Second shooting a wedding is an incredibly fun and invaluable experience, especially for new photographers. It's the proverbial having your cake (wedding cake) and eating it too—you get to enjoy everything about working a wedding and capturing the best moments without the immense stress of being the primary shooter. Plus, you don't have to spend countless hours editing afterwards. It's a wonderful opportunity to hone your skills, learn the ins and outs of wedding photography, and immerse yourself in the joyous atmosphere of a wedding day. However, it's also serious work, and our primary goal is to serve the bride, groom, and their families. The following tips will help ensure that your experience as a second shooter is positive and productive for everyone involved.
PREPARATION BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY
1. Pre-Wedding Meeting: A pre-wedding call is essential to kick off a great relationship with the primary (or lead; those words are interchangeable) photographer and maximize the success of the wedding day. Ideally, they would interview you to ensure you are a good fit. If not, these are good questions for you to ask:
- May I see a full wedding album? This helps you understand their storytelling style and the types of shots they value and will use in the final album.
- What are your expectations? How do they see their role as the primary photographer and you as the secondary/second shooter? Some photographers may approach this as a partnership with varying levels of collaboration, while others may delegate specific responsibilities without much artistic expression.
- May I show you my work? Depending on your relationship with the primary photographer, share some of your work. Ideally, this will be a full wedding you've done. This allows them to know your skill level and style and communicate more effectively on the needs for that day. You can also ask for feedback if they would like you to approach the wedding day in a certain way or visual style.
- What should we wear? Is it best to wear all black or be more casual? Will there be a lot of hiking? Is this mostly indoors, etc.?
- Do you have a contract? Clarify details such as pay (when and how you will be paid), and what you can do with the images (usually it's okay to edit and post them yourself a few months after the event, ensuring not to tag the clients). This should be on paper. If they don't have one, you should have a second shooter's agreement that they can sign with your particulars.
2. Gear and Tech: Have a discussion on gear and expectations.
- Camera Requirements: I require that my second shooters use Canon or Sony (they are most compatible in skin tones). Ensure your camera has dual card slots for redundancy and ease of file transfer at the end of the day.
- Flash: Some level of flash control and off-camera flash (OCF) will be required due to varying wedding venues.
- Ask about focal lengths: If the lead photographer is using primes, perhaps use a zoom. If he or she is using a 35mm or 50mm, perhaps go much wider (like 24mm) or a much longer lens (85mm or 135mm).
3. Review the Timeline: Ensure everyone is certain of the location, start, and end times.
- Ensure everyone is certain of the location, start, and end times.
- Review the schedule and be another set of eyes. For example, check if there is enough time for family pictures. Are there any missing events, etc.? Where appropriate, note any concerns to the primary photographer.
- Determine which parts of the wedding are best for both photographers to cover vs. splitting up.
WEDDING DAY
4. Arrive Early: Arriving 15-20 minutes early allows you to meet the photographer and the clients. Use this time to set up off-camera light and any other gear.
- Sync camera times with the other photographer to ensure all images are more or less at the same time.
5. Think of Wedding Parts as Chapters: Think of each wedding section (getting ready, first look, pre-ceremony, ceremony, etc.) as chapters in a book. It's normal that you'll have a strong chapter in the day and a weaker one. It's important to acknowledge when you could have done better, 'fail quickly' and then knock the next chapter out of the park.
5. Shoot from Different Angles: Focus on getting unique perspectives while the lead photographer covers primary angles.
- Avoid standing in the same spot and shooting closely to the primary photographer. This doesn't add any value and won't produce any new or unique images.
- During family formals, if the primary photographer requests your presence there, you can shoot other groups, help clients remove phones from their pockets, find another angle, and communicate with the primary if you can take a shot.
7. Stay in Communication: Keep in regular contact with the lead photographer throughout the day. Ask for feedback, review what went well at the last 'chapter', and discuss any new approaches the team can take for the next one.
