How did a photography assistant become a photographer?

What exactly is the job of a photography assistant?

The profession of photographer assistant is to help photographers who assist formal shooting work to complete the shooting work.

And even for the same photography job, there may be many photography assistants with different divisions of labor. For example, portraits, wedding photos, portraits and other indoor photography jobs generally have three photography assistants, specifically lighting photography assistants and styling photography assistants. Assistant, the other one is responsible for some assistant work besides lighting and styling.

Outdoor photography assistants do many types of work, such as landscape photography. Some large professional photographers will hire many assistants. There are also many specific types of work, such as equipment assistants, whose work is equipment management. Or you can ask for an assistant to carry equipment during the trek, as well as a metering assistant, and other tasks if necessary. Of course, these complex tasks can be handled by multiple people or by one person.

In fact, photography assistants are the reserve team of photographers. Being a good photography assistant will help you understand the profession of photographer. You must first know your photographer’s shooting style. If a photographer’s Once the shooting style has been decided, he will like his assistant to set up lighting, styling, etc. according to his style. If you have your opinions and insights, it is best to communicate with your photographer privately. The photographer is taking the photography. When he was filming, he didn't like his assistant interrupting his shooting thoughts.

In addition, the photography assistant needs to understand the performance of the equipment you are using. Just like a photographer, you must have a picture of the effect after use in your mind before using the light, even for digital photography. Repeatedly study and measure the position and index of the light to ensure that your photographer has a high success rate in pressing the shutter button. Don’t always ask “Is this the right position for the light?” “Is the index appropriate?” etc. Questions, these questions are all completed by a photography assistant for the photographer, but the premise is that you and your photographer must have a good understanding of each other. This requires you to communicate frequently in private.

In fact, the work content of a photography assistant is very complicated and involves a wide range of content. However, if you really want to summarize it in one sentence, it can relieve the photographer of all "worries", including Some technical photography work, such as the setting up of on-site equipment, lighting configuration, etc.; or some ordinary trivial matters, such as finding a way to install an ashtray on the tripod so that the photographer can place his unfinished cigarettes at any time.

Gathering experience people to share that they have done the following tasks:

·Camera operation is mainly parameter setting, and occasionally there is a chance to press the shutter.

·Set up lighting and background. Make tea and coffee.

·Processing RAW.

·Buy meals for the staff and walk the photographer’s dog.

·Ensure on-site safety and facilitate emergency rescue.

·Order or rent related equipment.

·Arrange the photographer’s daily chores, including picking up bills from the mailbox, etc.

·Pack away the on-site equipment after the shooting.

·Acts as a light stand.

·Repairing equipment on the plane.

·Use reflectors in strong winds, light lights in pools, hang lights from high places, etc.

You are basically the photographer’s personal secretary and butler, okay! Maybe some friends will wonder when they see this kind of work content, where on earth will this practice our photography skills, and what benefits will it bring to our photography career? Let's keep looking.

Real practice of theory, crazy accumulation of experience value

The photography scene is the frontline battlefield for photographers, and as the photographer’s assistant, you have the opportunity to join the front line Chance. Whether you learn photography theory in school or by yourself, you will be able to practice it by participating in on-site shooting, and truly transform the theory into ability. If you are lucky enough to work as an assistant to a well-known photographer and train in more professional photography work, you will gain experience that many people cannot buy with money.

Understand the working process of the photography industry

Working on the front line of photography work can not only exercise your photography skills and the speed of processing things, but also help you achieve the fastest speed in the process. Understand the workflow of the entire industry, including how photographers accept cases, how to communicate with customers, what tasks each person in the photography team is responsible for, what venue resources are available, how pictures are processed before they can be printed, etc.

Rather than learning and becoming familiar with these things after entering as a photographer, it is better to start observing them while working as a photography assistant to lay the foundation for becoming a professional photographer.