I can at times stride up to a shoot, claiming my ground, produce the images needed and take full credit. Some times I share that credit with picture editors, art directors or any other commissioning body, and sometimes I share the credit with the talent itself. However, it is rare that photographers really credit the importance of a good assistant. In order to produce the images I do, in order to work with the speed and efficiency I need to at times, it is essential that I work with a good assistant.
For you who have worked with me during the last five years, you will know Pat, or Mr Pat Sampson for those of you who want to be formal Not only do you know that he keeps his head down and does a really good job, but you also know that Pat is hard working, nice to talk to, fun to be with, a good listener and a kind soul.
Being my assistant isn’t just about carrying equipment, setting up lights and backdrops, moving furniture, driving my car, making teas and coffees, looking after the talent, working on low res images, working on high res images, tidying the office, holding props, adding props to shots, being a hand model, painting, being an extra in a shot, delivering packages, collecting packages, filing, registering, setting up websites, writing emails…. and the list goes on. (Yea - I hear you; what is it exactly I (the photographer) do???)). No - being an assistant is also about being able to act out any profession, body height and body width as I test out my shot before the talent arrives. Some times being my assistant even has to be more than one person at the same time as I test the image. Pat is a little over 6ft tall and with a thin build, but for my test shoot he’s been; 4ft tall, 6ft7 tall, big and round, small and skinny, a chef, an actor, a musician, a TV presenter, a rugby player, a sprinter, a comedian, a business man, a politician, an explorer, an artist, an illustrator, a psychologist, two generations at the same time, a prisoner, a mum, a dad, a group of chefs, a group of entrepreneurs, a pensioner, a writer, a photographer and an angel (to mention a few). And an assistant is also someone who is always on time and turns up with no complaint, even if he’s struck by the flu, has a hangover from hell or has a black eye from a rugby match the day before.
And for you who think the assistant’s job ends there, you’re wrong. Maybe the most important roll of the assistant still remains: To be a good assistant you need to understand me, the photographer, know what I want before I know it myself and learn how to read my many moods. You have to be by my side at least 8 hours 5 days a week. You have to be quiet when I need the peace, you have to be able to chat and be interesting when I need the company. You have to laugh when I tell a joke, you have to agree with my moaning when I moan, you have to listen to my many hours of complaining and nod and smile on shoots as I tell ‘that story’ once again. Yet as an assistant you have to be there as a colleague but also take the back seat.
And if you can bare all that for 5 years, then I hope you lastly accept to become a good Friend!
Thank you Pat! It’s been a true pleasure working with you.
