Are assistants shooting on your set?

I was recently told that on some David LaChapelle shoots, David shows up on the set with the music from his DJ cranking and starts dancing around. His 1st assistant can often be seen shooting while he is in the midst of grinding up against an Art Director. I also understand that Terry Richardson does something similar on his sets, multiple point-and-shoot cameras can be seen clicking away; models, assistants and Terry are working that index finger. I’m told that confidentially agreements are passed out and signed on some shoots. I wonder if that agreement includes a transfer of copyright from assistant and/or model to photographer?

I also hear of stock photographers doing this: Having multiple photographers shooting on a shoot that they pay, to produce.

Wedding Photographers sometimes have second shooters, or assistants shoot during the course of the wedding or reception. This is work for hire if an agreement is signed.

How does anyone who is an assistant feel about shooting on a photographer’s set? Have you ever done this?

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If you are a photographer, have you ever let your assistants shoot on your set? Do you then believe it is your work?