Monday, August 30, 2010

Stop. Collaborate and Listen.

Yes, today's post takes inspiration from the great bard. No, not Shakespeare...Vanilla Ice.

No, I haven't lost my mind.

This summer, I've been asked several times to work as an assistant photographer at weddings for other photographers in the area. It's a privilege and an honor to work with these folks, some of whom I've looked up to and emulated over the years.

Working as an assistant photographer brings with it its own unique benefits and challenges. I've worked with a handful assistants over the years, but haven't had the opportunity until this season to do it myself. Here's what I've learned.

Yes, the advice of Vanilla Ice is solid. Stop. Collaborate, and listen. Being an effective assistant means that, first and foremost, the principal photographer has the responsibility for directing the work that's being done. So here's what I do.

First, I make a concerted effort to stop doing things "my way" and learn the ebb and flow of a different photographer. There's no way I can emulate his or her style; that would be an effort in futility, and that's not why I was hired in the first place. But what I strive to do is emulate their personal style. Some photographers are very subtle, quiet and passive. Others are more upbeat, involved and have an up-front style. The photographer's style is usually why they were hired in the first place.

I'm there to collaborate. It's fun to work as an assistant, because a lot of the pressure is off my shoulders. I don't have to worry about shot lists, locations, timeframes, etc. I get to share ideas with the main photographer, work with him/her on different ways of shooting, and come up with ideas that may not have been possible otherwise. For instance, on one shoot I was able to photograph the bride and groom from a third-story hotel room with a long lens while the primary photographer worked with them on the ground. We came up with some great shots that wouldn't have been possible with a single camera.

Most importantly, I'm there to listen. Listen to the needs of the photographer, the family, the venue. I'm always free to offer my own ideas, but I was hired to assist, not direct. I've learned more by listening and learning than I could ever have imagined.

So there you have it. In the immortal words of the IceMan, Stop. Collaborate, and Listen. It's good advice.

About the author: Rich LaVere is a videographer and photographer based in Elmira NY. It's not true that his personal motto is, "If there was a problem, yo I'll solve it."