Most of the top wedding photographers in the U.S. use a second photographer. Top-Ten wedding photographer Jasmine Star actually uses her husband JD, which is a direction a lot of wedding photographers are going. A second photographer acts not only as an extra photographer, hence the name, but also assists the main photographer. Here’s a list of my responsibilities as a second photographer to Reid.
- taking shots that Reid can’t get due to time constraints
- capturing candid moments such as smiles, laughs, and tears that Reid may have missed, either because he’s taking portraits, or just focusing on a different area of the wedding.
-compiling the same-day slideshow to be played during the reception
-helping Reid with lighting such as flash placement, and adjustments
Jasmine Star’s husband JD posted a blog not too long ago of his top 10 tips for second photographers, it’s a great read and I highly suggest it. Inspired by this, I decided to hand out my top 5 tips for a second photographer. So, here goes, Pay attention.
Tip # 1 Stay Out of the Shot! – Awareness is key.
I know this is kind of a no brainer, but you’ll be surprised how difficult it can actually be, especially when you’re working with a photographer who moves around a lot like Reid. At times it’s quite difficult because you’re cramped in a small dressing room, bathroom, or bedroom. I find that the best thing to do in this situation, is to shoot the same subject from a different angle, always making sure to keep yourself out of the other photographer’s shot. Many times, Reid will be shooting a bride looking at herself in the mirror from behind, while I’m off to the side capturing her profile. The reception can be difficult as well. Most dance floors are four sided, typically if Reid is shooting on one side, I’m shooting on either adjacent side directing my shot towards the middle of the floor. So if Reid is shooting from the front side of the dance floor, I’ll make sure to be shooting from either the left or right side of floor, never from the opposite side. In short, a general rule of thumb will be to always be aware of where the main photographer is and what direction he or she is shooting in but never shoot over their shoulder which leads us to our next tip.
Tip # 2 Don’t Duplicate the Shot!
As a second photographer, your main responsibility is to capture DIFFERENT shots. The last thing a photographer needs is a different version of the same shot. Never, I repeat, never shoot over the main photographer’s shoulder, especially if you plan on capturing the same image. When Reid is taking a shot that I may have wanted to get, I think to myself “Good, I’m glad that the couple will have that shot.” It doesn’t matter who gets the shot or not, as long as your clients are receiving the pictures you think they should get. Typically if Reid is shooting portraits, I’ll take that time capture some detail shots, or candid photos of the bridal party standing around, anxious to get to the cocktail hour. I look at it this way, I get to challenge my creativity from shot to shot, making sure that I am getting shots that Reid isn’t.
Tip # 3 Be Helpful!
If your main photographer needs to change the batteries in his or her flashes, do it for them. If they need to move a light, do it for them. If they need a bottle of water, get it for them. As a second photographer, it’s not only your job to take pictures, but to also make sure the day runs smoothly. This is a pretty straight forward tip. Don’t be big headed! Remember, your clients hire you because you both take great shots, and because you never have problems with equipment, timing, and courtesy.
Tip # 4 Be Knowledgeable
The more you know about photography, the better. Chances are, you’re well versed on how to deal with certain lighting conditions and flash placement, but make sure you can correct problems on the spot. If you’re able to place lighting in exactly the right position without your main photographer asking you to move it a little this way, or a little that way, portraits will take no time at all. This takes a little time with your colleague to get to know where they like their lights, but make sure that it’s a subject of conversation and discuss what he or she likes, before the wedding. Also, know your equipment, as well as your main photographer’s equipment. Know the limitations of your camera, If you know that you can’t bump your camera up to a high enough ISO to capture a certain low lit shot, but you know that your main photographer can with their equipment, tell them. Sometimes it’s best to suggest a shot to your main photographer rather than taking it yourself only to find that it’s noise town.
Tip # 5 Be Ready!
Know your company. Know what your packages entail, know your schedule, know how much you charge, know everything there is to know about your own company. A lot of times, guests at weddings will come to talk to me, especially if I’m holding lights for Reid or if he’s off taking bridal portraits while I’m working on a same -day slideshow. Guests will ask all kinds of questions, from if you offer discounts for a slew of different circumstances, to questions like “How many pictures do you take?” Make sure you take in your business information like a sponge and remember details, because let’s face it, you don’t want to sound dumb to a guest. Another point of interest, always always always carry business cards on you. Sometimes, a guest will see you working your tail off, realize that you’re probably pretty awesome at what you do, and simply ask for a business card so you can get back to work. A general rule of thumb here is to treat every guest as a potential client.
If you have any more tips that you think may be helpful, just drop in a comment!
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