Stockland Martel Blog

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Jamie Smith, Jay Maisel’s assistant, recently wrote about what it’s like working for the prolific, award-winning lensman—what his job duties are, how he became an assistant, how he met Jay, and his advice for aspiring assistants. His candid, self-deprecating account amounts to a mini-career-counseling session for those entering the photo business. A sample:

“There is no job description.  The closest answer I ever got was: ‘everything.’ For those of you who speak Jay’s language that is easily translated: ‘every f#%@ing thing.’  It seems contradictory to say that his answer was both concise and vague – but it is accurate since assisting boils down to one simple task: make your employer’s life easier.

There is no typical day, week, or month – Jay is just an average 78-year-old world-class photographer/artist who shoots every day and owns a 110-year-old landmark building in Manhattan.  To him the word retirement will never exist and I do my best to keep up with his level of energy and creative passion.  Besides keeping things organized around the building and the normal administrative duties, I’m in charge of downloading cards, processing as well as archiving files, and printing.  Although he’s told me he was initially hesitant about digital, he has not shot a single frame of film in ten years.  His career however has spanned five plus decades (and counting) – meaning he has over a million chromes that need to be scanned.

Third on my list, Jay still enjoys traveling and lecturing.  Throughout his career he has taught over a hundred workshops in various places all over the country.  In 2007 he decided to create his own unique week-long workshop at his building in New York City. If you’ve seen his former students’ comments you know he gets high marks as a teacher.  As his assistant, each of those weeks involves coordinating lots of logistics and long hours, but helping with the workshop is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. I have the privilege of listening to remarkable guest speakers like Gregory Heisler and develop lasting friendships with the participants who come from all over the world to learn from Jay.  Oh, and I’m paid to be part of that?  When does the extra set of free steak knives arrive?”

You can read the entire text here, at Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider blog. While you’re living vicariously, it’s worth going here and reading New York’s September 2008 story about Jay’s home/studio—a historic 72-room building in downtown Manhattan that the magazine describes as a “benign version of the vast hotel in The Shining.”

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Related post: The Studio Manager Questionnaire: Meghan McNeer

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