150 - Behind the Scenes, Ahead of the Curve: The Power of Learning as a Photography Assistant

Ever wish you could get paid to get a behind-the-scenes look at the photography industry? That's exactly what being a photography assistant offers. In this episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, I interview photographer Andrew Tomasino and we dive deep into the role of photographic assistants and all the invaluable knowledge that comes with lugging gear, holding reflectors, and quietly absorbing everything on set like a human sponge. Whether you're helping a wedding photographer keep the timeline on track or assisting a commercial shooter on a big product campaign, the assistant gig is full of golden opportunities. We're talking lighting techniques, gear handling, client interaction, posing cues, on-the-fly problem-solving, and how to not look panicked when a light stand goes rogue. We also cover how assisting gives you a front-row seat to the business side of photography - from managing client expectations to understanding workflow, pricing, and delivering consistent results. It's like being paid to attend photography grad school (but with more bags to carry and better snacks). If you're new to photography or looking to grow your career in a hands-on, immersive way, this episode is your roadmap. We've got tips on how to land assistant jobs, what makes a great assistant (spoiler: it's not just being strong), and how to turn those experiences into a launching pad for your own work. And there's a whole lot of non-assiting related advice and other information we cover as well. Don't miss it! Listen in and learn how you can build skills, expand your network, and gain real-world experience - all while cashing a paycheck. Episode Promos This episode contains promos for: Elementor Website Builder - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/elementor/ On1 Photo Raw Photo Editing Suite - https:/https:/nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/on1/ Aftershoot AI Culling and Editing - https://aftershoot.com/?ref=nerdyphoto Nerdy Photographer Resources for Photographers - https://nerdyphotographer.com/resources/ Support The Nerdy Photographer Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that: Subscribe to the podcast! Leave a review - they are super important to spreading the word about the show. Tell your friends about the podcast - even tell your enemies! Buy a print from the print shop - https://art.caseyfphoto.com Follow on Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenerdyphoto Follow on Threads - https://threads.net/@thenerdyphoto Follow on BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/thenerdyphoto.bsky.social Follow in Tiktok - https://tiktok.com/@thenerdyphoto Get some Nerdy Photographer merchandise - https://nerdyphoto.dashery.com Sign up for the newsletter - https://nerdyphotographer.com/newsletter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CaseyFatchett If you're feeling extra generous, check out our support page - https://nerdyphotographer.com/support-nerdy-photographer/ About My Guest Tomasino is a photographer and director focusing on portraits and fashion photography. You can view his work on his website - andrewtomasino.com - or on Instagram @t.omasino About The Podcast The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's photography work at https://caseyfphoto.com   If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact