When I was first began in the industry, I had little to nothing in my portfolio to show, to entice clients to book. I had no connections, haven’t marked my name, and had no experience. I was actually moving to a new state when I transitioned to weddings. It was a stagnant phase of my career where a cycle of “I need to shoot a wedding for my portfolio, but I need a portfolio to book a wedding” persisted. Familiar?? To break this cycle, you definitely need to shoot your shot as a second shooter!

Aside from helping you build an exquisite portfolio, there are definitely more benefits to reap from becoming a second shooter! If you’re not convinced yet, allow me to convince you why it’s beneficial for you to be a second shooter and how you begin to build your portfolio as a sesond shooter!

You Can Be More Familiar With Wedding Timelines

As an aspiring professional wedding photographer, your first assignment is to be knowledgeable about all things wedding, most especially, wedding timelines. You need extreme familiarity in this area because the wedding timeline will be your basis for creating a seamless on-the-day workflow. Not only that, but your bride will also feel confident working with someone who shows expertise in the industry!

You Can Experiment With Your Photographs

Throughout your career, you will find many instances where it takes a new experience to learn new things. With that said, we highly encourage you to take every opportunity you can get to learn new things — unless you’re planning to be the primary photographer at someone’s wedding. In that case, you should only do the things that you are already confident about. Never use somebody’s wedding for your shooting experiments!

Being a second shooter, however, will allow you to be free from the burden of expectations! You can experiment as much as you want without potentially ruining the reputation that you’re trying to build!

Connect With Wedding Vendors

Being a part of a community in the industry is extremely important. We can attest to that! It is highly essential to build bridges with other industry experts. You will not only gain new friends, but you will also have the opportunity to learn from recognized and established professionals. In addition, being connected to other wedding vendors will also mean you will be recommended to their clients and vice versa! You join our wedding community for wedding pros here!

You Will Gain Experience While Having a Gallery Full of Content for Your Web Platforms and Portfolio

You can know all the tricks from books, learn from the best teachers, and know how to execute the best possible shots, but you will still have a hard time finding the confidence you need to produce photos that will please your clients. You will need in peson experience to be ready and you will need experience to confidently know how to create a seamless and high-quality service for your clients. Second shooting will give you the experience you need!

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of becoming a second shooter, it’s time to share our secrets of becoming the best second shooter and how to build your portfolio as a second shooter!

I. Be Prepared

Make sure you are well-prepared before showing up to the wedding. Prepare a checklist of equipment you need for the day and make sure you have done all your homework! By the time you arrive at the venue, you should already have a full grasp on the client’s requirements and memos from the lead photographer. Doing so will help you become more efficient and professional!

II. Be a Team Player

You and the lead photographer will be working as a team. As the second shooter, your role is to assist the lead photographer by willingly doing the tasks assigned to you. This could mean holding the reflector or shooting a scene at a different angle. Either way, take it as a learning opportunity!

III. Communicate Clearly

As we have mentioned above, you will be working as a team! Make sure everything is communicated clearly. If you feel the need to repeat the information you have been given to make sure you have 200% clear understanding of everything, then do so! If you have questions or if you feel like you are unsure about something, do not be afraid to ask the lead photographer. It is important that the two of you are on the same page in everything.

IV. Be Professional

Arrive on time, dress appropriately, and be polite to everyone. You are not only representing yourself but also the lead photographer. Make sure you stay professional and courteous throughout the day from the guests to the staffs! Remember, impressions last!

ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO USE IMAGES AS A SECOND SHOOTER

When asking for permission to use images shot as a second shooter, it’s essential to approach the conversation with professionalism, courtesy, and respect for the primary photographer’s work.

To become a second shooter, the best way is to reach out to established photographers and be sure you and the primary shooter is on the same page! There might be a seasoned pro who would be willing to take you under their wing! Who knows? You might learn a thing or two from them too!