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- Jun 4, 2010
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Looking for some suggestions here. One of the best ways I learn, is to observe, try, fail, then get feedback. Sooo, something I am pondering is finding a local professional photographer, and asking if I can tag along on some shoots, basically as an unpaid assistant.
Here's how I was thinking of approaching the topic. Let me know if I am off base on this. Now, to start, I know a pro is conducting his/her business, and as such must protect their business interests such as trade secrets, customer base, ect. With that said, I was planning on approaching it from this angle. As a tag-along, I would be there to be an assistant, more or less. So if it was a wedding, for example, I would fetch gear, help set up, tear down and so on. In exchange, I would have the opportunity to, using my own gear of course, take photos and ask some questions, I say some because nobody wants/needs a major distraction while trying to conduct their business, and I understand that. Also, he/she would get to use any of my photos that turn out, to sell to the customer, and in exchange I could keep copies of them to help build my portfolio and gain experience (though I'm a little concerned there might be some legal issues with that because I would have to give him/her the copyright and then I couldn't really use them for my portfolio, correct?)
I'm thinking of doing this because I don't have any interest in going pro, but I know there are a ton of valuable things I could learn from going on some of these shoots with a pro and picking their brain. I figure it would be a win/win because I get experience, and the pro gets a helper and maybe a few extra photos to sell.
So, these are just my initial thoughts. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Am I asking for problems if I were to try this? I'm sure some of it depends on what photographer I ask, but you get the idea.
Thoughts would be appreciated.
Here's how I was thinking of approaching the topic. Let me know if I am off base on this. Now, to start, I know a pro is conducting his/her business, and as such must protect their business interests such as trade secrets, customer base, ect. With that said, I was planning on approaching it from this angle. As a tag-along, I would be there to be an assistant, more or less. So if it was a wedding, for example, I would fetch gear, help set up, tear down and so on. In exchange, I would have the opportunity to, using my own gear of course, take photos and ask some questions, I say some because nobody wants/needs a major distraction while trying to conduct their business, and I understand that. Also, he/she would get to use any of my photos that turn out, to sell to the customer, and in exchange I could keep copies of them to help build my portfolio and gain experience (though I'm a little concerned there might be some legal issues with that because I would have to give him/her the copyright and then I couldn't really use them for my portfolio, correct?)
I'm thinking of doing this because I don't have any interest in going pro, but I know there are a ton of valuable things I could learn from going on some of these shoots with a pro and picking their brain. I figure it would be a win/win because I get experience, and the pro gets a helper and maybe a few extra photos to sell.
So, these are just my initial thoughts. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Am I asking for problems if I were to try this? I'm sure some of it depends on what photographer I ask, but you get the idea.
Thoughts would be appreciated.