[Boostaholic]

Hi, how do I become an assistant for a photographer? check employement listing?

edit: forgot to mention I'm looking to do it for free.

[Meowjin]

in this economy good luck.

seriously.

I know lots of working professionals who booked lots of work for advertisers and there workflow just go down the poopshoot.

[jolaika]

hmm how about assistant for free? just to get some exp..

[Boostaholic]

oh ya, forgot to mention. for free yes haha.

[Senna4ever]

No one will even look at you if you don't have some kind of basic practical knowledge and/or formal training.

For example, If I tell you to "set up two lights at the classic portrait 45, at 2 to 1, 400 ISO" and hand you just a light meter, can you do it? I sure as hell am not going to teach you how to do it or tell you what it means, because you should already know. Just a heads up.

[bikerx]

^ iknow i know :P can i be your assistant ;) teheheh

[MikesJo]

No one will even look at you if you don't have some kind of basic practical knowledge and/or formal training.

For example, If I tell you to "set up two lights at the classic portrait 45, at 2 to 1, 400 ISO" and hand you just a light meter, can you do it? I sure as hell am not going to teach you how to do it or tell you what it means, because you should already know. Just a heads up.

That's a bit harsh. Guess he wouldn't be looking or someone like you as a mentor. =\

[Senna4ever]

That's a bit harsh. Guess he wouldn't be looking or someone like you as a mentor. =\
It may be harsh, but it's true. Why should I sugar coat it?

To be an assistant, you need to know basic terminology, technique & theory. Of course, you'd learn a lot on the job, but you need to have the basics down. My sample question was a basic question of the most basic of techniques taught in lighting.

An internship, or practicum would be for a total newbie, but you'd still need to demonstrate a certain modicrum of photographic ability.

If you're a student, and a practicum with an well established professional photographer is part of your course, there are many that will take you under their wing, but with students from the three major photography schools in Vancouver looking to do 2 week internships, it's difficult to get a mentor. If you're an amateur and you want to get into assisting or second shooting, it's that much harder. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is.

Even though I've had some amazingly good mentors this past 2 years, I personally would not be a good mentor...I lose patience too easily. :(

[Senna4ever]

^ iknow i know :P can i be your assistant ;) teheheh
You, Sir, are overqualified. :D

[Meowjin]

make friends with working pro's.

[Senna4ever]

make friends with working pro's.
Yeah, having the right connections can do wonders.

[Senna4ever]

Hi, how do I become an assistant for a photographer? check employement listing?

edit: forgot to mention I'm looking to do it for free.
To answer your question properly, try looking in the 'events' section of craigslist. There are lots of photographers looking for assistants. If you have little experience, then all you're going to be doing is holding a reflector or something, hauling gear and running after the photographer trying to keep up holding 40lbs+ of gear. Boring, but if you do it enough, you may get paid, and maybe even become a supporting shooter.

The (fair) going rate for an assistant is $200-$500/day, depending on who you assist, and how much post you do or do not do. Don't accept less than $150 though. You're worth at least that much. :) MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF!

[Meowjin]

Yeah, having the right connections can do wonders.

It is, even bad photographers get work because of good connections.

[Senna4ever]

It is, even bad photographers get work because of good connections.
Oh, god...the stories I can tell you after working at Beau for 6 months...... :cry:

[Meowjin]

You know I probably wouldn't be so critical about these photographers, if they knew a lick or 2 about post processing or color management, and didn't edit their photo's on a laptop then send them off for publication.

But I can't talk trash, they have work and I don't.

[Boostaholic]

No one will even look at you if you don't have some kind of basic practical knowledge and/or formal training.

For example, If I tell you to "set up two lights at the classic portrait 45, at 2 to 1, 400 ISO" and hand you just a light meter, can you do it? I sure as hell am not going to teach you how to do it or tell you what it means, because you should already know. Just a heads up.

that may sound harsh but it is very true and I thank you very much for being straight up.

I admit I have no experience and never learned what that means but i'll take a wild guess anyway:

place Key light pointing to the location of the model. then fill light 45degree to the key light relative to the model at twice the distance of the key light. (i've never used a light meter), but I assume you check the luminosity of the light at the position of the model to see if the camera will give correct exposure at iso400? if the light is not bright enough or too bright, adjust lights accordingly.

[Boostaholic]

oh ya, since becoming an assistant is pretty hard, maybe i'll just buy some books to read first.

[Car Chick]

There are some amazing books out there that explain lighting procedures, apertures, etc. Definitely worth your first try. I bought one from Chapters (on sale) for like 6$ and it's one of the best books I own to date.

But don't get completely discouraged either - if you're seriously interested in the business, then your BEST BEST BEST bet is to go out and shoot. Alone, with friends, with these guys from the forum. I can't stress enough how much I learned from my peers here.

[Boostaholic]

There are some amazing books out there that explain lighting procedures, apertures, etc. Definitely worth your first try. I bought one from Chapters (on sale) for like 6$ and it's one of the best books I own to date.

