Photo Assistant Invoice Template
A photo assistant invoice is a bill submitted to a client by someone who works alongside a photographer, often tasked with setting up cameras, editing images, speaking with customers, or helping to produce a final film or photography product. Depending on the photographer’s needs, an assistant can be a temporary freelance worker paid per day or event, or a contracted worker working daily alongside the photographer.
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How to Create a Professional Photo Assistant Invoice That Gets You Paid on Time, Every Time
A photo assistant is responsible for a variety of tasks on a photo shoot, including setting up and breaking down equipment, preparing materials such as lenses and tripods, and assisting the photographer with camera and lighting setup. Photo assistants use invoices to bill production companies or primary photographers for their time.
What Do Photography Assistants Do?
In short, assistants do whatever is requested of them by the photographer leading the shoot. The types of tasks given to assistants weigh heavily on the kind of event they are hired for. Typical tasks and duties that assistants are responsible for include:
- Preparing photography equipment
- Setting up lighting
- Communicating with customers
- Editing digital photos using specialized computer software
- Sending finished photos to clients
How to Become a Photography Assistant
A photography assistant is an entry-level position offered to students and novice photographers. Typically viewed as a temporary position, assistants generally take the job to observe and learn from the photographer they are assisting, to eventually strike their own path in the industry. There are no concrete requirements for becoming a photography assistant. Having a basic knowledge of photo editing and camera work is most likely all an individual needs to begin assistance work. More often than not, simply being friendly, having a strong desire to learn, and having decent customer service skills can provide hopeful photographers with all they need to land their first job as well. The job of a photo assistant can be physically demanding, as it often involves lifting and carrying heavy equipment, so physical fitness is recommended. A photo assistant should have a strong knowledge of photography, as well as an understanding of the photographer’s vision and style. A photo assistant should be organized and detail-oriented, with good communication skills.
Photography Assistant Salary & Hourly Rate ($/hr)
Because this is an entry-level position, the salaries offered are often lower than a professional photographer. A photo assistant’s salary depends on experience, location, and the type of photography they are assisting with.
- Salary: $55,365/yr (source: Glassdoor)
- Hourly rate: $15/hr (source: ZipRecruiter)
Job Outlook for Photography Assistants
The job outlook for photo assistants is very positive. There are many opportunities for photo assistants to find work in a variety of settings, including studios, newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets. Photo assistants can also find work as freelance photographers. The demand for photo assistants is expected to grow in the coming years as the need for professional photographers increases.
Photography Assistant Working Hours
A photo assistant typically works long hours, often 10-12 hours per day. However, the specific hours vary depending on the project and the needs of the photographer. For example, if a photographer is working on a project that requires early morning shoots, the photo assistant may need to be on call for those early morning hours. Similarly, if a photographer is working on a project that requires evening or night shoots, the photo assistant may need to be on call for those evening or night hours.
Who Sets Rates for Photo Assistants?
There is no one answer to this question as rates for photo assistants can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including the location, the type of photography, the experience of the assistant, and the demand for their services. In general, however, it is typically the photographer who sets the rates for their assistants, and these rates can range from a few dollars per hour to several hundred dollars per day.
Key Features of a Photography Assistant Invoice
A photography assistance invoice typically includes the name and contact information of the photographer, the name and contact information of the photo assistant, the date(s) of the shoot, the location(s) of the shoot, a description of the services provided, the amount charged, and the method of payment. When formatting a photo assistant invoice, there are a few key elements that should be included:
- Name and contact information (e.g. address, phone number) of the photographer
- Name and contact information of the photo assistant
- The date of the shoot
- The location of the shoot
- Description of the services provided
- The total amount due
- The payment terms
If you are including expenses on the invoice, such as the rental of lenses or tripods or scanning and printing services, be sure to itemize them and include the total amount due for expenses.