Photographer's Assistant
What the work is
Assists Photographers in taking and developing photographs.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Schedules and coordinates photo shoots
- Prepares and positions props and backgrounds for photographs
- Provides general assistance and support to the photographer during photo shoots, such as assisting with photographic equipment and lighting
- Operates cameras and other photographic equipment under the direction of the photographer
- Assists in retouching and editing photographs using software
- Maintains and organises photographic equipment and supplies
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in airport check-in desks and a small fashion photography studio, two of the many jobs in this group. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A stranded passenger gets home tonight because you found a seat
- A photo shoot where every detail, from the light to the outfit, comes together
- A child travelling alone waves goodbye at the gate with a big grin
Hard days
- A cancelled flight and a long line of tired, upset people all looking at you
- Lugging heavy gear and holding a reflector in the heat for hours
- Being told to fix something that is nobody's fault but yours to sort out
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 461936, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.