Assisting is probably the best way I know of to get into the professional photography world. Assisting allows a rare glimpse into the world of professional photography. Five or six years ago I was getting 2-3 emails a week from people wanting to assist me. These days, despite the fact that I am way busier and have higher quality work I get an email from someone wanting to assist me about every month. I think these days everyone is in too big of a hurry to become a photographer. When I get an e-mail from a potential assistant the first thing I do is ask why they want to be a photo assistant, assisting is difficult work with out much glamor. The strange thing is that about half the time the person never actually responds back. The first thing I look for in an assistant is some passion. My life is art and I have a passion for what I do. I want to see that passion in the people around me. Keep reading to find out why you should start out in the photography world as a photo assistant and how to get started!