may provide some useful insight to improve my own work! I’ll make that suggestion when we’re out this weekend. Thanks again.