8. Be Discreet: Move around quietly and be mindful of the lead photographer’s shots. Be mindful of not drawing attention to yourself during key moments. Keep the big picture in mind, as different photographers have different personalities. It's important to match the style and approach of the primary photographer to ensure a cohesive and harmonious working environment.
9. Focus on Details: Capture details like decorations, attire, rings, and other elements that contribute to the story of the day.
10. Candid Moments: Look for genuine emotions and interactions. These candid shots often become the most cherished memories for the couple.
- A big part of a photographer's job is simply knowing where to stand and being ready, anticipating the next laugh or tear.
- Take behind-the-scenes shots of the primary photographer (those are always welcome) and unexpected candid moments. Not having the responsibility of the full wedding day, offers a second shooter a great opportunity to look for creative shots and angles and opportunities.
11. Stay Positive and Flexible Weddings are unpredictable. Timelines will go late. Folks will stop you and ask for a picture. It's important to always be helpful.
12. Respect the Couple and Guests: Be courteous and respectful to the couple, their families, and guests. Your behavior reflects on the entire photography team. This includes always being visibly working and industrious. Follow the lead photographer's example if you are offered drinks (I personally don't and don't think it's appropriate to be 'drinking on the job'). If you're having a bad day, they should never know it. You're representing not just yourself, but the lead photographer as well.
13. Anticipate Needs: Simple acts like anticipating thirst and being there to run and grab cold water for the couple, a family member, or the primary photographer are wonderful and welcome acts of kindness. This also includes your needs. In a busy wedding, it's easy to get dehydrated or forget to eat. Take care of yourself and make sure you're charged and ready for the next event.
14. Promote the Primary Photographer: Remember that you are there to promote the primary photographer. This is not the time to build your portfolio or promote your business. One of the biggest cardinal sins is handing out your own business cards and making professional connections with potential clients and guests.
- Instead, ask the primary photographer for a few of their business cards. During the course of the day, it'll be natural for guests to ask which company you represent, and you can hand out the primary photographer’s business information.
15. Be aware of customer fatigue: While you're constantly working, be mindful of not over-shooting. Consider that each shot is an image that the main photographer will need to cull through.
- Multiple cameras shooting at the same time to the same person can be distracting. Clients may look not know where to look.
- It's natural that customer can get tired of getting their picture taken. Multiple this by 2 photographers shooting quickly and a videographer and fatigue will escalate.
16. Maintain Professional Boundaries: It's crucial to ensure that you are never alone, especially with members of the opposite sex or with any guest's personal belongings. This is not just about being guiltless, but also about avoiding any situation where misunderstandings or accusations could arise. Always strive to be in public areas or in the presence of others to prevent any "he said, she said" scenarios.
- Stay Visible: Make sure you are always visible and in public areas during the event. If you need to take portraits or detail shots, do so in spaces where others can see you.
- Respect Privacy: Be mindful of guests’ personal belongings and avoid being near them when they are unattended.
- Professional Conduct: Remember that you are there to provide a wedding photography service. Maintain a professional demeanor at all times to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
AFTER THE WEDDING (AND OTHER TIPS)
17. File Transfer Convenience: At the end of the day, having two card slots makes it convenient to give the primary photographer your images while you keep your card and have access to your own images.
- Ensure that the transfer process is smooth and organized to avoid any loss of data.
- Communicate clearly with the primary photographer about the format and delivery method of the files.
18. Redirect Client Inquiries: It's possible that clients may find you on social media. Use judgment and avoid any complications that may arise.
- If they have questions about the quality of the work, always direct them to the primary photographer.
19. Follow-Up and Feedback: After the event, it's beneficial to follow up with the primary photographer. Discuss what went well and any areas for improvement.
20. Organize and Backup Your Work: Ensure that you have backed up all the photos you have taken.
- Keep your files organized for easy access in case you need to refer to them later.
- Before you finally delete/format any cards, check in with the lead photographer to make sure he/she was able to get all files without issue.
21. Reflect and Learn: Take time to reflect on the experience and what you learned from it. Identify strengths and areas for improvement. Use the experience to enhance your skills and prepare for future assignments.
