Becoming a Second Shooter at a Wedding

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Last week, we talked about building your wedding portfolio on the side.

You can read the full issue HERE 

(It's pretty darn good if I do say so myself)

Now, it's time to get serious.

If you genuinely want to become a wedding photographer, one of the absolute best ways to "get your reps" is to be a second shooter for an established wedding photographer.

If I'm being honest, and why shouldn't I be, the gig as a second shooter or "associate photographer" at a wedding is probably the most fun any photographer can have. (Full disclosure - I do miss those days a bit)

For starters, the money is pretty decent, or at least it could be.

Once you get wheels under you, show you can handle the gig, and become a valuable member of the team, you should be making around $100 per hour, given the magnitude of your role and the overall photography budget of the wedding.

But let's not get greedy right off the bat, especially if you're new to shooting weddings. Shoot for free if you have to, and learn as much as you can while you're there. This is a fantastic learning ground for aspiring wedding photographers so please, PLEASE take advantage of this.

For seconds, you get all the creativity without any of the actual responsibility of the main photographer for the day.

No, you're not making four or five figures, but taking home a few hundred bucks for a day behind the lens and learning how a real wedding is photographed is what I would call a great day.

And the best part is, you NEED the reps anyway.

Being a second or even a third shooter at a full-blown wedding and reception is a sa-weet way to build your portfolio, gain experience shooting and play a valuable role in helping out a fellow wedding photographer/mentor.

So, how do you do this?

Finding a gig as a second shooter is easier than you might think.

• Get online and familiarize yourself with the local talent.

• Choose a handful of photographers you admire and call them for a face-to-face meeting. Meeting with them in person is important because weddings are a personal business.

• Buy them lunch or coffee and talk to them. Tell them straight up - you'd like to learn how to shoot weddings from them.

• When you meet, be upfront with them. Tell them why you're doing this, what has drawn you to weddings and photography and why you chose them over other photographers. BE HONEST if you're talking with others, too!

• This is not a "brain-picking" session but rather an interview for a job (or at least that's how you should be looking at it)

• Offer to shoot a wedding with them for free.

This offer is SO much easier than the days of film when it used to actually cost money to click the shutter. Now, it's just free digital clicks.

There are a decent amount of things you'll want to work out with the photographer. They're not just going to let you roam free at their wedding.

You'll have some responsibilities, and they'll probably have some suggestions on what to wear, how to act and who you'll be allowed to talk to.

This is not a big deal if you're just starting out since this whole experience will be brand new for you. As you gain more experience, you'll earn more responsibility and play a larger role.

One big thing is being able to use the images YOU take as portfolio pieces. Make sure this is UNDERSTOOD up front.

I actually prefer letting my associates give me their Raw files to process the way I want and then let them process their own files in their style.

This lets everyone work together but separately.

Another angle to consider is using this second shooter role as an easy side hustle. This is a wonderful option for good photographers who aren't ready to start a business of their own but love to keep shooting and getting better. If this is NOT you, read on.

Where else can you find photographers? I'm glad you asked.

Online groups set up specifically for local wedding photographers frequently post opportunities for second shooters.

Many photographers hate shooting alone and keep trusted talent close to them, often hiring them as a part of their business.

On the other hand, some photographers fly solo and don't want to hire people in their business (payroll, Social Security, benefits, headaches). They simply want a good shooter to help them when they need it.

I fall into this second category.

It took me over a decade to finally accept the fact that I should have a second shooter with me.

I won't deny it, I loved (and still love) to shoot weddings by myself. I am the prototypical Solopreneur and wear that badge proudly.

BUT, once I decided to try a wedding having a second shooter with me, a great weight was lifted. I no longer felt pressure to get every shot, running from place to place. I had someone there to cover some parts of the day and cover my back.

That's the biggest value of having a second shooter.

Back in the old days, when I started, professional photographers were shooting film. My first job was loading film into medium format "backs" for a local pro. This was like loading bullets into a magazine I would hand him when he ran out.

He was a good photographer, and even though I didn't get to shoot anything during the weddings, standing silently next to him and watching him work taught me a great deal.

Since I was still shooting on my own time and letting everyone I bumped into know I was a photographer, word eventually got around to a young couple who wanted a photographer for their wedding but had no money.

They were in luck because I wanted to photograph a wedding, but I had no experience of actually shooting one.

A few weeks later, I shot my first wedding, and I was hooked. Not long after, I took the two weddings I shot to get a steady gig as an actual shooting assistant.

More portfolio pieces - more experience.

(You can read the full origin story of how I got started here)

The bottom line is the process works. You don't have to shoot for years before you can strike out on your own. Many savvy photographers second shoot and work to book their own weddings for themselves.

One BIG note of caution

Wedding photographers are competitive, so PLEASE be respectful if you're second shooting.

• No business cards at your employer's wedding

• No sneaky deals with the wedding party

Be a great photographer, learn what you can, and show gratitude for those who help you build your dream.

I promise that everything you do well and with integrity will come back to you through referrals and recommendations.

We may be competitive, but we also know we can't shoot every wedding (as much as we would like to). I love setting up my friends and fellow photographers with a pre-wrapped wedding ready to book. You'll like those gifts too!

So, if you're not quite ready to make this a full-time gig, and you want a great way to build your skills, your confidence and your portfolio, I love this opportunity as a second shooter.

Take advantage of it, and when you're a hotshot pro, don't forget to help a young photographer build their dream as well.

I personally think you learn an awful lot by DOING, but Will is a brilliant man, so who am to question his wisdom?

PS,

There are a LOT of details that go into being a good second shooter or even starting out as one. If there are some specific areas you’d like more info on, pop a question in the comment section below and I’ll expand this to cover what you want to know.

Is there another area you’re currently challenged with and want to know more about? Feel free to reach out. You can add a comment below or shoot me an email at [email protected]