How to hire a photography assistant

How to hire a photography assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step photography assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a photography assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new photography assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The photography assistant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A photography assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, photography assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents photography assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Photography Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Photography Assistant	Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images that tell a story or record an event.	$8-241
   Freelance Photographer	A freelance photographer produces photos while under a specific short-term contract. They are primarily responsible for coordinating with the client to learn any requests or preferences, bringing necessary devices and lighting equipment, securing the best location and setting, handling any obstruction during the photoshoot, and delivering high-quality results in a short amount of time... Show more	$13-29
   Portrait Photographer	Portrait photographers are skilled professionals who use high-end digital cameras to take portraiture photos for events such as weddings or high school graduations. These photographers usually work in studios to photograph group, individual, and family portraits while facilitating the selection of portraits by customers for purchase... Show more	$8-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Photo Shoots
   • Video Production
   • Photographic Equipment
   • Adobe Lightroom
   • Scheduling Appointments
   • Video Shoots
   • Product Photography
   • Camera Equipment
   • Photography Shoots
   • Mac
   • Edit Photos
   • Travel Arrangements
   • Profoto

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help manage facebook, youtube page for studios work.
   • Manage the company Facebook account (choosing, editing, uploading pictures, engaging clients, etc . )
   • Manage social media accounts including Instagram and Facebook.
   • Photograph food and field marketing social events used for social media inquiries such as Instagram, Facebook, and press release.
   • Well verse in photography and DSLR bodies
   • Aid students in learning basic DSLR photography skills in classroom and field.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your photography assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A photography assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, photography assistants' average salary in hawaii is 67% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level photography assistants earn 97% less than senior-level photography assistants.
   • Certifications. A photography assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a photography assistant's salary.

   Average photography assistant salary

   $94,147yearly

   $45.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level photography assistant salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 11, 2025

4. Writing a photography assistant job description

   A job description for a photography assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a photography assistant job description:

   Photography assistant job description example

   As a Photo Production Assistant, you'll style and photograph our fun consigned products in our clean and safe authentication facility. You are goal oriented and a strong team player shaping the culture at TRR.
   
   TRR supports the sustainability movement as we help keep life going for luxury products, reduce waste and keep our planet healthier.
   
   We stand for equitable workplaces with opportunities to grow and we design our compensation programs with the view of you as a long-term employee with full benefits, generous vacation and company stock.
   
   Our warehouses are safe and clean. Most of all, you'll get to learn a brand-new industry while working with fun people. Join us!
   Compensation | Benefits | Perks
   
   * Potential compensation over $17/hour with incentive pay programs
   * Incentive programs that pay up to $400 per month based on performance
   * $50 in monthly food credits
   * 18 Paid PTO Days and 9 Paid Holidays
   * Opportunity for overtime
   * Clean and safe working environment with climate controlled warehouses
   * Employee Stock Purchase Plan (purchase stock @ discounted rates)
   * 401K (with company matching up to $1000)
   * Generous Medical, Dental & Vision benefits subsidized by the The RealReal
   
   What You Get To Do Every Day
   
   * Style and shoot clothing on both women and men mannequins
   * Be able to reach a quota of 150+ items per day
   * Work with the photo team to meet the end of the month deadlines
   * Assist with the movement of physical product through the studio
   * Steam clothing as needed
   * Be a self-starter and able to take a look at what needs to be done and move forward
   * Ensure product is handled to the highest quality standards
   
   What You Bring To The Role
   
   * No experience required
   * Must be punctual and available to work overtime as needed
   * Basic understanding of Mac OS and Canon Cameras
   * Works well with deadlines and metrics
   * Must be able to lift heavy boxes up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods of time
   
   GHR6666 #LI-MR44 #LI-Onsite
   
   The RealReal is the world's largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods, with more than 20 million members. With a rigorous authentication process overseen by experts, The RealReal provides a safe and reliable platform for consumers to buy and sell their luxury items. We have hundreds of in-house gemologists, horologists and brand authenticators who inspect thousands of items each day. As a sustainable company, we give new life to pieces by thousands of brands across numerous categories-including women's and men's fashion, fine jewelry and watches, art and home-in support of the circular economy. We make selling effortless with free virtual appointments, in-home pickup, drop-off and direct shipping. We do all of the work for consignors, including authenticating, using AI and machine learning to determine optimal pricing, photographing and listing their items, as well as handling shipping and customer service. At our 13 retail locations, including our eight shoppable stores, customers can sell, meet with our experts and receive free valuations.
   
   The RealReal is committed to providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or Veteran status. We will consider qualified applicants for a position regardless of arrest or conviction records. At TRR, People Come First. That's why diversity and inclusion are vital to our priorities as an equal opportunity employer. You can read about our Diversity Equity and Inclusion program here.
   
   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right photography assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with photography assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit photography assistants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your photography assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit photography assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit photography assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new photography assistant

   Once you've found the photography assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new photography assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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