Wedding photography stands apart from every other kind of photography. You will be capturing the most important and cherished moments of a couples lives on film, creating a permanent memory for them that cannot fade or falter with time or with age. The images you capture will be passed down through generations and will be a priceless link between generations. This is a heavy burden of responsibility to encounter alone.

Odds are good that while some of the weddings you photograph will be small enough in size that you can easily handle them on your own with no problems, there will be others that require more than one person to get the job successfully done. Making the decision to hire an assistant is an important step in your wedding photography business. Consider the need to do so a sign that you have made a name for yourself in the industry and are on your way up the ladder of success.

When you begin the process of looking for an assistant, there are a few things you need to do to make it the best experience for yourself and your prospective employee.

• Be honest with yourself and the people you interview about your expectations. What kind of hours are they going to be working? Wedding photographers obviously work weekends and holidays. Make sure that you are clear about this with your prospective hire

• Be clear about what you have to offer. Do you need someone full time or consistently? If you are only looking for someone to help you for the occasional large wedding, be upfront about this. Don’t lead someone to believe they will be working a guaranteed amount of hours per week or month if the work is going to be sporadic.

•Be honest about what you are looking for. Are you looking for an assistant photographer or an assistant in general? If you need someone to answer phones and make calls, send emails and make copies as well as set up shoots and carry equipment, the new employee’s job title needs to match their duties.

•Hire a dependable assistant who shares your vision. No matter what job function(s) they will serve, you are in the business of sharing in peoples dreams coming true. You need to find someone who shares your love for the art and your strong work ethic.

Being in too deep and letting important details fall between the cracks can cost you clients. Get help when you need it. Hire the right assistant and it will make a world of difference to you and to those you are providing a service to.