Tips on How to Become an AMAZING Second Shooter for Weddings

My #1 wedding photographer tips for beginners: get practice as a second shooter for weddings!! This blog is a guide jam-packed with everything you need to know, from what is a second shooter, to how to find second shooting jobs, and ten “do’s and don’ts” for all my beginning photographers out there!

What is a second shooter?

A second shooter (AKA, second photographer) helps add more variety to the gallery and helps out the lead photographer, resulting in the client getting more photos. This is a “bonus photographer” for the couple’s wedding day that basically helps the lead photographer cover more ground.

Their only responsibility is on the wedding day, so second shooters don’t have to worry about editing the photos or communicating with the clients!

Tips on Being a Wedding Photographer: Find a Second Shooting Job!!

A second shooter is often someone who’s a trained and experienced photographer (you know your way around a camera) who wants to learn more about the ebb and flow of a wedding day. So much more goes into being a wedding photographer than just knowing how to take good photos. 

A second shooter is there to assist with what the lead photographer is doing (but this is different than a photographer’s assistant, which is a whole other topic for another day!)

Plus this gives you experience before you spend time, money, & resources investing in your wedding photography career. Dip your toes in the water before you dive in!

Benefits of having a second shooter 

With a second shooter, the lead photographer can be in two places at once! The second shooter gets detail pics of the venue while the lead take pics of people getting ready. OR one shoots with the groomsmen while the other shoots with the bridesmaids, etc. It results in more angles and more photos for the couple and helps make the photographer’s life easier.

How to Become a Second Shooter for Weddings

Network, network, network! I met my girl on Instagram. Or there are a ton of Facebook groups for photographers out there. Put yourself out there in social circles and tell your friends that you’re looking for jobs. 

My mom is a photographer and I assisted her for years and years growing up. Then I had friends who were photographers that I learned from and then second shot for before launching my own business. In this job, it’s all about who you know!

If you need connections to find second shooter jobs, I always help my photography mentorship clients out with this! 

Do’s + Don’ts of Being a Second Shooter for Weddings: Ten Tips!

Don’t do these while you’re second shooting a wedding:

• Don’t hand out your own business card or personal information. You’re the employee of the lead photographer, so promoting yourself would be super unprofessional!

• Don’t post the pics from the wedding unless the lead says you can and if you do – GIVE CREDIT on the post! Say “shot with XYZ” or “worked with XYZ at this wedding” or “lead photographer was XYZ” and tag the lead. 

• Don’t stand right next to the lead when shooting. Move around to grab different angles so that the client gets variety! This is important all day, but especially in the wedding ceremony. Talk with the lead photographer before the ceremony so you can decide who shoots what during the big moments. 

Do these things while you second shoot a wedding:

• Take “BTS” photos of the lead photographer working – this is super useful for marketing purposes!

• Stay on schedule yourself, but also keep an eye on the schedule for the lead!

• Keep an eye out for the little things: Watch for hair ties on bridesmaids’ wrists, get phones out of the guy’s pockets, adjust the veil during sunset portraits, etc.

• Study the timeline and ask questions ahead of time if you have them.

• Be prepared & professional: Check with the lead on what you should wear, make sure your gear is fully charged, arrive early, smile, and be friendly to the guests!

• Be open to feedback. If you wanna grow your skill and your business, ask for feedback and constructive criticism from the lead. 

• Be prepared to step in if, god forbid, something happens to the lead photographer and they’re not able to shoot. I’m not saying you might have to be an associate photographer, but if the lead gets suddenly sick or something, it’s your job to step up, be familiar with the timeline, and get the shots. 

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Meet My Second Shooter, Hannah!

About two or three years ago, Hannah and I met on Instagram! We clicked super well and became super good friends. She’s been doing photography since she was in high school and has a super artistic eye and approach.

Her unique perspective is a great asset to my team, especially since our creative brains are so different! Our personalities work super well together, so we’re always bouncing ideas off of each other. Her favorite part of each wedding day is the detail photos and several of the pics in this blog are actually hers!

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