New Photo Assistant. Should I ask for pay?

Hi! I recently was asked by a friend's friend's wedding photographer if I would be interested in being an assistant. Communication up to this point has only been through my friend so I don't know a lot of details but I'm trying to prep what I should say.

 

The situation:

From what I understand he works for a wedding/videography service company and is looking for assistance on my friend's friend's wedding day. However he is also interested in me coming to assist for a different client's engagement shoot. As of now I don't know what the arrangement is (if any of this is formal, if this is potentially going to be longer than a 1-2 shoot thing, if any of this is through the company or if he just needs help on the side). The company does seem legit (yelp reviews, nice site, etc.) I just sent him a direct message and am waiting for a reply but I am not sure if I should be asking him for some form of compensation (stipend, travel costs, minimum wage, flat fee per day) since I am not experienced in any formal way.

 

My experience:

I do not have a formal certification in photography but I have taken a few classes but mainly I shoot for fun/side money. I have been shooting for 6-7 years and have done graduation/event photography and previously asked to do a few weddings (I've just never been confident enough to agree to it/it always interfered with my school schedule). Because this isn't my long-term goal I've been too afraid to put myself out there but I do truly love photography and since this is a chance to become more familiar with the business-side of it all I do want to give it a chance. I only own basic lighting equipment and only have book knowledge when it comes to anything more than a few hundred bucks but I do think I can catch on quickly.

 

Questions:

I really don't want to oversell myself but I also don't want to short sell myself. I do really know what I'm doing in a lot of ways but I'm also missing some foundational stuff. Does anyone have any experience with this either was an assistant or a photographer who has hired an assistant?

 

I'm not dead set on getting paid (though gas/travel coverage would be nice) but what should I be looking for as an assistant? Also it's unclear whether I will get to be a second shooter in any of these scenarios or only assisting.

I would suggest contacting the photographer directly, express your interest, explain the experience you have had, and ask outright what he expects of you, and whether he will a) meet out of pocket expenses (preferably without asking for receipts !), and b) what payment will be involved for your time. Don't ask if he'll pay, take this as a given,then you can negotiate a fee.

You should definitely get paid, but how much depends on what is being expected of you. Ask them to define "assistant" and what that entails. If you're just hauling around equipment and bringing them water, that's a lot different than if they actually mean "second shooter" and want you there as an artist. Once you have a handle on the expectation, talk to some other photographers in your area and find out what the going rate is for that particular work, and for your particular skill level.

The first element you need is clarity.

 

You need is to know whom it is that is interested in hiring you?

 

Is it the "friend's friend wedding photographer" or is it the "wedding/videography service company" for whom that photographer works?

 

There is a difference - and not being overly dramatic, but if (for example) the photographer does not have the authority to hire you on behalf of the company or as an 'employee' does not have the authority to hire a sub-contractor, then that can create situations that you probably should avoid.

 

I think that you need to speak (not write - though having already written that will have to suffice as an acceptable introduction) to the person who is interested in and who has he authority to employ you.

 

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. . .Once you have a handle on the expectation . . .

 

Indeed.

 

Once you know whom it is who is making the offer of work and you have established that it is a legitimate offer, then, in the conversation with that person, rather than the initial emphasis being on you selling yourself, you should investigate what it is that they require and why they have approached you. From that perspective you can better tailor the emphasis of your answers and you should be more at ease in balancing your responses, not overselling yourself and not selling yourself short.

 

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I have had several “Assistants”. Assistants do not make photographs, they ‘assist’. Of course the word "assistant" might not have be used to you, in that specific meaning, but IME in most all western countries, in professional photo houses and on pro gigs, the "Photographer Assistant" does not shoot.

 

All of my Assistants we initially unpaid during their ‘indenture’ which was usually a period between two gigs and ten gigs: but they were renumerated for their work.

 

Remuneration does not necessarily mean cash payment: in my situation I have been approached by Students, majoring in Photography, usually in the last year of High School or first year of their course work University so they could gain both experience and also practical hours. In certain situations a per diem was picked up, or (for example) transport was provided to and from some sites, but essentially the short term “Assistant” was neither a salary nor a wage paid position.

 

The fact that you have been approached ‘to work’, implies that cash (money) would be the remuneration in this case: if I approached someone to work at a gig with me, I would expect that I would pay them money.

 

I think that you should be aware that the offer might be (later) translated into something like “it is a good opportunity so you can get some experience”.

 

You need to choose if you want experience or not – such an offer might be suitable to you but generally this type of approach would be a red flag, especially if is not a usual situation where that specific company (and perhaps other companies) offered, by application, a period of indenture for Students or Novice Photographers so they could gain on the job experience, practical hours, etc, that is to say where the indenture has some (usually immediate) tangible value.

 

WW