It was 10 years ago that a photographer made the comment: "There are no good photo assistants any more." To which I replied, "There are plenty of great photo assistants, you just need to be willing to pay them what there worth." She said, "Well I don't know where to find them."
That was the impetus in starting PhotoAssistant.Net
At that time there were 12 other web sites also trying to offer that same services. Currently, to the best of my knowledge there are only 3 active sites left. One in the U.K., and the one run by a photo rental company in La. that data mined our databases a couple of years ago. Even so PhotoAssistant.Net is still the largest online database of photo assistants & digital technicians in the world.
PhotoAssistant.Net started out as an assistants resource for the commercial photo industry. My primary goal was to focus on those photographers shooting editorial, catalog, advertising and fashion, that I and others had worked with here in NYC, La. & Miami.
As the site grew so did our audience. Photo school teachers and professors started pointing there students towards our site, and photographers not shooting for Rolling Stone, Vogue, Nike, or Victoria's Secret are using the site and the forums.
This lead to the decision more than a year ago to begin the process towards rebuilding and re-branding the web site from one that was limited or focused on photo assistants and digital technicians to one that will be focused on including all members of the photo industry.
As with every aspect of our industry change happens, change is needed, and change is sometimes good.
So let me take this opportunity to introduce you to our two new web sites which will launch April 1 2008.
I believe that by creating these two new venues we can broaden our audience and provide a greater resource for the industry as a whole rather than appearing as "just an assistants web site". Because of the numerous changes I have and am seeing in the photo industry, I believe that the only way we as an industry can continue to exist and grow is through a course of inclusion rather than exclusion.
We will continue to do our best to bring you timely information as we get it about new products and services. And when ever possible give you our "Honest opinion" that many of you have come to expect.
I believe, and have seen, that there is a real lack of information sharing and and even greater lack of proper education for young photographers both in the schools they are attending and from those they are trying to work with.
With that in mind a great deal of what we will be presenting will be geared towards information sharing and online tutorials. A number of these have all ready been edited and will be appearing in the coming days. while others are currently being produced and edited.
In addition we will be creating a variety of new lighting workshops. ( Dates to be announced in the new sites newsletter.)
And after nearly 3 years we are still the only ones in the world (per our research & your comments) offering a 2 day hands on
Digital Tech workshops ®™ featuring Capture 1 Pro software and Digital backs. We love presenting these workshops and it seems that everyone else enjoys them too since we are now seeing attendees from across the country and also from France, the U.K., Switzerland, & Australia. Were also seeing employees of American Express publishing, QVC, Publishers Clearing house and more than a dozen studio personal from some famous and a few infamous photographer studios.
Last week I spoke with a photographer and told him of our photo assistants boot camp and the one request he had was: "..teach them to load film!" "Nobody knows how to load film any more." For those that haven't clicked through the site there are in fact film loading tutorials in the tech and tutorials section.
I also believe that we are going to see another resurgence in the use of large format film photography. Though maybe not as great as I would personally like, it will nonetheless mean that those not familiar with 4x5 & 8x10 will have to learn or brush up on their skills. This will also provide an opportunity for photographers with true technical skill to stand out from those that only shoot digital. So yes, a 4x5/8x10 workshop is in the works also.
When ever possible we will incorporate as much traditional photo & studio skills as possible into these workshops and show there relation to and combined use with the digital tools we are currently using.
Finally I would like to thank Oleh & Isaac of Trec Rental in New York City for having been there for us from the very beginning.
And to Fred, Rob, Brian & Dave ("Boogie") at FotoCare Rentals
along with Jacob, George, Noel, & Ryan at Adorama Rentalss
I look forward to seeing you all in the forums of the new site at the workshops and hearing from you in the future.
Have a great weekend!
JamesNYC.
FirmTek SeriTek/2SM2-E
