The ultimate second shooter guide for wedding photographers ~ Two perspectives

The Ultimate Guide to Working With Second Shooters — For Wedding Photographers

Including contract template ~ Poses + prompts guide & so much more

Launch week discount: Save £25 until May 31st

Whether you're leading the charge as a primary photographer or supporting as a second shooter, this comprehensive guide will cover everything I think you need to know when managing or supporting wedding photography teams. 

This guide is packed with tried and tested advice, expert tips, and easy-to-adapt templates including POSING + PROMPTS GUIDES, A SECOND SHOOTER CONTRACT TEMPLATE + MORE

It's also been shaped by conversations with other top photographers in the industry— and second shooters from my team. 

What You'll Learn:

• Introduction
• The benefits of having 2+ shooters

For the primary:

Things to consider when choosing a Second Shooter

• • How well they will represent your brand
  • Personality
  • Conduct
  • Clothes
  • Kit (body)

General

• • Pricing and payment
  • Logistics
  • File safety, storage and transfer

What to include in your Second Shooter contract

• • Key information
  • Kit, back up kit + technical knowledge
  • Etiquette + behaviour
  • Client, guest + supplier interaction
  • Confidentiality and privacy
  • Shooting style + what to focus on
  • File management
  • Copyright
  • Usage + re sharing

How to effectively communicate pre wedding, on the day and post

• • Logistics (including working hours, parking, meals + more)
  • Settings checklist
  • Shots checklist (including general priorities)
  • Couple/ guest dynamic info
  • Questionnaire link (if applicable)
  • Positive re-inforcement + constructive criticism

For the second:

Securing work

• How to get second shooting jobs
• Where to find them
• What you’ll need
• Pay rates
• What kit + technical ability do you need

Before the day

• How can you prepare for the job
• Understanding your role

On the day

• Attire
• Behaviour + etiquette
• Communicating with the primary, couple, guests + suppliers
• Aligning your shooting style with the primary
• How to maximise how many of your images are chosen for the final gallery

Following the wedding

• File storage + safety
• Seeking feedback
• Usage + sharing etiquette

Bonus

• Common second shooter icks and how to avoid them
• Second shooter green flags
• Good practice templates (see examples for each key part of the day)
• Second shooter info template (everything they need to know in one concise document - adapt this template for each wedding)
• Second shooter contract template