I've got my 2nd wedding booked (Aug 2008) and I'm thinking it would be nice to have an assistant.
I think a lot of FM'rs use their spouse as an assistant. What if u have kids? (mine are currently 2 and 4 yrs old., not sure if it's feasable for me to use my wife for this stuff.)
I have a partner... if one or the other of us can't work, or we book two weddings then we'll hire my brother or a friend.
They're both experienced and do good work, works for us.
My husband is my second shooter, and I hire the assistant position out to three girls who rotate weekends (so that no one person has to lose out all of their Saturdays a month). I pay a minimum of $200 per wedding, then $25 for each additional hour over eight. It's an expense that is well worth the investment to me.
My daughter is my assistant for now. She is 16. She drive my car, look after my camera stuffs and hold 2nd lighting (Canon 580 EX flash).
She stay with me for full day. I pay her $100.00 and she's happy with that.
Next year, I will give her a camera and she will also be my my second shooter.
I could pay her $150.00 per wedding.
If she will do more processing / editing images I give her $8.00 - $10.00/hr.
I also try to get her in lay - out / design album for next year.
My wife is my assistant........or am I HER assistant
Actually, we both shoot pretty equally.
Either way, we don't have kids but we constantly wonder about what we'll do when we do have some (God willing). I guess a good babysitter, preferably family but we're too far away.
I have a college freshman who is a very promising talent and is not at all insulted to be my human light stand when needed. He has a really keen eye and a very good attitude. He is willing to be a volunteer just for the experience but I insist on paying him. If I get paid for a job, all those who work with and for me get paid as well. I consider myself lucky to have him.
i have the best assistant, hes now my second shooter. And hes my best friend, now he has an assistant of his own. I will plant some pec pads in his bag so his assistant will think he's been shooting with me again and leave him out of jealousy.. muauahahaha *rubs hands together*
I've had quite a few over the years. I'm really excited about my latest, my son-in-law as of last March. He was at one of the weddings with my daughter who was the MUA and actually refered the bride to me, and just started assisting me without being asked. I've used him since then, and found that he took photography in school and is a good second shooter, too.
I'm thinking this could solve my problem of weddings being too hard on me, having a strong man to carry stuff and shoot, too.
