The World of Second Shooting: Why and How You Should Be Assisting Other Photographers – Part 1
November 25, 2019
Hey photographers! Back in July we wrapped up a blog series aimed at helping newer wedding photographers get more clients, or even book that first wedding! We’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from “for-photographers” content on our blog since then, largely because of how busy this summer and fall were for us! But now we’re back, and excited to spend this winter pressing into an extremely important topic for newer wedding photographers: second shooting and assisting!
What Is Second Shooting and Why Should You Be Doing It?
In this first segment, we’re going to introduce you to second shooting and assisting, in case you don’t know how it works or what it us. But we’re also going to try to convince you why, if you aren’t already, you should be out there doing it!
What is Second Shooting?
Second shooting is just like it sounds, being the second photographer (or in the case of our apprentices who assist Hunter and I, the third) on a wedding day. Since the vast majority of wedding photographers aren’t husband-and-wife teams like we are, these solo-preneurs are almost always interested in having a second set of eyes and hands (and lenses) on a wedding day to help them capture the day to the fullest. Especially when shooting a larger wedding, having some help capturing the day can be a huge asset.
As we understand it, second shooting is different from assisting. An assistant is often someone who comes along on a wedding day to carry bags, drive the car, help change and manage lenses or film or light equipment, and generally do whatever the lead photographer wants. An assistant would not take any photos the entire day.
Why Should A New Photographer Second Shoot or Assist?
The first and most important reason to work with another, more experienced wedding photographer, is for how much you’ll learn! If you’re totally new to wedding photography, there are so many aspects of the wedding day that are probably completely foreign to you. How do you run wedding party photos? When should you take photos of the rings and shoes? What’s it like to deal with family drama on a wedding day?
Even if your camera never even left your bag (as in the case of assisting), watching a professional photographer who’s further along in the wedding photography journey than you could be hugely insightful. Or even better, assist several different photographers, and take the components of each of their styles that align with your personality and skills the best!
The second reason to second shoot is to gain true hands-on experience. Hunter and I are firm believers in the importance of learning-by-doing, and even the best book or online course can’t fully solidify a concept or a skill like getting out and doing it! If, as Malcolm Gladwell claims, it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery at something, put in those first 100 hours, 10 at a time, by second shooting for a season of your business!
The final reason why you should pursue second shooting when you’re first getting started is for your portfolio. How can you book your first wedding if potential wedding clients want to see photos as proof that you can shoot a wedding? Second shooting! As you assist lead photographers over a series of weddings, you’ll start to build a robust and varied wedding portfolio, so when it comes time to book your first wedding as lead, you know in your own heart that you’re ready to take the reins, and can prove it to your potential clients with photos.
Our Experience
Not only have Hunter and I assisted other professional photographers in a second or third shooter capacity, but we’ve also had third shooters and assistants on our own wedding days before. We had to learn how to tune into how other photographers operate when they run the show, and how to assist them well. And we’ve also learned what is most valuable to us when we’re the lead shooters and bring a third person along with us!
Because of these experiences, and through chatting with friends who have been on both sides of the second shooting relationship, we’re excited to begin this multi-part blog series all about second shooting and assisting!
Want to Work with Us?
Learning all about assisting and second-shooting from our blog series is one thing. Actually getting out and doing it is another thing entirely! If you’re interested in coming along on wedding days with us, and learning how to photograph weddings and run a successful photography business alongside a group of your peers who are doing the same thing, click here to learn more about the HSP Apprenticeship Program, and even fill out an application!
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If you’re interested in learning more from us personally, and joining a community of other photographers also striving to grow their businesses, click here to join our Facebook Community, Mastering the Wedding Photography Biz with Hunter and Sarah!