Just curious if you shoot with an assistant or not.

Regretfully, I just had to cut ours loose due to lack of sincerity. Now I'm debating on hiring another. Just goes to show how it's not a good idea to have your friend as your assistant.

What did they do that you considered a lack of sincerity?

(if one may ask)

For the record I shoot alone (voted as such) but I am looking for a shooting partner and an assistant (read: two people). I am also adjusting my business model to accommodate this

We have collections that include both Krystal and I, and packages that are just one or the other.

So, yes, I do shoot by myself, but not often, as most people want both of us.

I shot a long one yesterday by myself and I'm seriously considering hiring someone to be my sherpa in future. I've had an assistant for weddings before.

I was so wiped when I got home yesterday and so sore today.

I'd like to have someone (like a golf caddy) where I can just ask for so and so lens and just keep shooting. They can keep track of where the batteries and lens caps end up...

i used to shoot alone. but i have really gotten to love working with someone as a team. my husband will be joining me for weddings next year and this year when he is not working his retail job saturday.
i think i like having a second shooter rather than an assistant because personally i am a control freak and neglect to ask for help doing things sometimes. so an assistant ends up with not alot to do sometimes.

The first time I shot a wedding by myself I swore I would never do it again...and haven't. It's not so much that it's a lot of work; I can't give the coverage that I want. How do you get shots of the girls and the guys getting ready at the same time? It's doable but not to a level of quality in story telling that I like to create. Another example is the formals. There have been so many really great images that the 2nd has gotten between takes that are priceless in the album. I'll shoot 11 of my own weddings this year (and another 15 Bella or as 2nd for colleagues) so my volume doesn't warrant a full time employee. I prefer to line up local talent who I know and trust as shooters to help. This has worked out well with several coming from posts on OSP.

For seniors I shoot by myself. Mom it typically, actually preferably, there and I use her to hold a reflector or whatever. Kids in the studio on the other hand I will not do unless my wife is there to help get the little ones' attention.

Families, if large, I find it best to have some help. Again, having my wife there is helpful.

Nick, if you need a second for some weddings, let me know. I'm just across the bay and not very expensive. If you need help for a destination wedding I'm sure we could work out a screaming good deal!

-Jeff

Most often with an assistant but I shot solo for many years. I still book a few weddings each year with single coverage.

90% of the time I shoot by myself but I really like shooting with a second. It is really helpful to have the extra set of hands but also extra eyes (& cam) on the things I miss. I offer the couples to hire a second for $400 but few bite. Only one package includes a second but it is the highest.

Interesting replies.

I'd like to think that "second shooters" are distinctly different from "assistants." Responsibilities are different with both positions, so pay for both is different. So do some of you use "second shooters" as "assistants," or do your second shooters know that they are responsible for the duties of an assistants in addition to shooting?

I like that idea of a package with 2 photographers....interesting.

Undecided on this. Got back from a shoot just now and am just wanting someone to schlep the gear, talk to the clients while I'm behind the camera, set up the lights, and not ask me how to set them up. Simple stuff. Seems like I might just be bookin it solo for a while....with the occ second of course.

Sooo.......second shooters out their have passports?

I do! I'm a traveling fool, too.

To answer your original question - all my wedding packages come with 2 shooters. But my seconds know in advance that they'll be doing some assisting duties as well. I think it's a matter of managing your 2nd's expectations up front. And they're paid as seconds, not assistants, so I imagine that helps.

For portraits, if my husband isn't busy, he comes along to play pack mule and hold an occasional scrim or reflector. But if he's not available, I swing it on my own.

It depends, of course, on your shooting style. Rarely do I set up lights for a portrait session (though I do play with one light from time to time). And at weddings, my seconds set up the lights.

I use my hubby as my 'fella who lifts heavy things' and occasionally he 2nd shoots the ceremony if we are in a tight or HUGE church and cant move around much. It works perfectly and he can almost read my mind for the things I want. I do my weekday weddings alone though, and i dont love doing that as i get used to having someone around to carry stuff! 90% of portraits are done alone. Hopefully one day I will be raking in enough to have him work full time for me.

