thinking about using a "shooting assistant"

[AndrewSA]

I thinkn I'm going to do more portrait work this year in addition to the commercial stuff. I' speculate that getting people to be comfortable in front of the camera is probably not going to be my strong suit. So, I think I want to hire a "people person" to assist on portrait shoots.

Is anyone using someone like this? I'm curious as to what a fair compensation would be (a range is fine). I'd probably have to initially do a percentage or something like that since this is sort of an experiment.

What kind of tax/legal employment forms do I need to hire someone freelance like this?

[RiverSide]

You might want to check out photography institutes or colleges with Photography courses. Students might be eager to do it 'Internship' style if it can help them with their coursework.

I'd suggest discussing with your CPA for the best route of compensation.. do tell us what he says :)

[Gordon]

How do you see this working ? I think the real skill in portrait photography is the interaction between the photographer and the subject, so it might be difficult to have someone else doing that interaction for you ? Would you expect this people person to keep working with the subject while you were shooting, or just more of a meet/ greet & get them settled sort of thing ? It seems like most people are fine and comfortable, until that big one-eyed ball of glass is stuck in their face, so that's when the nerves and human interaction becomes important.

What seems to work is talking to them. A lot. Focus on the person more than the camera. Get your head out from behind it as much as possible. Make it go away. Get them talking. Listen. Interact. Photographers often get lost in the camera and the technicals and the lighting and the angle and the pose and forget to talk to the person, which gets really unnerving, really quickly. Sorry - rambling today ;)

Though I do remember Jack Reznicki talking about having a baby wrangler to keep his younger subjects amused and engaged during a shoot.

[bondarnes]

I have seen this work quite well in a couple of situations. In both instances the wife works with the children and the husband is always quietly behind the camera. I also use camera room assistants during children's sessions although sometimes it is the child's mother or grandmother, however I am the primary person interacting with the child and getting the expressions I want.

I usually use an assistant during our "Senior season", but they are primarily moving props, changing backgrounds, and moving lights. When photographing adults, I think it is important for the photographer to learn the people skills required to elicit great expressions. I had to learn that early on. If you are truly interested in people then it is not that hard to create a dialogue that will help them to relax. Remember that you don't have to be a brilliant conversationalist. If you ask open ended questions then just listen, the subject will begin to talk and will also begin to relax.

[AndrewSA]

Well, I guess most of the portrait work I've been doing or have in mind doing are not posed situatiions where I would just simply tell the person to turn this way or that way. It's a very interative situation that usually involves "games" and then whatever naturally unfolds gets photographed. I've done this with people I know, so oit's been fine, but I feel I ned someone that is much more people oriented to kinda lead the show.

Originally Posted by Gordon

How do you see this working ? I think the real skill in portrait photography is the interaction between the photographer and the subject, so it might be difficult to have someone else doing that interaction for you ? Would you expect this people person to keep working with the subject while you were shooting, or just more of a meet/ greet & get them settled sort of thing ? It seems like most people are fine and comfortable, until that big one-eyed ball of glass is stuck in their face, so that's when the nerves and human interaction becomes important.

What seems to work is talking to them. A lot. Focus on the person more than the camera. Get your head out from behind it as much as possible. Make it go away. Get them talking. Listen. Interact. Photographers often get lost in the camera and the technicals and the lighting and the angle and the pose and forget to talk to the person, which gets really unnerving, really quickly. Sorry - rambling today ;)

Though I do remember Jack Reznicki talking about having a baby wrangler to keep his younger subjects amused and engaged during a shoot.

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by swinglight

Well, I guess most of the portrait work I've been doing or have in mind doing are not posed situatiions where I would just simply tell the person to turn this way or that way. It's a very interative situation that usually involves "games" and then whatever naturally unfolds gets photographed. .

Could you explain this a bit more ? I'm really interested in the different approaches people take to interacting with portrait subjects. Lots to learn.

What sort of games do you mean ?

[AndrewSA]

Well, I'm still in the brainstorming stages of thinking about how I want to address doing portrait work, so I really don't have anything maped out with the process yet, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

It would be interesting to know how different photpgraphers go about making their subjects feel at ease in front of the camera. I think I'd be a lot interested in a workshop like that than a more technique based one.

Originally Posted by Gordon

Could you explain this a bit more ? I'm really interested in the different approaches people take to interacting with portrait subjects. Lots to learn.

What sort of games do you mean ?

[Cyndi B]

When my husband comes along on a shoot with me, he helps me out with this. He is much more a people-person than i am, so he's very good at this. I have no idea what you would pay someone for this job, though...I just know it can be done. good luck!

[AndrewSA]

I'd probably start out with giving an assistant a percentage per shoot since I do mostly commercial work now and the portrait stuff would initially here and there (I assume).

Any ballpark range for what would be a fair percentage or just flat rate per shoot? 25% or maybe $50?

Originally Posted by Cyndi B

When my husband comes along on a shoot with me, he helps me out with this. He is much more a people-person than i am, so he's very good at this. I have no idea what you would pay someone for this job, though...I just know it can be done. good luck!

[Cyndi B]

Any ballpark range for what would be a fair percentage or just flat rate per shoot? 25% or maybe $50?

Hmmm, don't know about that one. Since I use my husband, it's free for me! LOL I guess it would depend on who you are using...a pro, another photgrapher, a teenager from down the street....LOL What is their time worth? Maybe pay them $xx an hour or a percentage of your session fee.