What to pay an assistant

MissB

If I start doing a lot of weddings I think I might ask my sister in law to be my assistant as she would be a great help. she wont be shooting at all... just helping me stay organized and on top of the required shots. for a $1,200 photography project what would be an appropriate share for an assistant? by percentage...?

thanks

Scott_Quier

MissB wrote:

If I start doing a lot of weddings I think I might ask my sister in law to be my assistant as she would be a great help. she wont be shooting at all... just helping me stay organized and on top of the required shots. for a $1,200 photography project what would be an appropriate share for an assistant? by percentage...?

thanks

Not by percentage ... why should your assistant reap benefits of your marketing? So, pay by the hour. For an assistant (not a 2nd shooter) who will be equipment security, sherpa, organizer, and general chaser-downer, I would think you are looking at $10 to $15 per hour.

Art Scott

Scott_Quier wrote:

Not by percentage ... why should your assistant reap benefits of your marketing? So, pay by the hour. For an assistant (not a 2nd shooter) who will be equipment security, sherpa, organizer, and general chaser-downer, I would think you are looking at $10 to $15 per hour.

Exactly......now trehere is an old BUSINESS AXIOM that seems to have been proven true more than just a couple of times........Never go into business with family.....now I know you'e not exactly going into business with your sister in-law.....but do keep your business separate from family stuff and do not let her know what you are charging...that a lot of times can cause hard feelings when the sherpa only makes $10-15/hr and she knows your getting 2500 for 3 hours work......most do not realize the work that goes into the planning and editing and so on......

MissB

wow... thanks for the imput.... I had not even thought of the family aspect of it being an issue... but you certianly have a point... I may have to reconcider.

holzphoto

$8 bucks an hour starting out.

better yet, forgo your sister and see if any local photography students need an internship. you can get some free help...

and i why wouldn't you want your assistant shooting as well?

Art Scott

holzphoto wrote:

$8 bucks an hour starting out.

better yet, forgo your sister and see if any local photography students need an internship. you can get some free help...

and i why wouldn't you want your assistant shooting as well?

Because then they are not actually ASSISTING YOU.....it is actually the assistants job(s) to pose and fluff the dress and keep the day flowing so you can shoot your best.......if you need a 2nd or 3rd or 10th shooter(s) then hire them to shoot also....it is up to them to provide an assistant if they need it...............

Scott_Quier

holzphoto wrote:

better yet, forgo your sister and see if any local photography students need an internship. you can get some free help...

Something to keep in mind....

It's been my experience that "free" help is NEVER free. There's always a cost associated with it. Sometimes it right away in that the free help actually doesn't know enough to be a help but rather slows things down. Other times it might be in the form of business competition later that year or 3 or 5 years later. TANSTAAFL!

MissB

Scott_Quier wrote:

Something to keep in mind....

It's been my experience that "free" help is NEVER free. There's always a cost associated with it. Sometimes it right away in that the free help actually doesn't know enough to be a help but rather slows things down. Other times it might be in the form of business competition later that year or 3 or 5 years later. TANSTAAFL!

lol... feeling a little bitter?!

zoomer

I pay my daughter (age 14) $5. an hour to hold lights straighten dresses etc.

I imagine $10 an hour for an adult would be more than fair.

divamum

Scott_Quier wrote:

TANSTAAFL!

Ok, I thought I had seen just about every acronym around, but you drove me to wikipedia for that one!!!!

MA-FOTO

divamum wrote:

Ok, I thought I had seen just about every acronym around, but you drove me to wikipedia for that one!!!!

...me tooo!!

the free lunch..... is that baloney?

Scott_Quier

MissB wrote:

lol... feeling a little bitter?!

Nope - not at all. Life is too short for petty stuff like that. Besides, I've known for a long time that no good deed goes unpunished

There are at least three people in my immediate vicinity (around here, that means a 50mi radius) whom I've taught something of what little I know about photography (OK, you can stop laughing now) and at least one of them is now a direct competitor. But, I knew that was going to happen going in. In fact, we second shoot for each other - it's a good working relationship we have.

whiteagle

I wouldn't worry about the competition aspect of it. You'll only ever lose jobs to 2 types of people. Those who are better than you and those who are worse than you. If they're better than you, it's your fault for not being better than them. If they're worse than you, it's the client's fault for not researching their options.

But the rest of it is true. Paying just $12 an hour means that you hold power over the person you're paying. It's not much, but it sure gets them there on time. Usually my wife assists me, so I don't have to worry about paying assistants. I come from a TV background, so I pay by a half day or day rate. 5 or 10 hours, $60 or $100. You can't live in my city for any less money than that. I don't mind treating my assistants fairly by paying them a decent amount, but I also expect them to show up bringing their A game.

Matthew Saville

I'm going to go the "get 'em for free" route here. I've got oodles of people who would show up, act professional, do as I say, and *not* pester me with questions, just for the opportunity to shoot and gain experience. As long as you explain to them how at a moment's notice you could ask them to put down their camera and hold flash / reflector, or fetch a lens, etc.

Most of the time though, I do just fine without an actual "assistant", and I'd rather have another full-time set of skilled eyes behind another camera. And for that kind of work, I pay about $25-35 / hr...

I trust my people to dress and act professionally, and do other things like refer all potential business back to me, instead of slipping a bridesmaid their own business card, etc. etc. That, I believe, is worth a premium.

=Matt=

FedererPhoto

What you pay depends on what you receive.

Show up, act proffessional, effectively be a second camera extension of me (groom and bride at same time, for instance), help me carry, help things move smooth, help me light, not pester with questions, etc.... effectively, someone who will do exactly as I say, but could do the whole thing themselves if needed... well, you get 10% of my booking rate (Which is closely tied to hours, so it works out to around 20-50 per hour, depending on the job).

Will need a lot of direction, need me to provide equipment, and/or are just sherpa-ing things for me ... 10 bucks an hour.

heatherfeather

Me, I have been paying my assistants a flat rate of $100 per gig. It works well since short shoots, and long shoots average themselves out and I don't have to do any math. (Which is a very good thing! Haha!)

What I expect for that fee:
-On time
-Professional clothing and actions
-Willing to help me do whatever (but it includes a lot of hauling of gear and setting up lights in different locations)
-Always a smile on their face and not easily ruffled (a must for weddings)
-Help notice details that need adjusted (necklaces turned, ties straightened etc.)
-A hard worker (hustle up stairs)
-Follow directions
-Be likable (for my sanity)
-If they want to shoot, I don't allow them to sell prints of weddings I book but they can be in their portfolio. That being said, their first mission is to be my helper and second shooter only if there is time and hands to do so. I expect copies of their best 100 or so RAWs within a week.

My assistants have been incredible... and I don't know how I ever did weddings without them. It is totally different than a second shooter because I require them to put down their camera if I need them for something else.