One of the key elements that got me started in wedding photography was the opportunity to work as a second shooter. Because it was such a huge learning tool for me, I thought I would share a little bit about second shooting and how to go about being a good one!

What is a Second Shooter?

If you’re unfamiliar with what a second shooter is, it’s basically a second photographer that works with the lead photographer, not only taking pictures, but also assisting the lead photographer in whatever he/she needs. I was able to second shoot five weddings before I shot one on my own (with James as my second shooter) and I cannot even begin to tell you how immensely helpful that was! Now, that’s not to say that I knew everything there was to know about wedding photography after second shooting five times (not even close), but it was a huge boost in learning how to be a good wedding photographer!

What Does a Second Shooter Do?

Some of the duties that a second shooter might have on a wedding day include:

• Taking shots at different angles (with different lenses) than where the lead photographer is shooting from
• Carrying gear from place to place (always offer to carry things for lead photographer)
• Offering to run and grab something from the car if the lead photographer forgets it
• Helping to gather family for formal portraits
• Grabbing a water for the lead photographer so that they don’t have to step away from shooting
• If the lead photographer is confident enough in your skills, you may split up and each shoot one side of the bridal party as they are getting ready (guys and girls)
• Continuing to shoot during the reception while the lead photographer prepares slideshow (if they do one); also would need to find location for lead photographer to set up laptop for slideshow
• Volunteering to help lead photographer with anything else that is needed or that will help make their job easier!
• Always having a smile on your face and a positive attitude :-)

A second shooter is also helpful to have around to be a lighting “test” subject when you are preparing for things like family portraits, entering the reception, etc. James does this task very well… ;-)

What to Wear

For me, it’s extremely important to dress professionally when shooting a wedding. I generally wear dress pants (I must be getting old because I almost used the word “slacks” here!!), a nice top, and flats or wedge heels (I would love to be able to wear real heels, but that just doesn’t work when you’re running around on your feet all day, climbing over things, etc.). Sometimes I’ll wear a dress or skirt in hot weather, so long as it’s not super short and I can move around in it easily. I would expect my second shooter to dress with the same professionalism. For guys, that would be dress pants and a dress shirt (James usually also wears a tie or a vest).

Essentially, the goal is to look like one of the wedding guests that just happens to have a nice camera. If you’re working as a second shooter, you should expect this to be the general rule of thumb, although it’s best to check with the lead photographer to see if they have any specific requests as to what you wear. Location can also make a difference on what you should wear (i.e. a beach may be somewhat different than a fancy church).

Things NOT to do:

In learning to be a good second shooter, there are also some key things not to do:

• Try your hardest to not get in the lead shooter’s shot
• Don’t pose/give directions to the clients unless asked by the lead photographer (let the lead photographer run the show)
• If you have your own photography business DON’T hand out your business card. You are there to represent the lead photographer that day, so you should pass out one of their cards if asked.
• Don’t ask the lead photographer how to do something/work something on your camera in front of the client(s); if you have a question about something, ask them to step away for a moment (if possible).
• Don’t go home after the wedding and upload your images to your website, blog, or Facebook right away. Find out from the lead photographer in advance how they wish to handle the sharing of images. In most cases, the lead photographer will allow you to blog some of your own images after they have blogged theirs. They may allow you to use a few for your own website to help build your portfolio as well. Don’t necessarily expect to be able to post your images on Facebook, as that is commonly the place that only the lead photographer would be able to post and tag. (It can get kind of confusing to wedding guests as to who actually shot the wedding if two different photographers are tagging images with two different logos).
• Don’t contact client/friend them on Facebook unless directed by the lead photographer to do so. They are not your client, so the lead photographer should be the only one communicating with them via email, phone, Facebook, etc.

How Much Does A Second Shooter Get Paid?

It all depends on who you ask, but from what I’ve seen here in the midwest, pay for second shooters ranges anywhere from $100-$400 for the day. This all depends on your experience, how much the lead photographer’s packages are, and what you do with the photos after (process them or hand them over to the lead photographer). If you don’t have any experience at all, you may not get paid at first, but would most likely be able to use your images to help build your portfolio. Keep in mind that the higher end of the pay scale is usually reserved for those with a lot of experience, or if you are shooting with a high-end photographer.

Be sure that you work out compensation before the wedding to avoid any miscommunication. Also, the lead photographer may request that you sign an agreement with him/her about image usage, so just make sure you read it over carefully.

How to Get Second Shooting Gigs

One way to become a second shooter is to do like I did: email a photographer whose work you admire and see if they are in need of one. Be sure to tell them a little bit about yourself, why you want to work for them, and include whatever portfolio you have so far. Beyond that, you can join forums like Open Source Photo, where postings for second shooters come up all the time, or get to know other photogs in your area by going to group meetings like PUG. While I save all of the emails I get from other photographers looking to second shoot, I’m probably much more likely to call up another photog that I personally know and have built a relationship with to work with me than someone that I’ve never met.

Did I mention how stealthy James is as a second shooter? ;-)

When I have the opportunity and am available I still do some second shooting of my own. It gives me more practice, time to think outside of the box (since all of the pressure isn’t on me), and helps out another photographer. It’s also good so that I know what to expect of my second shooters (which I happened to be married to my primary one!).

I hope this was helpful! If you have any other good tips or suggestions to add, feel free to do so in the comment box…

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