Preparing for Work as a First Assistant
Number one in a four-part series on the experience of becoming a first assistant, Andrew Tomasino fondly recalls stories of his time in the role and shares the key skills needed to get started on the same path
Many impassioned photographers dream of turning their pastime into a job, but leave more serious consideration by the wayside. It’s a truly challenging pursuit, but it’s not impossible. After all, the professionals that offer us such boundless inspiration once dreamed of becoming photographers themselves. There are different roads that may one day lead you to follow in their footsteps — especially since the basic information needed to initially learn and hone skills is accessible digitally.
However, one way to continue developing your photographic skill is to work closely with established professionals as an assistant. Like many other photographers, this is foundation upon which Andrew Tomasino continues to build his burgeoning career. Now tantalizingly close to becoming a stand-alone portrait artist, he’s a natural advocate of this unique trajectory, and a fountain of knowledge on the subject.
Getting Started
“My interest in photography began with documenting my own life as a young musician, and those of the bands around me,” Andrew explains. “As a career, though, I got my start in weddings. I realized it was a way to make some money, so I began assisting a photographer named Drew Gurian .
“That period exposed me to what I consider the human elements of professional photography, which are essential to being successful at any level. You’re communicating creative ideas in the face of a flurry of distractions and executing them quickly to get good results.”
While invaluable in his development, weddings were not Andrew’s true calling. As this door closed, another opened when Drew pursued a first assistant position with an internationally acclaimed photographer. Within a few months, Andrew was able to make an impression for himself. Nothing comes easily in this profession, but starting from the ground up, Andrew seized his chance with both hands, ever hungry to learn and certain it was the opportunity he’d been working towards.
“The photographer was teaching a workshop, and I was there to keep the coffee hot and have lunch ready when the group took breaks . It wasn’t glamorous photography, but I got a taste of what it was like to be part of the team and I never looked back.”
Despite some beneficial experience, Andrew didn’t have an extensive portfolio or wealth of knowledge. What he did have, however, was even more desirable: immeasurable passion and drive. There’s no single greater asset for someone firmly at the beginning of their journey, seeking an assistant position.
“I was still in school,” Andrew continues. “I had some basic skills, but I didn’t even know what being an assistant fully entailed. The passion I brought really got me far, early on. I honestly think I was given a chance off the back of that alone. It’s one of the reasons I still proudly assist that very same photographer now, 15 years later — even while working to establish my own independent career.”
Developing Skills
After more than a decade on the job, Andrew’s understanding of an assistant’s duties couldn’t be clearer. “Every assistant needs to be well organized. It’s one of the first tasks on any job. You will most likely arrive on set or at location with a massive amount of gear. It’s your responsibility to keep everything accounted for, functioning, and ready to use. The same goes for the space you’re working in — it needs to be staged correctly.
“Over time, you develop a firm grasp of the tools a photographer uses, because you’re the one pulling them out of bags and setting them up. This includes all sorts of stands, light modifiers, and other grip tools used on set.”
Over time, as skills and experience are accrued, these responsibilities will naturally increase. “After a while, I got asked to give input on some lighting choices. It was a great moment, realizing I was being included in the creative discussions.”
It’s a question of the age-old debate: education vs experience. In a role like this, there’s a mix of both, as Andrew explains.
“You learn the technical skills just as you do at school — the camera, the lights — and you’re able to do it in the context of on-set language. More importantly, you’ll also see firsthand how to consistently create and control light across a multitude of different scenarios and environments. Even after so many years, I’m still considering those fundamentals when I make my own unique work.”
Building a Network
There’s another professional springboard that goes hand in hand with the role of assistant. “In addition to the skills, you start to build a network,” says Andrew. “Other assistants you work with are image makers themselves — and those are valuable connections.”
“It’s all about asking, ‘What am I bringing to the table? And vice versa, how can I collaborate with this person, and how could we turn that into a project?’”
What starts as a few like-minded creative individuals soon begins to form an expansive web of contacts. A solitary photographer is a rare find, and virtually nonexistent in the world of commercial and editorial portraiture. This aspect of assisting is not just about having people to rely upon and experiment with when it comes to work; the importance of personal connection can’t be overstated.
“This career is all about cultivating long-lasting relationships, perhaps even more so than making great images. Anyone that starts assisting will learn right away that they’re in it for the long haul. We do it because we love the people we are working with just as much as we love the work.”
Creating Openings
As Andrew illustrates, aspiring assistants would do well to explore all available options, in addition to work alongside their photographer.
“While assisting, I was accepted into a mentorship program called the Young Photographers Alliance, which allowed me to create a full body of work from an ongoing personal project. All these opportunities are a chance to make a name for yourself. There will be moments you can’t plan for along the road, and maybe a bit of luck, but it can’t be about waiting for that. You need to work hard.
“Seek out nearby photographers to ask about assisting, use the many resources available online to learn about the tools of the trade, or hunt for small-scale gigs if you already have those skills! All the small pieces build into something more substantial. I look back at things I thought weren’t necessarily big at the time, and realize they’ve helped me in tremendous ways.”
For those dedicated enough, a photographer’s assistant role can take you anywhere. For Andrew Tomasino, it’s been Dubai, Cuba, Paris, Japan, and beyond.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for aspiring professionals — and there’s much more to learn. Next time, enjoy more detailed insight into the process beyond the initial stages, hear how to balance a photographer’s creative vision with your own, and pick up essential on-set tips.
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