I shoot alone, using remotes for different perspectives, unless the logistics of the event require a second. Normally, Lauren W. is my second, like this coming August for a 12 freakin' hour biggie wedding. I have a couple of others but I need a second so rarely that it's hard to keep a regular person that knows what they're doing. My wife used to work with me, and the first wedding I did by myself I was clueless, but then I got so used to working by myself it was hard to work with someone else, worrying about what they were doing. Lauren caught on pretty quick though.

Heck yes. Will work for travel

+1! heck yes indeed. :-) second shooting with perks!

Always. I just can't even THINK of taking the risk of not having a second shooter in wedding photography. I kinda freaks me out. =) But...maybe I should have more confidence? I don't know....
Plus, I really like shooting as a 'team'. Its fun to have different perspectives.

The best assistant I ever had, or could even have imagined having, just moved 2.5 hours away from you. If you're reeeeeallllly nice I might give you her info

Nick-
I have a group of photogs that often call on each other to do double duty as an assistant and second shooter on bigger family location shoots. It's great to have someone who understands the biz and respects you helping out and catching any cute/funny/intimate moments that may happen while you're busy shooting someone else. It's also nice having someone to bounce creative ideas off of when you get to your location.

Give me a shout if you need any help!

Elise

Husband and wife team, so always the both of us. The benefits are that we can read each other extremely well, we have the "sincerity" that you mentioned, and we can cover two situations from different viewpoint.

And while I shoot the groom getting ready, she does the bride. There are lots of benefits to being in two places at once.

Hugh

Yeah, it's getting harder and harder to shoot by myself. For big weddings, it would be nice to have someone run to the car when I need them to. I used to think it was frivolous, but I can see where it would help me concentrate on the shooting.

I may be a baby...but I'd never shoot a wedding by myself again.

Ive decided for all weddings, Ill always have an assistant. I want to focus on taking photos and not on equipment. Someone to get me water when Im dehydrated, hold my extra camera and run errands finding members of the wedding party. stuff like that.

My top packages include two photographers and I have the option to add a 2nd photographer a la carte to any package for $300. My second photographer is NOT my assistant. I want them to focus on getting additional angles, moments, things where I can not be in two places at once.

I am planning on getting those low key handsfree restaurant two way radios for me, my assistant and my second to have for easy communication. (the small radio attaches to your pants and there is a skinny cord with a tiny mic attached to a small ear piece. think Jennifer lopez, The wedding planner style. lol) We used them when I worked at outback steakhouse to communicate to each other. It works wonders to be able to whisper into a mic and tell my 2nd that is 10 feet away to get a certain angle/family member/moment/detail. Those things work wonders!

Nick, if you ever need any help dont hesitate to call me! I live in Palm Harbor and am willing to travel!

I can't imagine shooting by myself. My husband and I always do weddings together, and sometimes I do photo sessions alone. I prefer to have him there because the diff angles we both capture of the same circumstance is way better imho. Plus, he carries all the heavy stuff for me!

It's funny...there are times when I feel like my concentration is better when I'm shooting by myself. It's like I'm constantly aware that there is no one else backing me up so I gotta cover more ground...

Anyone else ever feel this way?

Yep... I do feel this way. I rarely work with second shooters. It's not that I don't like to be around other people. I just feel more comfortable with telling the story on my own.

Totally depends on the wedding - how far apart everybody is getting ready, how expansive the venue site is - if I'll actually NEED to be two places at once... I love both - for different reasons. I love having the company, the companionship, someone to commiserate with. I love having the different perspective - and big guys who carry my bags *coughStevenAderholtcough* or double decker carry shootsacs for me *coughRichSmithcough* - plus it's nice to bounce ideas - and I think it actually makes me a little more creative and step outside the box a little more.

But, being alone is nice too - I do get in my "zone" and I don't usually come out of it. I'm not distracted, I'm not worried, I tend to be quieter and less obtrusive. So, I say it depends on the wedding. I have some I don't mind second shooters for, some I need second shooters for, and some I wouldn't even think of having a second shooter for.


I'm no help at all, eh?

Shane, that's exactly why I like to use an assistant...so I can concentrate on what I've been hired to do.



Melody....I have cookies!

But seriously though....sooooo undecided on this.....ughh......the poll is helping though....thanks a lot for voting.

I have shot alone before, but I don't know if I would ever do it again. I was in such pain afterward. Haha.

I'm available for second shooting as well.