I have second shot several times. In fact, for the first year after graduating college, that’s all I did. I had only shot 1 wedding in college with my professors wife and that was a fantastic experience with a gorgeous couple, but I didn’t get a lot of inside detail on what the do’s and don’ts were at that wedding. After working with 2 other photographers on a few weddings throughout the year (and one in New Orleans!) I was able to make my mistakes (and I did!), but more importantly- learn from them.
I second shot with 2 photographers in Florida, one for one or two sessions/weddings and one for a handful of weddings throughout Florida and the one in New Orleans as well. I learned so much, and now, having my own second shooters allows me to pass the information on and to learn as the main shooter what I should be doing to educate my second shooters of the proper etiquette when shooting with and on behalf of someone else.
When I shot with photographer A on pretty much, my first wedding that I had officially been asked to second shoot, I made some key mistakes. I felt horrible afterwards and apologized profusely too, but she understood and educated me. I never did those things again. The main mistake I had made was giving my own business card to the Catering manager when he asked me for it. I was in charge of many of the detail shots for this wedding and he noticed that. When she saw me giving my card, she simply said that she would give hers to him and that it was customary to lead him to her, since this was her wedding and she was the main photographer. I had no idea to be honest. I had never done this before, so as bad as I felt, I was grateful to have learned that!
Don’t: If you second shoot with someone, never give your card to the vendors involved. You are there to shoot on behalf of the main photographer, so if someone asks for your card, simply state you’re there for the main photographer and you’d be happy to get one of their cards for them.
Do: grab the main shooter to let them know a vendor has requested a card and either ask for their card so you can give to said vendor, or wait until the main photographer has a second to go over there themselves to give a card out.
Because Facebook has been such a popular social networking tool and source for our clients and us as business owners, this can get tricky when you second shoot with someone and you become “friends” with the clients as well. Here is what I say: If the client from the wedding you second shot on takes a liking to you and asks to be your friend on facebook, I personally think it’s ok to respond to that and accept. However, not everyone has this same position, especially if you’re located in the same area and are considered to be photographers in the same market/style/location. I personally as a second shooter, would not seek out the clients whom you second shoot, out and request yourself.
Don’t: Request friendship of your main photographers clients on facebook or follow them on twitter. It’s better to be the second shooter and just that. Don’t try to sell these clients anything or get them to be your models in shoots that you have planned. Try to create a line. (for the record: i too have made this mistake and not asked my main shooter about this, a client sought me out and I accepted without even thinking of what the main shooters feelings would be on this)
Do: Talk to your main photographer about this. Some are completely fine with you being friends with them, but there is a fine line. Sometimes photographers like me, will be ok with your being friends with them on Facebook if it meant they sought you out personally…but seeking them yourself is not the best idea. Do be sure to find out what the main shooters stance is on this. Sometimes, it’s ok to be friends and sometimes its better to not put yourself in their contact at all for respect and privacy reasons on behalf of the main shooter.
When you’re asked to shoot for someone else, make sure you are clear on what their expectations are, where you need to be and when, and what you’re responsible for at said wedding, or session. Sometimes, they want minimal details from you and more candid captures, and sometimes its opposite. Do not confuse assisting with second shooting. Make sure you are clear on what you will be doing and if there is compensation for either the assisting or second shooting.
Don’t : Assume. Second shooting is different than assisting and compensation for each is different as well. Typically second shooters get paid based on experience and assistants sometimes don’t get compensated at all, or the amount is much less since you are required to do much different tasks. Second shooting often means you are shooting the whole, or most of the event with the main photographer at different angles or perspectives than them. Assisting means you are generally helping with equipment, lugging things around for the main, helping to pose or adjust the people in the wedding party, etc.
Do: Ask questions. Make sure you are 100% clear on what they are asking of you. If they don’t write it all out for you, it’s your job to ask, ask, ask. Do try to exceed their expectations, you will be more likely to work with them again in this case, and that’s always a good thing!
Also- Yes, these are photos you have shot and they are yours, but at the same time, you are shooting on behalf of someone else, so essentially these images go right to the main shooter.
Don’t: Blog the images before the main photographer (if they allow you to at all), and don’t post any on your website until the main photographer has done posting of their own (check with your photographer on this to be safe-everyone is different!). They may not want you using them at all, or they may request you only use them in client meetings or in print form, but never for advertising, media, selling, etc. Your images will be in your main photographers hands and its up to their discretion on what they give their clients, they may pick a ton to give to them, or they may not. They are going to credit you on their blog as well in most cases (which I think is a must!). Do not send the vendors a disc of your images! The main photographer may include some of yours (with proper credit) to the venue/vendors, but they may not. It’s not up to you often times, to make that call as a second shooter.
Do: Check with the main photographer on what their take on this is. I, allow my second shooters to blog them after I do so with proper credit and link to my website and blog as well. They may use 5-7 on their website but we ask them to check ours first to make sure there are no similarities between images for the both of us (so as to not look as if one was stealing something from the other). I do not allow them to use for print, media, or advertising. They can use them for print or to keep in their portfolio’s personally to show clients they met with, but we hope that you would mention when showing, that you indeed second shoot these images
Some questions to ask your main photographer:
-Will I be compensated and how much?
-What are my main tasks/responsibilities?
-What is your stance on blogging the images I shoot or using them on my website?
-What if they search for me on facebook and want to be friends? How do you feel about that?
-What time do I need to be there and what equipment do I need to bring?
-Where do I need to be during the ceremony, reception etc? Are there specific moments or angles I am responsible for covering?
-Are there particular lenses I should bring or be using the day of?
-The addresses and names of the bride and groom and venue
-The amount of time you will be required to be there. Will you get a meal as well?
-How do you want me to shoot (Raw or Jpeg or both)? On your cards or mine? How do you want me to get the images to you afterwards? Do I need to cull them first or send them over as is?
When at an event or session, be sure to always direct everything to the main shooter, you are shooting for them afterall and this is a time to sort of stay in the background as much as you can, unless otherwise noted. The main photographers have spent a great deal of time and effort building the relationship with these clients and booking the event with them, so staying out of the limelight is usually best. Again- always ask questions when you aren’t sure about something. This is something I didn’t do enough of and it’s so important in order to create a good reputation and repoire with the photographer you’re working with.
I hope this helps in some way! Second shooting is a great way to gain experience when starting out and there is a lot less pressure as a second as well! Good luck and happy shooting!
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