How to approach pro photographers to become a second shooter

<p>Hi everyone and thank you for reading,</p>

<p >I have been thinking a lot lately in regards to my professional future. After more than a dozen of photo assignments, I can say now that I would be so happy to pursue a career in professional photography. I definitely see myself, on day, making a living with photography and I now want to reach this new goal. Maybe not tomorrow. But one day. I usually plan many steps ahead, sometimes years in advance, in order to reach a particular goal. Now, I need to plan accordingly.</p>

<p >Over the last 12 months, I have done two weddings (on my own), another one coming this summer, real estate and commercial photography, and more. In photography, I am “autodidacte” (self educated?) and now, I need to get more experience in real situation and one way I though this possible was to become a second shooter or an assistant for a experienced professional.</p>

<p ><strong>The questions now</strong>.</p>

<p ><em>To pros</em>: If someone was approaching you, with an unsolicited offer, wishing to become a second shooter or an assistant, what would you expect? Experience, personality, knowledge, gear, availability, etc. How would you like to be contacted by “one of these guys how think they can shoot because they have a DSLR”? How would you see someone learning with you becoming a potential competitor in a few years?</p>

<p ><em>To second shooters</em>: Please share your experience as a second shooter or assistant. You might want to tell us how did you get there, your good moves and the bad ones too.</p>

<p ><br /></p>

<p >Thank you all for sharing!</p>

<p>Well I recently went to the professional photographer in my town (Alton, Illinois) and simply asked if there was any way that I could help. I just slave my hours in his studio watching how things are done and teaching me in other situations. If you would just simply go ask say that you are commuted what he will want you to do, I am sure you could almost always get a job as a second shooter or an assistant.<br>

Nathan</p>

<p>Different photographers have different needs.</p>

<p>Commercial shooters rarely if ever need second shooters. They need assistants who are on time and willing to work hard and learn whatever they need to. Usually it is setting up lighting, working with the computers, cleaning, running errands, etc. Often they are hired on a per day basis. Your job is to make the photographers life easier and make them look like a genius in front of their clients. Biggest no no is propositioning the clients about your work. The best thing to remember is the job of a photo assistant is not the job of a photographer... <br>

Wedding photographers are the ones that need second shooters. Never having been one, I will let someone else talk about what they need.</p>

<p>There is a book on being a photo assistant that is available on Amazon -http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Assistant-Handbook-Matt-Proulx/dp/0240804139/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274100635&sr=8-12</p>

 

<p >Thank you both for sharing your thoughts!</p>

<p >Nathan, I guess you are right. If you don't ask, you cannot give yourself a chance to get a chance.</p>

<p >I am aware that being an assistant and being a second shooter is quite a different job, but I hope I can get experience as one and the other.</p>

<p >First, being an assistant could introduce me to studio work in general, relations with customers, artificial lighting, typical workflow, etc. As for being a second shooter, since I really have fun with wedding photography, this would give me more opportunity to shoot this type of event.</p>

<p >As for professionalism, I am a self-employed project manager already working for a few clients for a little over two years now. I always make sure to serve their interests in the best way that I can. I guess that I would just extend this attitude/trademark to my work offered to photographers giving me a chance to help them in exchange of experience.</p>

<p >Thanks again!</p>

 

<p>Go as an assistant first, carry bags and learn learn learn. Get critiqued next. Go to a photog and have them look over your work if they like your work (honestly love it) then ask if they ever have opportunities you'd be very interested. Go from there. :)</p>