But don't get completely discouraged either - if you're seriously interested in the business, then your BEST BEST BEST bet is to go out and shoot. Alone, with friends, with these guys from the forum. I can't stress enough how much I learned from my peers here.

haha I'm really interseted in it as a hobbie. I am currently pursuiting an electrical engineering major and commerce minor degree, so I won't be in photography for the money, but for the experience and my expression as art.

In fact I already purchased some equipments and started shooting. It's my new found passion, and I love it. I only bought an DSLR about a week ago so I'm still messing around with it haha. Here some of the photos I took:

First day I got my camera, took some pictures of some cars driving by my drive way:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/focus.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/stang.jpg

Then few days later after exams, I went to the beach with some friends:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/IMG_01102.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/IMG_0085.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/IMG_0033.jpg

Then the next day I took some pictures of my friend his his girlfriend at home:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/IMG_0223copy-1.jpg

ok one more from my back yard haha.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/IMG_9882.jpg

Constructive criticisms will be highly apprecieated. I really want to learn to become better.

[Meowjin]

There are some amazing books out there that explain lighting procedures, apertures, etc. Definitely worth your first try. I bought one from Chapters (on sale) for like 6$ and it's one of the best books I own to date.

But don't get completely discouraged either - if you're seriously interested in the business, then your BEST BEST BEST bet is to go out and shoot. Alone, with friends, with these guys from the forum. I can't stress enough how much I learned from my peers here.

Where have you been hiding!?

[..::lazybum::..]

Hi, how do I become an assistant for a photographer? check employement listing?

edit: forgot to mention I'm looking to do it for free.

doubt youd want to .. but next time i have a shoot i could hook you up with my photog.
better yet go here...
modelmayhem.
and under castings make a casting call that you would like to be someones
3rd eye :)
anymore questions just ask :)

[MikesJo]

^ nice sig :).

[freelunch]

Boost:

1st pic: The pan is too blurry either from hand shake or a misfocus; 1/20 on a non stabilized lens? And f32 just kills the sharpness? May I recommend a ND filter so you can lower the shutter to say 1/50 - 1/100 and keep the aperture within the optimal range?

2nd: rear of the car is cut off and what appears to be back focusing as the person's siloutette appears to be in focus versus the actual car.

3rd: Some fill flash would have eliminated the shadows under her eyes:

4th and 5th: focusing problems made for a blurry photo, but I like her pose and expression in the 5th shot.

6th: Some back focusing is happening here, his shirt buttons are sharper and in better focus than his eyes or face. They also look kinda uneasy and awkward but perhaps its just the way they are

7th: nice flower shot but the focus is on the middle which is an unbloomed flower bud; the bokeh of this shot is also harsh with some strong circular highlights - lemme guess - this is the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens? Im not really familiar with Canon stuff so I'm just guessing.

Anyways thats just some raw comments, I dont mean to sound like an asshole as I'm just learning myself so take it as comments from a peer.

[niforpix]

What's with the giant dust specs in the first 2 shots?

[..::lazybum::..]

Pretty sure he didnt ask for a beat down.

your photos are fine as far as i can see, but something to look into, is the blurr effect, maybe some strobes, reflectors you know? start to buy some stuff for even being an assistant :)

How many lenses do you have? What types?
have you tried a photography class, those are great. For some people as myself photography can be a natural thing. Just depends on what your nack is with shots.
Cars?
Buildings?
Commercial?
People?
Nature/Micro shots?
Landscape?
Themes?

:)

[..::lazybum::..]

^ nice sig :).

Thank you :) It was just a quicky my photographer did at the end of our shoot :)

[Meowjin]

Pretty sure he didnt ask for a beat down.

your photos are fine as far as i can see, but something to look into, is the blurr effect, maybe some strobes, reflectors you know? start to buy some stuff for even being an assistant :)

How many lenses do you have? What types?
have you tried a photography class, those are great. For some people as myself photography can be a natural thing. Just depends on what your nack is with shots.
Cars?
Buildings?
Commercial?
People?
Nature/Micro shots?
Landscape?
Themes?

:)

So when you say beatdown, I say reality.

I'm not a pro, but I know what pro's look for because I hang out with many working pro's in the industry.

You need to be real.

[Boostaholic]

Boost:

1st pic: The pan is too blurry either from hand shake or a misfocus; 1/20 on a non stabilized lens? And f32 just kills the sharpness? May I recommend a ND filter so you can lower the shutter to say 1/50 - 1/100 and keep the aperture within the optimal range?

2nd: rear of the car is cut off and what appears to be back focusing as the person's siloutette appears to be in focus versus the actual car.

3rd: Some fill flash would have eliminated the shadows under her eyes:

4th and 5th: focusing problems made for a blurry photo, but I like her pose and expression in the 5th shot.

6th: Some back focusing is happening here, his shirt buttons are sharper and in better focus than his eyes or face. They also look kinda uneasy and awkward but perhaps its just the way they are

7th: nice flower shot but the focus is on the middle which is an unbloomed flower bud; the bokeh of this shot is also harsh with some strong circular highlights - lemme guess - this is the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens? Im not really familiar with Canon stuff so I'm just guessing.

