I'm curious to know how many of you use assistants. Also, do you pay them by the job, by the hour, etc?
I currently work alone. I have tried to use assistants in the past but found that they were either too irresponsible, got in the way, required too much explaining, etc. Lately I have been considering getting either an assistant or a second shooter, but I don't know how to approach the idea. What I really need is someone to handle my bookings or schedule, help out a bit during the event (like holding a bag with my backup equipment, second set of eyes for checking details, overall freeing me up of the tedious details so I can spend more time focusing on shooting, etc.).
For several years I taught a beginning photography class through the local school district's adult education program. It was designed to help people that had a fair idea of how an a SLR camera worked, but had only shot in P mode. It was a six week course that forced everyone to shoot in full manual and learn exposure and composition. I had some very talented people take the class. I asked two of the students if they would like to learn to be a second shooter for my wedding business. Only one took me up on it, and 5 years later she is still my second shooter. Good thing, because my ex used to be my second shooter, but I fired her when she asked for a divorce. And yes, I kept the studio in the divorce.
I also use an assistant, whose job is to carry equipment, move and set up lights, and help corral people during the formals. I shot her wedding five years ago, and we kept in touch because she and her husband have me do portraits of them every year. She asked me last year if I needed an assistant. She said she would work cheap, because she just wanted the opportunity to learn. She is very hard working and really focuses on what needs to happen. In just a few weddings time I suddenly don't have to ask for anything, she anticipates what I am going to ask for and has it ready to hand to me. I got real lucky with her. I hope she wants to do this for several more years.
I'm new to the wedding biz, but have been shooting pro for years
My (almost) 18yr old daughter is my assistant at events, with pets, families & kids, she has also been my 2nd at two weddings ... I'm training her and I pay her a percentage of the portrait sessions, and hourly for weddings
I also have a studio partner who wanted to learn weddings, so he tagged along last weekend, to make 3 shooters ... great perspective with 3 shooters and a total of 5 cameras, we could be in 3 places at once and it was a 16 hr day
as far as all the grunt work, office & post production work, I don't yet delegate that, I'm afraid of the QC slipping, or something, but I'm a control freak
I would love to use an assistant. Carry me equipment, drive my car and help with the formals. It is an isurance thing that make it too expensive. Liability insurance for the assistant, increase in auto insurance for then to drive my car and workers comp insurance if they get hurt while working for me. I know family members are exempt. How do you handle this. Most of my competitors who use assistants don't have them covered. Should I just go without the insurance for them?
There are many different types of assistants. Not all are suited for each area you need. For us, we have a client rep who handles bookings and such. She fields the phone calls and e-mails so I can focus on working. I pay her $10 an hour for two hours a day. She's a stay-at-home mom (who is GREAT at organizing) and she can do her job without coming into the office. Works for both of us.
For weddings, I have different people. There are two girls who rotate (since no ONE person wants to give up all of their Saturdays). I trained the first one before we started. Got her familiar with the equipment and what she would do... mainly she runs the shot list and corrals people into place, then primps them. We we decided to add another girl to the list, Christy did HER training so I didn't have to take the time. Emily shadowed Christy for a couple of weddings before doing her own. I pay each of them $200 per wedding, more if the day is really long. Basically, it's $25 an hour ($10 an hour for travel time).
For in-office help (financial stuff and organization within the studio) I have just lined up a girl to work two afternoons a week at $10. We eventually want this job to combine with the Client Rep position, but at the moment, there's just too much for one person. The hope is that in six months to a year we'll combine them. We have to tame the budget beast first.
unblinkable wrote:
There are many different types of assistants. Not all are suited for each area you need. For us, we have a client rep who handles bookings and such. She fields the phone calls and e-mails so I can focus on working. I pay her $10 an hour for two hours a day. She's a stay-at-home mom (who is GREAT at organizing) and she can do her job without coming into the office. Works for both of us.
For weddings, I have different people. There are two girls who rotate (since no ONE person wants to give up all of their Saturdays). I trained the first one before we started. Got her familiar with the equipment and what she would do... mainly she runs the shot list and corrals people into place, then primps them. We we decided to add another girl to the list, Christy did HER training so I didn't have to take the time. Emily shadowed Christy for a couple of weddings before doing her own. I pay each of them $200 per wedding, more if the day is really long. Basically, it's $25 an hour ($10 an hour for travel time).
For in-office help (financial stuff and organization within the studio) I have just lined up a girl to work two afternoons a week at $10. We eventually want this job to combine with the Client Rep position, but at the moment, there's just too much for one person. The hope is that in six months to a year we'll combine them. We have to tame the budget beast first. ...Show more →
Do you have your assistants help with any Photoshop work? I like your approach, except I have been thinking about probably delegating more responsibilities on the asistant and paying him/her more. One of my biggest stumbling blocks so far has been finding the right person.
I think the problem is finding a creative person who also enjoys (and excels at) organizational things... and vice-versa. People are usually one or the other.
I have my husband to help with processing. I don't yet foresee a time when I want to delegate that out.
and I pay her a percentage of the portrait sessions, and hourly for weddings
