Freelance or Full-Time Assisting — What’s the Difference?

I’m experienced as both a freelance and full-time assistant. My personal preference is to work freelance. So, what’s the difference?

As a freelance assistant, you are self-employed. You have to find photographers and studios to hire you, as-needed. You might work for a number of different photographers and studios from time-to-time. You’ll work on a variety of different shoots, maybe you’ll travel a lot, but definitely, every day will be different. The photographer is your client. You invoice them for your time. You set your own rate. You can pick your jobs and when you want to work, depending on the workflow. You pay for your own insurance.

As a full-time assistant, you are an employee at a studio. You work with many of the same people a lot of the time. You’ll probably work on different shoots, but they might tend to be lots of product for catalog, or portraits, or architecture, depending on the studio. The photographer is your employer. You make an hourly rate or salary. You might punch a time-clock and work regular hours. You’ll probably get health insurance.

It’s a matter of personal preferance. I find my restless nature too constrained working as an employee, despite the benefits of insurance and more stability. I like the variety and challenge of freelance. I don’t like looking for work when I have to, and I dislike the lack of affordable insurance. But the freedom is worth it. I can eek out a living, working three days a week on average. Work ebbs and flows, like anything else. Feast and famine, all or nothing. When I’m busy, life is grand. When it’s slow, I almost wish I was managing a studio again.

What’s your preference… freelance or full-time?