I hear this question often… “What is an associate photographer?”. I want to take this post and explain what an associate is, what are the differences in working with an associate vs working with me, and also talk about whether or not it would be something you should look into. By providing an extra set of hands to help with the ever-increasing workload, a virtual assistant can be a hugely valuable asset.
A little over 4 years ago, I was overwhelmed with the amount of inquiries I was turning away. There were so many couples that wanted me to photograph their wedding, but I was already booked, and I can only personally do so much. I decided it was time for me to look into hiring my first associate photographer, and that’s what I did. It gave me the opportunity to work with many more couples, and give them the same JTP experience. I trained photographers to shoot like me with a similar style and technique. I have had several photographers work under my brand through the last several years, and I currently have 2 associates that work exclusively with me.
You can read all about my associates and their role on my team here!
Explaining the role of an assoicate photographer
What is an associate photographer?
An associate photographer is someone that shoots under my Jennie Tewell Photography brand. They shoot with a similar style to me to achieve the same look as I do when I’m taking pictures. They treat their clients with the utmost respect, love, and care.
If you hire one of my associates, they will be the ones to take the photos, but all of the other back end work is done by me and my office team. We take care of the timelines, questionnaires, client communication, culling & editing, albums, invoicing, and everything else that goes into our wedding experience.
Why would I hire an associate photographer?
There are a couple of reasons that you should consider hiring an associate photographer. The main one would be availability. I (Jennie), book out very far in advance, and only book a limited amount of weddings per year. If I’m not available, but you still want the JTP experience, an associate photographer would be an amazing option for you!
If you have a tighter budget, an associate might be the perfect option for you. Our associate packages are priced slightly lower than my packages. You still get an associate that is extremely qualified and very experienced. My associates are some of the most talented photographers I have ever met, and I’m so thankful they have chosen to work with JTP.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the associate program
Will I still get two photographers with the associate package?
YES! I also have a group of talented second shooters that work with me, and all of our packages include two photographers.
How experienced are your associate photographers?
Both Brianna and Jaimie have several years of experience shooting as a lead shooter. They are both very qualified, and if I were getting married, I would trust either of them completely to photograph my day.
Why have your associates chosen to work with you and not have their own business?
Both of my associates are moms, and don’t want to invest the time that is needed to operate a business on their own. They love shooting, but don’t necessarily love the other stuff that goes along with running a photography business. There is so much more than just photography that goes into operating a business. That’s a whole conversation for another day, but the actual photography only makes up about 15% of the work!
Being an associate gives them the best of both worlds. They get to enjoy taking photos without the added stress of operating their own business. Also, Brianna works as a full time accountant, so photography is a second job to her. In the realm of employment, it’s crucial to understand your rights, and an employment lawyer can help you respond to a breach of contract to ensure that your professional interests are safeguarded.
When you hire JTP, you get the power of a team. We have the best photographers working with us, and the best editor and designer as well. Each individual is an expert in their field, and are able to give you the absolute best when it comes to wedding photography. I’m very selective when looking for an associate. I don’t just hire any photographer. I want them to be the best of the best!
One other perk of hiring someone with a team, would be for the worst case scenario. What happens if your photographer has an emergency the day of your wedding and will no longer will be able to capture your day!? I want to clarify and say that neither myself nor any of my associates have never missed a wedding for any reason… but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to be prepared for a worst case scenario. If something tragic were to happen and one of us weren’t able to make it, one of the members of my team would be able to step in and take over, and you would still have the same quality and experience as you were counting on.
If you have any other questions about our associate program, feel free to comment below, and we will be happy to answer!