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Being a second shooter to an experienced wedding photographer is one of the best ways to insure ultimate success in the business. You’ll not only learn the business but you’ll have a portfolio and face in the industry that other vendors and future brides will recognize.
Second shooters jobs are hugely valuable, which means you don’t want to mess it up. A good second shooter can be a big benefit to the primary photographer and make the whole day go easier on everyone.
Here are my ten commandments for second shooters, divided half and half between You Shall and You Shall Not. Follow these rules and you’ll always be a welcome addition to the wedding team.
You Shall – Dress Appropriately
It’s hard to believe this needs to be in the list but enough people don’t get it that it’s number one. Take your cue from the primary photographer and try to match their clothing choices. If in doubt it’s almost always okay to wear a black shirt and black slacks. Here in Florida khakis, a polo shirt and docksiders for a beach wedding is fairly standard, but always ask. You can also keep a spare set of nicer clothes in the car, just in case.
You Shall – Carry Emergency Supplies, Not All Photography Related
I have a go bag that goes along with me to every wedding. In it is a stapler, stain sticks, alcohol wipes, scotch tape, a roll of 2 inch gaffer tape (not duct tape!), scissors, a small sewing kit, a bottle of water, breath spray, a brand new comb in a sealed package, an old toothbrush, a clip-on bow tie and a decorative padded hanger.
In the rush to get ready for a wedding the dress frequently comes back from the cleaners on a crappy plastic hanger. That padded hanger can be a lifesaver for the dress shots. And I don’t know what it is with groomsmen who can’t keep that tie on for 20 freaking minutes until the formals are done, but it’s inevitable there will be that guy who loses his between the venue and the grassy lawn out back.
Having some emergency supplies on hand that can save the moment will magnify your value as a second shooter.
You Shall – Respect The Other Vendors
You won’t be the only one working on the wedding day. There will sometimes be a wedding planner, caterer, a video crew, and venue representatives working that wedding too and they all have jobs to do. The wedding planner knows when your shots are coming up and can cue you to be in position.
Karl Leopold of ImagesForever.net gets his cue from wedding planner Kristi Parks about when his shots are coming up.
The video people need space to get their shots just like you do. Try to give them 30-40 seconds of clear video without the flash of your strobes. They’ll frequently set a wide camera for cut-away shots somewhere in the venue, try not to stand in front of it. The DJ at the reception is your new best friend for reception photos and, if you ask nice, they’ll usually let you store your gear under their table. A good DJ can also stall for a couple minutes if you need a bio break.
There will be other vendors besides you working. The video people need space to get their shots as well.
You Shall – Shoot Your Camera Your Way
One of the biggest mistakes I made as a second shooter was trying to match the settings of the primary photographer even though we were using different cameras and lenses. That was really dumb. You should know your equipment and how to get the best shots out of it. The day of the wedding is not the time to experiment with copying someone else’s style. Shoot so you know you’ll get the maximum number useable shots.
You Shall – Stick To Your Assigned Shots
If your assignment is guest candids, groom’s family and dress shots, stick to that. There shouldn’t be any time you’re doubling up with a professional photographer or shooting over their shoulder, unless specifically requested. The primary photographer can’t be two places at once, so your job is cover the other place and other angles.
My job was candids and long angles since I had the zoom lens. That let the primary photographer focus on shooting from the aisle.
If your assignment is wedding party candids, look around for shots when everyone else is focused elsewhere.
You Shall Not – Promote Yourself When Working For Another Photographer
The shots you take are not yours, they belong to the primary. Likewise if anyone asks for a business card, make sure you have five or six of the primary photographer’s to hand out. Do not hand out your business cards or promote yourself on someone else’s job, ever. It’s their contract, it’s their business and their referral.
You Shall Not – Eat or Drink In Front 0f the Guests
If your primary photographer is experienced they’ll have a clause in the contract that says if meals are served, the photographers get fed too. Even at that, do not eat or drink in front of the other guests. The caterer will usually have a break area for their staff that’s out of sight somewhere and typically won’t have a problem sharing with other vendors. Hor d’oeuvre trays, champagne trays and the bar are strictly off limits and never ask the catering staff to bring you anything, get it yourself. I bring my own water (in the go bag, remember?) and snack packs, just in case.
You Shall Not – Talk Out of Turn
Weddings are stressful, kids get tired, adults get low blood sugar and then dump copious quantities of alcohol on the situation and an unkind word from you could escalate in unpredictable ways. You have to always be the voice of calm reassurance and focus.
Even something as simple as a guest asking, “Hey, could I get a copy of that shot?” That’s a question you have to refer to the primary photographer as prints and image copies are usually part of the contract. Sometimes, if guests don’t like the answer they got from the primary photographer, they’ll try you to see if they get a different answer. This is not the time to be helpful other than steering them to the contract photographer.
This is also not the time to hit on any of the other vendor staff or try to get the phone number of a wedding guest. It’s a job, you’re there to work.
You Shall Not – Crop Overly Tight In The Camera
This is another one I was guilty of doing one time. Shooting tight is my style but shouldn’t be when I’m shooting for someone else. Leave a little edge and let the primary do the tight cropping in post. The reason it’s important is that sometimes the pictures are going out for prints or a photobook and sometimes get cropped for aspect ratio or a particular fit. Let the photographer and printer work that out, you leave some room around the edges.
I crop in the camera to save time in post, but this crop wasn’t my call and should have been shot wider.
You Shall Not – Leave Until You Are Certain Your Shots Are Safely Copied
No ducking out early for you. If the primary shooter has a portable drive, that’s awesome because you’re not done until all your shots have been safely copied onto his or her editing system. Once your shots are safe, then you can go home.
Common sense and courtesy will keep you in line with most of these rules. If you show up to work and focus on your job, that will go a long way toward establishing your reputation in the industry as someone who can be trusted to bring along on a wedding shoot.
