So I’ve told you to go and second shoot. But how? How do you do that? I’ve been a second shooter myself. Honestly, I still second shoot sometimes for close friends that I work with. There is nothing wrong about already establishing yourself as a wedding photographer and continuing to practice by second shooting. I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “practice makes perfect”.
Before we talk about how to be a great second, let’s talk about how to get second shooting jobs. You can find jobs in local photographer Facebook groups. It also doesn’t hurt to reach out to local wedding photographers. Make sure your website shows off your skill level. I would personally be really impressed by seeing a “second shooting” resume. I will include a sample resume in this guide, but some of the important questions that a lead might have would include:
What gear do you shoot with?
Do you have flash experience?
How many weddings have you shot?
Why a resume? It is easy to look at and find answers. Lead photographers are usually really busy with other business tasks, so the easier you can make it for them to find out important answers, the more likely they are to work with you. Also consider that really, you are applying for a job. It’s pretty standard practice to have a resume when you’re job searching. Make sure you include a professional headshot of yourself that shows off your personality. Use pictures that best show off your skills. If you don’t have any wedding pictures to show, ask some friends to pose as an engaged couple and use those. Anything that you can show that you can work with couples helps. If you absolutely have nothing to show in your portfolio, pick out pictures you’ve taken to highlight your skills with lighting. Make sure these pictures are edited nicely. You don’t have to have the same editing style as a lead photographer to get the job, but by showing that you have editing knowledge can help show that you are experienced in your photography craft. I think it’s totally fine to respond with an image of your resume to Facebook posts. Just make sure to include a clickable link for your website or Instagram in the comments along with your picture. This way, they can easily find out even more about you.
What if no one is posting second shooting jobs? It never hurts to reach out to other photographers and ask if you can work with them. I’ve written up a mock email and I’ll explain why it works.
Good Afternoon THEIR NAME!
I am reaching out today because I have been following you one Instagram for a while now and absolutely love your work. I love your shots and can really tell how passionate you are about being a wedding photographer. I would be honored to have the chance to work with you if you are ever in need of a second shooter.
I am local to the YOUR LOCATION area. I have been shooting for NUMBER years. I would really like to dive into the world of weddings and learn from someone like you. I have attached my resume for you to look over. It includes my experience, gear list, and some of my best portfolio images. If you would like more information about me, feel free to check out my website (INSERT WEBSITE HERE) or my Instagram (INSERT HANDLE HERE). Along with that, I am always open to speaking more with you to answer your questions in person or over the phone.
Again, I admire your work and would love to work alongside you at a wedding. If you are not in need of a second shooter, no worries, but I thought I would reach out in case.
Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR PHONE NUMBER YOUR WEBSITE
So why does this work? One, you are already showing your excitement in the opening statement. You then go into flattering them with compliments. Lead photographers want to feel like you are working for them because you admire their work, not just because you want the experience. After that, you tell the photographer more about yourself. You can go into as much detail as you want, but try to stay on track and to the point. After that, you are giving them a place where they can find more of your work and more about you. A resume is a great starting point, but they might also want to see your website and Instagram. After that, you are again showing your commitment to working with them by offering to meet in person or over the phone. Finally, you are wrapping it up by summarizing the first paragraph and showing that you won’t be upset if they are not interested in working with you. Make sure to always thank them for their time. They probably get a lot of emails each day and it’s a nice touch to thank someone for reading what you’ve written.
Once you’ve gotten a job, here are my tips of what to do and not to do as a second shooter. These are the things that are going to help you get more jobs and make good business connections for the future.
Be Self Driven: Don’t wait around for the lead photographer to give you direction. Obviously if they give you very specific instructions, follow those. But if you have free time, find something to do. Take more detail shots or pictures of the guests. The lead will most always be taking the “main” shots, so it’s your job to take the initiative and shoot everything else.
Know how the Lead shoots (Over/under exposed): When working with a new lead photographer, it doesn’t hurt to ask them how they normally shoot their pictures. Some photographers prefer to shoot more warm and underexposed, and some the opposite. By knowing how they shoot, it shows that you are there to support them and make their job easier.
Don’t Just be there to Build your Portfolio: You are there because the lead photographer hired you as an extension of their own wedding business. Yes, I’ve talked about second shooting to build your portfolio, but ultimately, that should just be a bonus from the experience. You are there to make their job easier for the day and get the shots they direct you to. It’s important to not step on their toes.
