[m8o]

I met a guy who is primarily a model/fashion photographer, and works part time where my wife works. He sold all his Nikon film gear years back and bought Pentax 6x7 & 645 gear and uses that pretty much exclusively, when he has a choice.

Before going out to dinner with him we went to his apt. He handed me his 6x7 & 645 and told me I can borrow it any time I'd like; he's stocked up with film for me to use too. I looked through his book and it's really really impressive and inspirational. Filled with the kind of photos you find on the covers and throughout the pages in ads of GQ, Cosmo, and all the edgier equivalents... Actually, much edgier. He does a lot of nude work. More men than woman I'd say (this is NYC after all, so I imagine it's lucrative). He's got a complete book of artistic nudes he did of male and female porno stars too as another example; I forget what it was for. Oh, and most of the work I saw him do is outside of a studio, making good use of the urban environment he is in.

So all that is to frame the type of work.

To frame the person, he's an extremely kind, soft-spoken individual. He explains how he's really easy going when he works, and loves to keep a fun up-beat environment; though he'd alluded to all the yelling that goes into getting the models to give him the shots he wants.

Photography being just one hobby amongst many of mine, but the one I'm most interested and engaged with, I asked my wife to ask him if I could be an assistant for him on a shoot. I wish to see and learn all that goes into a pro photographer's day, and pick-up more than a few things along the way from working with and shooting people (something I've never done) to lighting (something I know little about, but that's my fault) to technique (I'm far from getting enough of that), to who knows what and all the little things that add up to making it all work.

He gave her a resounding "sure". He was definitely being sincere. Nothing planned yet. But I'm definitely going to follow-up and make plans.

....So.... To all those who are or where a pro fashion/model photographer, or anyone who is/has been assistant to one:

So that I support his desire to keep a fun up-beat environment while he works and not impede that or his day in what he needs to accomplish ... what will be expected of me and what will I need to do for him? I assume, rigging lights? holding reflectors? getting coffee? ... what else?

I look forward to all the informed replies I imagine are to be offered by you guys here who work in this profession.
(hope there isn't already a current thread on a topic like this)

EDIT: What a dig-bat move. I only noticed after posting this there is a "Professional Photography and Business" section that this probably should have gone in. To anyone with the juice who thinks so too please help me out and move it.

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Last edited by m8o; 02-27-2010 at 05:29 PM. Reason: this probably should have gone in the "Professional Photography and Business" section

I haven't been an assistant but here's my thoughts anyway.

He's an artist, assume he has an artistic temperament and just go with the flow, any screaming, shouting and stamping of feet won't be personal.

The most important thing to do is not get in his way, the second most important thing will be jump when he says "jump".

Just ask him up front what he expects from you.

As this will be an informal assisting job, I don't think you should have any problems.
Don't forget, he works with your wife, he won't want her upset.

[panoguy]

As long as it isn't Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (porn star portraits - is it?), you should try to be a helpful presence and keep your damn clothes on! If it is TGS, then you won't be the only assistant hauling medium and large-format gear around...

BTW, a friend of mine just finished a shoot with Andre Serrano and said he was also very quiet and softspoken, but opinionated and hyperactive. He basically didn't notice if someone disagreed with him, so he didn't blow up about it.

Honestly, around here you should PM benjikan and ask him "how not to make an ass or obstruction of myself on a pro shoot." He's got plenty of experience...

[Ratmagiclady]

I'm kind of wondering how this may be going.

If it's happened yet.

If you're wondering about the gender-differential there, it may possibly be he does more male nudes cause he's a man who apparently occasionally *yells.* (Everyone's got their style, and all.)

Models will vary in professionalism: doing nudes could mean you're talking about a pretty jaded professional model, anywhere to someone commissioning nudes of themselves who's kind of furtive about it.

One of the best things you can do as an assistant is to be comfortable with whatever, yourself. (In whatever context, what you want to do is back the shooter's presentation. If shooter is playing it like 'I am the authority,' you be the invisible lackey, if they are playing, 'This situation is so artsy critics will melt,' act like everything you're looking at is a Picasso and you're being personally-ignored by Andy Warhol. (with you as window-dressing, of course. ) If they take a down-to-earth blue-collar approach, play the schlub.