Anyways thats just some raw comments, I dont mean to sound like an asshole as I'm just learning myself so take it as comments from a peer.

Great comments, I think they are very helpful and i really apprecieate it! I find most of my hand held shots are a little blurry from shakey hands. I think my hands are shakier than most people for some reason. maybe it's the lack of sleep.

as far as my lens, I'm using a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 on a 30D. I'm thinking of investing into a 85mm 1.8 for portrait shots, but can't decide if I should get that first or a canon 430ex flash or sigma 530.

[Boostaholic]

Pretty sure he didnt ask for a beat down.

your photos are fine as far as i can see, but something to look into, is the blurr effect, maybe some strobes, reflectors you know? start to buy some stuff for even being an assistant :)

How many lenses do you have? What types?
have you tried a photography class, those are great. For some people as myself photography can be a natural thing. Just depends on what your nack is with shots.
Cars?
Buildings?
Commercial?
People?
Nature/Micro shots?
Landscape?
Themes?

:)

the beach shots were shot with reflectors but my friends suck at angling the light, half of the time they can't even light up the face lol. We went at the wrong time of the day (2pm) and the sun was very directional and I found the reflector made a huge difference.

I was trying to use the sun as "key light" to light one side of the face with shadow on the nose and then fill it in with relfectors. but the time of the day gave a harsh shadow under the eye which was kinda crappy.

oh ya and my home studio i have a large backdrop with black and white muslin and 2 shoot thru umbrella lights(105W fluorescent bulb x 2). A silver umbrella and a hot shoe dummy mount(for the stand) is also coming. Which is why i'm looking to buy a flash but I haven't figure out what's the best one that will suit my need since I have little experience.

as far as lens, it's just a tamron 17-50 f2.8 so far.

[Boostaholic]

So when you say beatdown, I say reality.

I'm not a pro, but I know what pro's look for because I hang out with many working pro's in the industry.

You need to be real.

ya I agree. I take criticisms as a way for me to improve myself so beatdown and reality is all welcome as long as I can learn from it :). I won't take anything personal.

[Boostaholic]

What's with the giant dust specs in the first 2 shots?

took the shot after I just bought the camera+lens(used), it was probably dirty.

[77civic1200]

as far as my lens, I'm using a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 on a 30D. I'm thinking of investing into a 85mm 1.8 for portrait shots, but can't decide if I should get that first or a canon 430ex flash or sigma 530.

Ha ha nice, you just listed off half of my regularly used gear. I have the 30D, 17-50, 85 and the 530DG Super.

Oh, and that dirt is on the sensor, I have that too =(

[Senna4ever]

Boostaholic, your images are generally very soft, due to motion blur and or a crappy lens. You mentioned that you used the Tammy 17-50 f2.8, which is considered to be a fairly sharp lens, so I think you need to pay more attention to your shutter speed and your own body movements. If you find that you're shooting at slower shutter speeds, try pressing the shutter while holding your breath.

Also, you may have inadvertently bought a crappy copy of the lens.

[cwis]

hey boost~ I have the same lens! using it on a Nikon D90 right now~ it's quite the bang for the buck! Compared to the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 for $1500 anyways.

[Meowjin]

he's shooting at f/22 thats why.

his lens could also be defective.

[Senna4ever]

he's shooting at f/22 thats why.

his lens could also be defective.

He's not shooting at f22 in all the photos...diffraction can't be an excuse with the last 5 photos.

[freelunch]

I think the lens is back focusing; probably needs to have it calibrated by technicians. Its too bad the 30D doesnt support AF micro adjust.

[Senna4ever]

No, it's definitely not back focusing....just soft.

[Boostaholic]

so you think my lens is soft? most of those shots I've messed around in photoshop. I'll post something straight out of the camera.

This one is a weird tree.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/weirdtree1.jpg

and 100% crop zoomed in to the tip of the tree
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/crop.jpg

[Meowjin]

your lens is soft, I'd send it in.

[freelunch]

Try manual focusing the lens to check for focusing problems; the branches look sharper than the tree..

[Senna4ever]

Zoom to where the lens was focused to. it looks like the tree isn't the focus point.

[Boostaholic]

is there a way to pull up the focusing matrix after you upload the picture?

actually to make it easier, i'll post up this picture.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/gate.jpg

crop:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/r1cksta/crop2.jpg

[Senna4ever]

Yeah, I think your lens is a bit soft....like the alignment is a bit off.

[77civic1200]

He did shoot that at 2.8 though, not the sharpest point for the lens. But I think its still a little soft. If you ever want to meet up and test it side by side with mine, let me know. Mine has been half way round the world and back being calibrated, so its damn sharp.

[Boostaholic]

He did shoot that at 2.8 though, not the sharpest point for the lens. But I think its still a little soft. If you ever want to meet up and test it side by side with mine, let me know. Mine has been half way round the world and back being calibrated, so its damn sharp.

ya that will be sweet. I'd love to meet you.

[jolaika]

calibrate the lens? where can i get that done? haha

[Boostaholic]

hey civic can you post a picture and a zoomed in crop from your lens?