Know if you Need to Bring your Own Cards or Not: The lead should always have enough SD cards, but it’s important to communicate with your lead photographer before arriving if you need to provide your own cards or not. Ask them what their typical process is like. Some will ask you to hand over cards and will mail them back later. Some might ask you to upload the RAWs to deliver them online. Some might give you cards to shoot with and then expect them back at the end of the day. Communicating with the lead photographer is the best thing you can do.
Don’t Shoot from the Same Angle: No lead wants to go through their second shooter’s pictures and see shots that are almost identical to their own. Yes, you are also another way to have backups for the lead photographer as a last resort, but it’s more likely that that doesn’t happen and your lead will want to see different angles from you.
Be a Helping Hand: Help not only your lead with things, but also help the couple and wedding guests. Fluff the bride’s dress in between shots, ask if you can carry anything for your lead. Bring an extra snack and water bottle for the lead (this will go a long way). Have the timeline and a watch easily accessible for anyone who might need it. Familiarize yourself with the venue so you can help point people in the right direction.
Get the Forgotten Shots: If you really want to impress your lead photographer, get the shots that they might forget to get. This might be a wide shot of the front of the venue or detail shots from a different angle.
Assist with Family Pictures, Don’t just Stand Around: If your lead needs the help, don’t be afraid to ask if you can help. Getting groupings ready and “on deck” to get their picture taken by the lead will make the process go by so much quicker and your lead will thank you. Sometimes if the timeline is pushed together, your lead might ask you to photograph cocktail hour or something else going on with the rest of the guests. Make sure you are getting great shots during this time. The lead is trusting you with this part of the day because they are busy taking the family portraits.
Be Creative: If you do run into free time throughout the day, don’t be scared to use your creativity to get additional shots.
Don’t Overshoot: This is another thing that should be communicated with the lead beforehand. More times than not, your lead photographer won’t want you to over deliver pictures. This gives them more work to do during editing. Be intentional with every shot you take. You will seriously impress the lead if you give them an SD card full of useful and purposeful shots instead of a million shots identical to their own.
Care about the Client like They are Your Own: Please, please, please remember that you are serving the lead photographer as their contracted employee and you are also serving the couple. It’s easy to want to be there for yourself and your portfolio, but it won’t go unnoticed if you put your heart into serving the lead and the clients.
Don’t Try to Market Yourself to Wedding Guests: This is a huge no, no. For the wedding day, you are a hired employee by a different business. It will look really bad on you as a business professional to try and take business from the lead photographer. If a wedding guest asks about your own business, it is okay to not be rude and ignore them. Answer their questions, but be courteous to the lead.
Know When to Post: Make sure you know when you can post pictures from the wedding. Oftentimes, if your lead has you sign a contract before working with them, it should be laid out in the contract. Common practice is to wait until the sneak peek or full gallery has been sent to the couple from the lead photographer.
Be Honest about Your Experience: Don’t lie to a potential lead photographer just to get a job. The lead will be able to tell really quickly what your real experience is once they see you work and your final images. It’s okay to not be an expert wedding photographer or 100% comfortable with flash or your settings. But be honest when applying for second shooting jobs. Some leads are okay with taking inexperienced photographers under their wing for a wedding, but some are looking for seconds with more experience. Don’t get discouraged if a lead turns you away or doesn’t trust you to shoot a certain part of the day by yourself. Ultimately, it is their reputation on the line. Also understand that teaching another photographer and shooting a wedding at the same time is a lot to do at once. Not every photographer wants to worry about teaching a second shooter while shooting the wedding.
Watch Youtube Videos: There are a ton of videos made by photographers that talk about second shooting. Watch behind the scenes videos to see what a typical day looks like for a second and for a lead. Even if you’ve shot a wedding before, it never hurts to see other photographer’s processes and learn what they do differently.
Ask about Directions Before Arriving: Your lead might be hard to reach once the wedding has started. It’s important to know where to go and when. You can’t always rely on the lead to answer all of your questions on the day of.
Stand Up for Yourself: Not every lead photographer will be your favorite to work with. Typically, local photographers find their favorites and repeatedly work with each other. If you ever come into a situation where you are uncomfortable or unsafe, it is okay to stand up for yourself.