{"id":9776,"date":"2010-08-29T20:39:32","date_gmt":"2010-08-29T18:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/?p=9776"},"modified":"2010-08-29T20:39:32","modified_gmt":"2010-08-29T18:39:32","slug":"the-importance-of-a-photographers-assistant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/photography\/the-importance-of-a-photographers-assistant\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of a Photographer's Assistant"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is rare that I do photo shoots without an assistant and or intern.\u00a0 The Photographers Assistant is an important and often under appreciated individual, that I consider the unsung hero.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nAbove Photo from: “A Photo Assistant”<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

I cannot tell you how often one of the many assistants with whom I have had the honor to work with, were instrumental to my growth in many areas. Being able to bounce idea’s off of an assistant and gain valuable knowledge on the fly is often key to a successful production.\u00a0 Assistants do a lot more than aid in setting up your lights or loading the SD card or images in to your computer.\u00a0 Many assistants I have worked with are amenable to sharing their idea’s with you about lighting, concept etc. when you are in a tight spot and perhaps are running a bit low in the idea’s bag.<\/p>\n

It can happen to anyone.\u00a0 Where you have a concept and it isn’t working as well as you thought and you start freaking out and thinking “Think, think,what can I do to get out of this conundrum…?”<\/p>\n

Some assistants may feel uncomfortable or reluctant to share idea’s with you in fear of invading or stepping on your creative space.\u00a0 They would love to but won’t unless you openly and sincerely invite them to do so.\u00a0 Openly invite them to share their idea’s with you if they feel so inclined. I always make sure to give my photo assistants credit in any job I do and they will always appear in the credit of the Fashion or Beauty story being published.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I won’t go in to the technical knowledge attributes that are required from an assistant, as that will depend on what your own requirements are for a specific job.\u00a0 But I do know that most assistants I have worked with are quick learners and are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty when called upon.<\/p>\n

My only suggestion, is if you are using a first time apprentice, you might want to use him\/her with a more experienced 1st assistant.\u00a0 You should also be open to answering questions at appropriate times that you can set out with the assistant in your morning briefing with the entire team.<\/p>\n

As to finding a good assistant, I find that quite easy, in that I am solicited frequently by Photography School students.\u00a0 If you need an assistant, you might consider School Photography Clubs, dedicated Photography Schools or Photography Clubs.<\/p>\n

An assistant can learn more in one day doing a hands on session than what they can learn in a month or more by only attending classes.<\/p>\n

So the next time you are approached by an enthusiastic assistant, give them a try.\u00a0 You might be pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n

PS: Would love to hear from anyone on either side of this topic regarding your impressions and thoughts.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is rare that I do photo shoots without an assistant and or intern The Photographers Assistant is an important and often under appreciated individual, that I consider the unsung hero<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[37],"tags":[855,52,38],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/i_love_photographers_tshirt-p235674237688288542t53h_400.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paG8MM-2xG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":857,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/photography\/a-fashion-shoot-in-one-day-the-process\/","url_meta":{"origin":9776,"position":0},"title":"A Fashion Shoot in One Day The Process","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"July 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"I would like to describe the process of photo shoots that are done for either a magazine or advertising and what happens in the process","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dauphine McKee in Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture \u00c2\u00a9 Benjamin Kanarek for ELLE Vietnam April 2014","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Dauphine-McKee-Benjamin-Kanarek-Art-Haute-Couture-ELLE-Vietnam-April-2014-06.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Dauphine-McKee-Benjamin-Kanarek-Art-Haute-Couture-ELLE-Vietnam-April-2014-06.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Dauphine-McKee-Benjamin-Kanarek-Art-Haute-Couture-ELLE-Vietnam-April-2014-06.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Dauphine-McKee-Benjamin-Kanarek-Art-Haute-Couture-ELLE-Vietnam-April-2014-06.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26127,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/the-featured\/ottawa-fashion-photographer-rudy-shoushany-fashion-editorial\/","url_meta":{"origin":9776,"position":1},"title":"Ottawa Fashion Photographer Rudy Shoushany Fashion Editorial","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"July 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Better late than never! 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