hi, need some advice in this area. what the salary scale for assistants too whether their new or experienced?

I thought your question was where and how to hire an assistant.

We just concluded a 3-episode reality TV show called "Hired" which documented our search for an assistant. If you are looking for one, we can recommend those who placed in the top 5 but didn't get the final vote (we hired the best-qualifying applicant).

Some people continued to apply with us after the show was shown, but I can't accommodate them anymore. Maybe you have room for at least one of them?

Another way is, you could probably ask the moderators of this forum if you would be allowed to post your ad.

Here are other places where you can post your wanted ad:
1. similar photography online forums (fora)
2. photography schools (St. Benild, PCCI, FPPF, Filipinas Heritage Library) etc.
3. Advertising arts schools - UP, Holy Spirit, St. Scholastica's, Feati, UE
4. online job sites- jobstreet, jobsDB etc

I'm sure there are other places that other photographers on this forum can suggest.

Now, how is the question:
1. Ask applicants to send you their resumes. You will then be able to see if they have experience or academic qualifications.
2. Interview them.
3. Check their references.
4. Ask them to assist you and observe how they do.

When you've chosen your applicant - train him or her. Provide materials to read, such as "The Photographer's Assistant Handbook" by Matt Proulx. There are also resources on the Internet. Do actual demos. Introduce him to your equipment (the ones that you will allow him to handle) and teach him how to set them up. If you have other assistants, introduce him to them. Ask one of your more senior assistants to mentor the newbie. Let him know what your expectations are. List your do's and don'ts. Provide him with a job description. Brief him before every job.

Provide your assistant with the opportunity to learn the craft, so he can share your passion for photography. If he wants to be a photographer, he will be better off, with your help, being a photographer someday.

How to pay:

For sure, basic pay varies and are not the same for the experienced assistants and the inexperienced ones.

In addition to basic pay (confidential but I can pm you), we pay based on performance. Assistants get commissions on jobs they assist on, and are paid according to a scale that defines if they are senior assistants or junior assistants, and if they are first assistant, second assistant or third assistant. We also offer other benefits - free food, free lodging when they need to work overtime or start very early, medical, pension plans etc. Aside from the food, I think the most appreciated benefit is that they have the opportunity to learn the craft.

If I could be of further help, please let me know on this forum. Except for confidential information that I would rather PM or discuss personally, I prefer to share answers openly on this forum.

basically ma'am harvey already answered your question.

don't know if she already mentioned it, but probably a person you can trust as well.

Ms. Harvey, that advice is the most generous and helpful one I probably received in my lifetime. When I earn a little bit, ; ) I'm sure most of your advice will be helpful. In the mean time I'll probably post on jobstreet as you mentioned and maybe bulletin for a lights man.

Btw, you're TV show idea is terrific!

Cez, it's good to always be reminded of that.

Ms. Harvey, that advice is the most generous and helpful one I probably received in my lifetime. When I earn a little bit, ; ) I'm sure most of your advice will be helpful. In the mean time I'll probably post on jobstreet as you mentioned and maybe bulletin for a lights man.

Btw, you're TV show idea is terrific!

Cez, it's good to always be reminded of that.

I find that Bulletin is not a good medium for advertising this position. I advertise in the Bulletin if I am looking for a messenger but for all other positions, online advertising is cheaper and more effective. Your ad appears for an entire month, and at least you get applicants who know how to use computers and the Internet - a very necessary skill even for photographers' assistants.

good point. thanks : )

John,
If you need a photographer's assistant, maybe I can recommend someone who is experienced. I would grab him except that we don't have an opening for an assistant right now. Email me and I will ask him to submit his resume to you.

Hi! Harvey. Am not familiar with assistant's pay. What would be the range? Reason for my query is I'm an HR person and quite incompetent with compensation in the art field, particularly, photography. I see myself giving up my day job in the future for my love of photography and videography but am quite anxious and fearful of the unknown. You having been in this field for years, making you the expert here, would be an excellent resource for newbies like me.

Thanks in advance for the help. PM would be excellent.

where: i usually just ask around my photographer friends.. could be their ex-assistants or friends of their assistants..

how much: depending on what he/she needs to do.. the usual carry/set-up boy would be 350/day or a bit more. food/transpo allowances optional. some pay by the week, some by day or by shoots, or even pay only when there's work (no shoot, no pay).

where: i usually just ask around my photographer friends.. could be their ex-assistants or friends of their assistants..

how much: depending on what he/she needs to do.. the usual carry/set-up boy would be 350/day or a bit more. food/transpo allowances optional. some pay by the week, some by day or by shoots, or even pay only when there's work (no shoot, no pay).

Hi Kai,

Just my humble opinion:

Maybe we can offer assistants more than P350 per day if they are on contractual basis - since they won't be receiving (and we won't be spending on) long terms benefits like SSS, Philhealth, medical insurance, pension plan, 13th month pay and other benefits that regular employees get.

Maybe that rate is ok for someone we are picking off the street (or from our household, like a houseboy) - with absolutely no experience in assisting a photographer. But once he has been assisting for a while, I believe he deserves more.

yup yup! one of my long time assistant and another part-time assistant was getting php500 per shoot. so on a good day, php1500 a day is possible. plus bonus for big budget shoots.

while my current assistant gets paid by the week. with or without work.

good assistants are hard to come by..

My assistant is a cousin, who knows photography, trustworthy, hardworking, fit to carry stuff (he's an assistant coach for an Ateneo Grade School Bball team! :D), easy to get along with, and sooobrang bait and patient... I pay him 10% of what I earn each shoot...

My assistant is a cousin, who knows photography, trustworthy, hardworking, fit to carry stuff (he's an assistant coach for an Ateneo Grade School Bball team! :D), easy to get along with, and sooobrang bait and patient... I pay him 10% of what I earn each shoot...

does that mean he makes P10,000 per shoot?

does that mean he makes P10,000 per shoot?

Franz, can I apply as your assistant?

Seriously, I agree you get what you pay for and good assistants, the ones who can read your mind and give you the camera body/lens that you need before you even ask for it, are hard to find.

In fact, to sharpen my skills, I have volunteered to be an assistant. It's a good way to pick up skills. I might help a buddy with a wedding as second photographer/assistant.

So Franz, can I apply as your assistant? :D

Franz, can I apply as your assistant?

Seriously, I agree you get what you pay for and good assistants, the ones who can read your mind and give you the camera body/lens that you need before you even ask for it, are hard to find.

In fact, to sharpen my skills, I have volunteered to be an assistant. It's a good way to pick up skills. I might help a buddy with a wedding as second photographer/assistant.

So Franz, can I apply as your assistant? :D

you have your anti-rabies shots yet?

you have your anti-rabies shots yet?

I have mine.. can I be franz' assistant? :D

Hahaha no naman like that-an... Unkle Basil is exaggerating! :D

Shoot shoot na lang!:)

@Franz: i want to apply also as your assistant :D