I love this image that Katy Murray took for me at Brent & Lydia’s wedding!

A few weeks ago I blogged a few tips for second shooters on how to get hired for second shooting gigs, and what primary photographers look for when hiring second shooters. Well, today I want to flip that around a bit and talk about qualities and characteristics that second shooters should look for when being contracted to work for another photographer.

Why is this important? Simply because most wedding photography companies are small, so small things mean a great deal. Let me explain— when a 100-person office adds one more employee, the office dynamic may change slightly, but that one person won’t usually affect work productivity for the other hundred employees. However, when a one-person photography company hires one other person to work for their company, that one person is now 50% of the combined personality of the company… which can have a major affect on either party.

So just as primary photographers can be picky about who they hire to work for them, I think second shooters should be just as picky about who they work for! If you’re second shooting to learn, be very careful who you choose as a teacher! That’s one of the reasons I spent so much time researching primary photographers before reaching out to anyone about working for them— I wanted to learn, but only from the right people.

I love these shots that Megan Kelsey Marcus got for me at Ryan & Amy’s wedding!

If you’re a photographer who wants to work as a second shooter, here are a few traits and characteristics to look for in wedding companies and primary photographers:

1. Willingness to Teach

Just as in my last post about second shooters, humility is a key quality! The BEST primary shooters to work for are ones who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with their second shooters. They bring the second shooter on as part of the team, not merely as an extra hand to schlep bags around. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for schlepping— but I think good primaries are ones who desire their seconds to leave their “employ” better than when they came.

2. Clear Communication

Every primary has a slightly different style of shooting, of interacting with their clients, and the way they run their wedding timeline. But second shooters can’t read minds (unfortunately!!). It’s no fun to work with a primary who has high expectations for their seconds, but never communicates those expectations (or even worse, publicly scold and/or humiliate their seconds for failing to live up to unspoken expectations!).

3. Takes Charge

A primary photographer’s job is to shoot the wedding. They booked the client, they sold their services, and the client expects them to produce quality work. In most circumstances, that means the primary photographer takes lead on most parts of the wedding day, and the second shooter acts in a supporting role. Of course there are certain circumstances where for some reason or another the primary is unable to take lead, but that shouldn’t be normal. If you’re a photographer looking for second shooter jobs, look for primary photographers who take lead, and avoid working for those who will sit back and “take it easy” while expecting the second to make up the difference.

4. Clearly Defined Style and/or Brand

A well-established primary photographer usually has put in the time, energy, and hard work to figure out their own style and brand, and can communicate that in a clear, concise manner. Take the time to do research on primary photographers to make sure their style is something you think you a) want to learn, or b) think you can compliment. It wouldn’t make any sense for a film-only primary shooter to hire a second who shoots color-rich high-contrast work. It’s worthwhile for a second shooter to spend time and energy to figure out their own style and interest, and look for jobs with primary shooters who will teach them how to better that style. (If you need some help on finding your own core, check out this blog post).

5. Similar Core Beliefs

I probably should have put this as number one, because I think it’s that important!!! If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time, you will know that I run my business by a set of Core Beliefs. The first one is: I believe that genuine, loving care and personal relationships with both clients and colleagues are the key to a successful and satisfying business. I want to hire second shooters who also value people and relationships, because that is at the core of who I am as a business owner, and on a wedding day, a second shooter is an extension of my brand. When I first started out, I was very very particular about who I worked for, because I wanted to be sure I could stand for what they stood for, and without betraying my own core beliefs. Make sure you find primary shooters who you are proud to represent— in the work you produce for them, and in how you represent what they stand for.

6. Respect + Professionalism

A good primary shooter treats their second shooters with respect. And that means they should be marked by professionalism. It’s always a good idea to have a second shooter contract with the primary that includes expected hours, responsibilities, pay rate and time-frame, image delivery, and any other expectations the primary may choose to specify. Other evidences of respect and professionalism: speaking well of clients and vendors (and avoiding complaint, even if things don’t go as expected), respecting property rules, working well with and respecting the work of other vendors, and paying a fair rate in a timely manner.

7. Gives Feedback When Asked

This is more of an added bonus, but it’s always nice when a primary photographer gives their second shooters feedback on their work (on the quality of their work day-of, and on the quality of the images they produce). It’s not a requirement, but it’s always so helpful to know how to improve!

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If you’re interested in learning more about second shooting, and how to increase your value as a second shooter, check out my workshop: The Second Shooter, on August 1, 2015 in Washington, DC!

Topics covered:

• Different kinds of primary shooters and second shooters, and how to know if you’re a good fit.
• How to get hired as a second shooter.
• How to find good second shooters.
• Industry standards and common practices, covering image handling, pay rates, and image use post-wedding.
• How to shoot to compliment the primary shooter.
• A mini-styled shoot to practice…
  • Shooting to compliment the primary shooter
  • How to shoot details
  • Interacting with guests during cocktail hour
  • Styling men’s details during the getting ready portion of the day
  • … and so much more!

Time: 10am to 4:00pm on Saturday, August 1, 2015. Registration includes light snacks and lunch. Location will be emailed to attendees no later than two weeks prior event.