Lisa Howard , Jan 06, 2009; 10:08 p.m.
Does anyone have any advice for how to find an assistant position in and around Harrisburg PA. I have a BFA in photography and visual communication. I am a hard worker and wanting to learn more. I am willing to do what ever it takes to gain experience. I have taken on a few jobs here and there and currently looking to assist on a more regular basis. If anyone has any advice for how to go about finding positions please let me know. Thanks so much for your help.
Robert Cossar 
, Jan 06, 2009; 11:14 p.m.
Be persistant. Beat on doors. You will likely have more chances with commercial photographers, than portrait and wedding ones. Persistance, Lisa........best wishes, Bob
Daniel McGarrity 
, Jan 07, 2009; 01:10 p.m.
There are a number of professional associations for photography assistants (ASMP..is that right?) look to PPA or PPJA or WPPI (you will have to do the legwork with the acronyms :-)) Email absolutely EVERYBODY who is in the area that you are in and photographing the things you want to learn about, have a portfolio of 10-20 pieces of your absolute best work...nothing in it should begin with the phrase "I really like this shot but I wish....." Be confident of your work, but aware of the larger perspective. Given the chance I would guess almost anyone on this forum would give limbs to assist the greats like Annie Liebowitz or Irving Penn, and speaking for myself I would probably do it for free.........However, I would make sure I had a time limit of "free"
Be available to their schedule, they have clients and will take along assistants who do exactly what they want. My biggest complaint of assistants is simply not listening to my direction, I don't want a carbon copy, but I expect a minimum of mechanical competence when it comes to working with my equipment and systems, so learn what systems they use; Medium Format, Full Frame, Strobes, Syncing lights, metering lights, setting up the lights, knowing the settings and how to change them on at least Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Calumet, PhotoImpact, and Pocket Wizards. Do you know how to set up softboxes? Do you you know how to ask for help when a problem seems insurmountable? Remember, not asking how to plug in a Strobe can destroy thousands of dollars of equipment in an instant, asking for help in advance, it protects the investment and shows the principal you want to do things right.
Finally, be persistent, politely persistent!, I don't always have work for assistants, and when I do, I am much more likely to look to the applicant who asked me several times last season then that one person who shot me an email 1 time in August.
Oh, be willing to travel if what you want to do isn't in Harrisburg, You've got Pittsburgh, Johnstown not sure how much of a drive for Clevland and Cincinatti, but if the work you want to do isn't where you are, go to it..scary to be sure, the only thing to stop you, is you stopping (cliche's over)
Good luck
