Pay for assistants question

[EldritchBirdie]

My first post in the forums and its a "THISISN'TFAIR" inquiry. On wards.

Next Thursday I will be accompanying my good friend to a night club where she will be setting up a photo booth type thing. She will set up the lighting and man the camera. My job will be to "man the computer". I will be on a laptop in lightroom that's tethered etcetc. I will re-size each image after it goes through, apply sharpening, send it to the printer. Then write a receipt, put the printed image in a sleeve, hand out her business card and senior pictures flyer and I will be holding onto the images for those who are going to return to the dance floor. When they come back I have to look them up.

Now, I am a highly organized and efficient multi-tasking machine.. but somehow I don't feel that all my duties equate to $13/hr (keep in mind I make $11/hr working at Best Buy). She is charging $10/image. I'm not meaning this to be a ***** fest, really. Both her and I are new to the business side of photography and I could greatly use some general advice on what would be considered "fair" pay for an assisting job. It will be every week, up to 3 clubs a week if she talks to a few more.

My solution was to be paid per image. If its a slow night and say there is only 5 people an hour, my work load is small, and 13/hr may even be overpay. But if its 50 people/hr my workload becomes stressful and I feel 13/hr is underpaid. With it being per image I figure the pay then equals the workload. How much of the profit is she entitled to, simply because the equipment is hers and she is the photographer?

My question is (finally got to it!) in what ballpark is a fair pay rate for the work I will be doing? We get the ink and paper at an unfair discount (perks of working at bby), so overhead costs are minimal.

Thanks!

Edits: She doesn't have a tax ID setup or insurance or anything of the sort.. which is probably not a good thing, but its how it is for now.

 

[joealcantar]

Nothing says you can't ask her to assist you for the same rate when you set a shoot up.
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Shoot well and learn from it, Joe

 

[DDGphotos]

you stated that she's your "good Friend"! ! I say help her out. it sounds like FUN@ @ and if it leads to bigger things THEN ask for more money. Besides you can stay home and do nothing and not make any money! ! ! !

 

[Kerbouchard]

So, how much time have you spent going to all the clubs, getting the shoots set up, getting contracts signed, etc? How much is she paying in taxes? Insurance? Gear depreciation? Printing costs?

Assuming she is doing this right, as in not under the table, and paying the proper taxes with the proper liability insurance, plus whatever the club is charging her, she will probably be making less money than you.

 

[EldritchBirdie]

So, how much time have you spent going to all the clubs, getting the shoots set up, getting contracts signed, etc? How much is she paying in taxes? Insurance? Gear depreciation? Printing costs?

Assuming she is doing this right, as in not under the table, and paying the proper taxes with the proper liability insurance, plus whatever the club is charging her, she will probably be making less money than you.

I set up her printing and ran the numbers for her. She called the one club and set up one meeting. I know she has no contract, no separate taxes or insurance, etc. She bought the lighting and stand, so I understand she has costs to cover for this. But I was thinking more long term. If this kicks off as much as she hopes it will, her gear will be paid back within the first weekend. Her camera, lens, tripod and small things will be paid for the next weekend. I've setup her site, ran the FB event "ads" and done the "business end" of everything for her. I don't believe she realizes how much business there is and how little photography! Its something I'm certainly learning.

you stated that she's your "good Friend"! ! I say help her out. it sounds like FUN@ @ and if it leads to bigger things THEN ask for more money. Besides you can stay home and do nothing and not make any money! ! ! !

Because she is my good friend, I will definitely help her out and I'm sure I will learn plenty from it. I hope its more fun than stressful. Its the first time either of us have done something like this and we haven't any "test runs" so it will be.. an experience for sure. Haha

​

Nothing says you can't ask her to assist you for the same rate when you set a shoot up.

True. But the clubs will be her niche and unless she becomes ill or out of town I won't be setting anything up. Honestly, I don't know a thing about how the business of photography works and my own works are certainly nothing worth selling. I appreciate the responses and advice.

 

[Robin Usagani]

She can always find someone else

 

[LarissaPhotography]

That sounds like a fair rate to me. Is the potential for her to make more making you think that you should make more too?

 

[c.cloudwalker]

My assistants get paid minimum wage. Of course here in the Paris area it is still a bit over what you are being offered but, then again, I wouldn't call what you would be doing assisting. I could probably teach someone to do what you would be doing in a couple hours max. Either that or I wouldn't hire them, lol.

However, whatever you call it, it doesn't seem bad to me considering the state of the economy keeping in mind that I don't know your neck of the woods.

All the other stuff you talk of doing for that friend has no bearing on the rate for these jobs.

 

[Josh66]

At only $10 per photo, I'm surprised she can even afford to pay you $13/hr...

 

[gsgary]

So, how much time have you spent going to all the clubs, getting the shoots set up, getting contracts signed, etc? How much is she paying in taxes? Insurance? Gear depreciation? Printing costs?

Assuming she is doing this right, as in not under the table, and paying the proper taxes with the proper liability insurance, plus whatever the club is charging her, she will probably be making less money than you.

I set up her printing and ran the numbers for her. She called the one club and set up one meeting. I know she has no contract, no separate taxes or insurance, etc. She bought the lighting and stand, so I understand she has costs to cover for this. But I was thinking more long term. If this kicks off as much as she hopes it will, her gear will be paid back within the first weekend. Her camera, lens, tripod and small things will be paid for the next weekend. I've setup her site, ran the FB event "ads" and done the "business end" of everything for her. I don't believe she realizes how much business there is and how little photography! Its something I'm certainly learning.

you stated that she's your "good Friend"! ! I say help her out. it sounds like FUN@ @ and if it leads to bigger things THEN ask for more money. Besides you can stay home and do nothing and not make any money! ! ! !

Because she is my good friend, I will definitely help her out and I'm sure I will learn plenty from it. I hope its more fun than stressful. Its the first time either of us have done something like this and we haven't any "test runs" so it will be.. an experience for sure. Haha

​

Nothing says you can't ask her to assist you for the same rate when you set a shoot up.

True. But the clubs will be her niche and unless she becomes ill or out of town I won't be setting anything up. Honestly, I don't know a thing about how the business of photography works and my own works are certainly nothing worth selling. I appreciate the responses and advice.

She must have some **** gear for it to be paid for in 2 weekends, what lights are you using ? i hope they are not continuos lights

 

[gsgary]

My assistants get paid minimum wage. Of course here in the Paris area it is still a bit over what you are being offered but, then again, I wouldn't call what you would be doing assisting. I could probably teach someone to do what you would be doing in a couple hours max. Either that or I wouldn't hire them, lol.

However, whatever you call it, it doesn't seem bad to me considering the state of the economy keeping in mind that I don't know your neck of the woods.

All the other stuff you talk of doing for that friend has no bearing on the rate for these jobs.

+1 if the lighting is set right all you will have to do is crop and sharpen because thats all we have to do at events, we charge £10 for an 8x6 printed on a dye sub printer