If you're not used to naked people, become so. Nudity's very sexualized in our culture, which isn't always the best way to get the photos that are required.

It's not always about people's sex or orientation: people will relate differently to the situation, not in a way that can be formulaic. It's like, some gay dudes will only be comfortable in front of men or gay men, some will be like, "Well, you're like Peppermint Paddy, here, dirty jokes go right over your head, will you do a shoot of some edgy stuff?"

Basically, as an assistant, just be prepared to not harsh or chill the vibe. Follow or complement the photographer's lead, while keeping most attention on the logistics. If the model's in any way awkward, they will want to see *you* telegraph that the photog's in control, so just look to the photog.

Awkwardness in the room tends to just knot everything up, so at least learn to affect diffidence while loading magazines or whatever. . Far better, just get over the loaded preconceptions. Studios are only as sexual as they're made, as anyone who's taken a figure drawing class will tell you. (Not actually a bad way to get over awkwardness, actually, those.)


Other than that, just *listen.*

I got my *own* start on the trade with a borrowable 6x7. You're dealing with a class act there.

[m8o]

Why thanx everyone. I was getting worried I was going to need to go to dgrin.com or somewhere else for some thoughts. I appreciate everyone's time and comments. A special shout out to Ratmagiclady for the deep-dive.

Nope, I haven't gotten to follow-thru with this yet. Still a few weeks if not months before I expect to be doing anything. I'm not going to have the Mrs. pursue it at least until we thaw-out around here in NYC. Hoping to get Adrian out to our LI home too to make use of the LI Sound's scenery.

I especially appreciate the detail in manners to integrate with the behavior. Very very interesting and thoughtful. My 1st thought would be to tend towards "invisible lackey" but the alternative responses weren't things I'd likely think to do, so thanx for putting the thoughts in my head.

I can't say that I'd prefer to assist on a shoot when he is doing nudes. Not on the 1st one. Be it man or woman. I would prefer the latter, tho he the former. But to tell you the truth, if I have a choice in when to assist him I'd choose to assist on a more traditional shoot, at least for a 1st one. ...bet my wife would too. I wouldn't say anything he does is sexual, not that I saw, it's all very artistic. But I think I'd just prefer not to have another variable in my head distracting me from watching him and learning what he does and learn from his thought process and approach; you used "awkward" and that's the perfect word for what I'd think I might be, until I get more accustomed to it.

As a side note, interesting connection with Andy Warhol; from the N degrees of separation category. It's even loosely related to your passing mention... My wife has gotten very friendly with a woman where they all work at FIT (we keep a pied e tier in NYC that is close to her place and we've been watch her dog a lot lately too while she travels ). She is an old personal friend with the photographer, Adrian, and as mentioned in the original post he began working in their dept at FIT recently too. His being her friend is what brought my wife and Adrian to be friendlier than just as work acquaintances. So that woman who has become very friendly with my wife knew Andy Warhol, and used to be in his "crowd" along with her ex-husband (perhaps as window-dressing as you say ). Though from those days, she has a large portrait of herself done by Andy hanging on the wall in her loft. It's unrelated to this all, but I find it intriguing and would have loved to have been at some of the parties.

And Nope, it isn't Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. I really got a kick out of what was said and I didn't even know the name. (yes, Google's my friend) I was hoping Ben might read this and offer some thoughts. Maybe I'll hit him up by PM when this materializes and I get especially nervous. But I suspect I'm over thinking it all.

Oh, and something I read in the article linked to from the olympics thread made me think. I'll have to watch my water intake as I may not be free to visit a john when I want/need to. ... my aging middle aged prostrate works against me. What a way to end.

[m8o]

I have an update. This is scheduled for April 11. In a park in north western Brooklyn. (just realized, hope it doesn't rain!)

It's not going to be an edgy shoot at all. A serendipitous recent union of a very talented womens-wear clothing designer who my wife was a counselor for in her internship, and photographer, and model who does some FIT fashion shows befriended by said photographer, who also has some connection to the designer that I just can't remember @ the moment.

[Ira]

I have an update. This is scheduled for April 11. In a park in north western Brooklyn. (just realized, hope it doesn't rain!)

Brooklyn?

Make sure you're armed.

Just joking. Former Canarsie boy here.