Why You’ll Never Second Shoot for Me

We were just pulling into our studio last week to meet for a client consult and our business phone started ringing. We thought it might be the bride looking for directions, so Mr. Mockstar picked it up. It turned out to be one of those calls. The “I want to second shoot for you” call.

He started off with “Hi, I’m an artistic photographer, blah blah blah." He lost me from that first sentence. He’s an artistic photographer? How contrived is that? And isn’t that also a bit redundant? As opposed to what? A boring photographer? A uncreative photographer? A bokeh specialist? (If you’re shooting for art, the term is "fine art photographer”.)

He then talked our ears off about how he did landscapes and families and “a bit of celebrity work” and how he was available and interested in making a “few bucks” in case we wanted to hire him as a second. Desperation oozed from every syllable.



I know a lot of newer photographers are anxious to second shoot. I used to want to second shoot. It’s hard to get those jobs when you’re new, and no established photographers will take you seriously. We told the guy that called to email us a link to his portfolio, but I can tell you right now that email will fall in a black hole never to return. Perhaps if I explain why it can help a couple people in a similar situation looking for second shooting gigs:



- He clearly didn’t do his research. We are a two person photography team. Mr. Mockstar and I are both FIRST shooters. Either one of us could comfortably shoot a wedding with an assistant or second, or alone. We deliver WAY too many files because of this reason. But we like working together (usually.) We obviously don’t need a second shooter, like, ever. An emergency back-up? Sure. A third-shooter? Sometimes. An assistant? I would fucking LOVE an assistant.



If this guy had spent ten minutes on our website, he would have known this and he could have said “Hey, I know you two shoot together, but do you ever need an extra hand?" (And the answer to that is "possibly”. We’ve hired 3rd shooters before.)



- He called himself an “artistic photographer”. This is a total bullshit term to me. Then he followed up with “I also have done some celebrity work”. Again, bullshit. Your celebrity work was probably shooting a band whose tickets you bought, or the celebrity was at an event you attended as a guest. By those qualifiers, I too am a celebrity shooter. Whoop-de-freaking-do. If you were doing legit work with celebrities, you A.) wouldn’t be living in the midwest and B.) wouldn’t be calling me for second shooting gigs.



The moral of the story is be honest about who you are and where you are on your path. I would MUCH rather have a wet-behind-the-ears photographer approach me and say “Hey, I have never shot a wedding, and my best friend is getting married in 2 months, and I think I know what I’m doing, but I’d really like to test that out in the real world before I ruin her wedding photos. Can I tag along to an event?" That kind of honesty is refreshing. You’ll make me feel bad if you do in fact ruin your friend’s photos. If you offer to carry bags and help keep our gear from running off while you shoot a little here and there, then heck yes, you can be a third shooter.



- Your "jack of all trades” portfolio lacks specialization. i.e., I know you obviously don’t give a shit about weddings. Quality wedding studios want second shooters who know how to shoot weddings. Shooting landscapes doesn’t impress me. Shooting celebrities doesn’t impress me. These things have fuckall to do with second shooting. I’d rather hear about how you made an awesome portrait in a boring ass conference room with a flashlight and a piece of posterboard. That tells me something concrete. Send me that photo and not a gallery of effing waterfalls. I have no use for a landscape photographer on a dance floor. I have no use for sports shooter when shooting details.



When we need seconds, we hit our local wedding networking groups and hire people we know personally or know well online and have vested by talking to our photo friends. Good, reputable studios don’t hire strangers who emailed asking for a job. No offense, but we aren’t risking our reputation and weddingwire rating on you. If you’re asking me for a job, I should have heard of you. If you are totally new and don’t know anyone, go to wedding industry mixers and cozy up to the photographers. There’s no shortage of those mixers. We’re much more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt if we’ve met you in person.



There’s a huge difference between a new photographer who is looking to second shoot and a studio hiring a second shooter. In the first scenario, the second shooter is basically looking for a safe place to PRACTICE. In the latter, someone is expecting you to PERFORM.



The expectations are TOTALLY different depending on who contacts who first. Realize that weddings are NOT teaching scenarios. You should feel pretty confident in your abilities before you approach another photographer to second shoot. It’s not the main photographer’s job to answer your questions or give you critiques during the event.



When someone contacts us to ask about second shooting, I almost feel put on the defensive. You’re asking to second shoot, but what I’m hearing is “Please pay me money so you have the privilege of teaching me what it’s taken you the last six years to learn." Likewise, when I’m looking to hire a photographer, I’m trying to find the most experienced person who’s available, and I’m expecting great images. Huge difference in perception there.



If you are truly brand new and have no wedding portfolio at all, this is what I suggest:



- Work your way up to second shooting. Offer yourself up as an assistant. (A legit photographer SHOULD pay you for this, but maybe you offer them a free day just in good faith and to get their attention.)



- Offer something useful in trade. Can you help the photographer re-design their blog, or are you a Quickbooks guru, or is there another skill you can help them with? Are you willing to help them on non-wedding stuff? If you’re legitimately interested in helping someone, they will want to help you.



- Don’t get hung up on second shooting. If you can’t find someone who will let you second shoot, but you want to be a wedding photographer, go out there and be a wedding photographer. Note: I’m not suggesting that anyone just book a wedding without any experience. I’m assuming you have done your homework and practiced wedding-like scenarios. Go book some low budget craigslist weddings. Again, I’m not saying to become a $500 shoot-and-burner, but everyone has to start somewhere.

- If what you are really seeking when you look for second shooting jobs is an education in shooting weddings, then go book that cheap craigslist wedding and hire a second shooter who’s more experienced than you to coach you through the event. (In this case it IS a teaching event.) Maybe you only break even on the event, but you’ll have gotten work for your portfolio* and a genuine real-world learning experience.



One last thing - understand and expect that photos you take second shooting are not necessarily yours. You may not get to use them on your website. Always have an agreement in writing with the main photographer about your responsibilities and photo usage. Contracts keep everyone on the same page and preserve relationships.



*Do not even think for a second of using your more experienced second shooter’s image in your portfolio. That’s just bad juju. Never lie about your experience level or try to make yourself out to be someone you’re not.



