I get a lot of questions from photographers related to 2nd shooting -- what typical pay is, how image rights are handled, what is expected and the most common of all -- can I 2nd shoot for you? So I thought I'd do an all-encompassing FAQ post to cover all questions relating to 2nd shooting. Second shooter roles, policies and pay vary widely throughout the industry. I'm sure my understanding of these issues is limited as well, but I am happy to share it nonetheless. Feel free to weigh in to the conversation in the comments!
PAY
There are about 4 different tiers of pay for second shooters and they are largely determined by the experience of the 2nd shooter and success of the main shooter.
1. FREE
When I was newer in the business, I didn't have money to pay a 2nd shooter. But there always seems to be someone who is even newer that you are, and I had some folks who volunteered to shoot with me just to gain experience. When you're just starting out, 2nd shooting is a great way to familiarize yourself with weddings and build your portfolio. But generally speaking, you need to 2nd shoot with another newbie who is just at the same level or a little further along (I'll talk about why in the next section). I always encourage new photographers to get together with each other and shoot with one another for free. It's a great trade, you both have back-ups and you each gain even more experience by shooting with each other. Every once in awhile my friends and I will second shoot for each other still just to have fun and enjoy shooting a wedding without the responsibility of being the main shooter.
2. $200-$300/day
As I became more experienced and started charging enough to be able to pay a 2nd shooter, I wanted to bring along a photographer who I felt I could rely on more to capture parts of the day that I couldn't shoot. For instance, while I shoot the girls getting ready, I need someone who can cover the guys and while I shoot reception details, I need someone who can cover the cocktail hour. While I work on the slideshow for the reception, I want to have someone I can rely on to shoot the toasts. So I currently pay a 2nd shooter who has their own business and even shoots weddings on their own, but hasn't yet reached the stage where they are "too cool" to shoot with me :). I pay between $200-$300 a day (9 hours of shooting) depending on their experience and the level of their work. I love having someone along who I feel like I can rely on to get some of the shots I don't get. At this level the 2nd shooter is not just there for their own experience and to build their portfolio, but they are there to shoot primarily for your business.
3. Rate determined by 2nd shooter
This tier involves a main shooter and a 2nd shooter who both are experienced and have established businesses. I don't see this happen too often, but sometimes a client wants two photographers who are really good and the client is willing to pay top price to get them both. So they will contract with one photographer and ask them to bring along a colleague who is equally talented and experienced. The rate for the service is determined by the 2nd shooter and that cost is passed on to the client.
4. 2nd shooter is asked to pay main shooter for experience
I've only seen this done a few times, but really well-known and talented photographers sometimes offer 2nd shooting experiences to newer photographers and ask them to pay for the experience. This may initially seem unreasonable and arrogant but I think, when viewed from the main shooter's perspective, it makes sense. It's kind of like offering a workshop but better in some senses -- you get to see the photographer working an actual wedding. In this instance, the main photographer doesn't expect anything from the 2nd shooter by way of images but the 2nd shooter gets to come along for the ride to shoot a really cool wedding and watch the main shooter in action.
IMAGE RIGHTS
The copyright for all wedding images -- including those of the 2nd shooter -- always remains with the contracting shooter's business. The main shooter has the right to use all of the images shot by the 2nd shooter for whatever purposes he/she sees fit. But the usage rights for the 2nd shooter vary widely and are determined by the main shooter. It is important that before you 2nd shoot with someone, you ask them what their policy is on how you can use the images after the wedding. And it's a good idea, if you are a main shooter, that you have a contract for your 2nd shooters to sign that delineates your policy.
In general, most photographers allow 2nd shooters to blog the images they shot at the wedding as long as they say they were 2nd shooting and link to the main photographer's website. I allow my 2nd shooters to use their images on their website portfolio if they are working toward building their businesses, but I ask them to move toward filling their website portfolio with images from weddings they contracted for. Many photographers are not comfortable with their 2nd shooters using their images on their website or anything beyond a blog post. Again, policies vary and communication is of utmost importance. I think it's safe to say that it is ALWAYS inappropriate for a 2nd shooter to use images they shot for publications or ads of any kind. I've heard horror stories of a 2nd shooter getting a wedding they shot with another photographer published on a wedding blog, being listed as the photographer, and the main shooter finding out after the fact. This is BEYOND over the line.
ROLES
Second shooter roles vary widely too, depending on the main shooter. I bring along a non-shooting assistant as well as a 2nd shooter to all of my weddings, so my 2nd shooter is not asked to do many tasks beyond shooting, but I know that some photographers roll the 2nd shooter and assistant roles into one. In this case 2nd shooters can be asked to help with carrying equipment, setting up lighting, and a variety of other tasks. These are the things I ask of my 2nd shooter:
-Dress appropriately. Dress to blend in at the wedding. Each photographer has different clothing protocol so it's good to ask ahead of time. We wear all black, black slacks and closed-toed black shoes.
-Show up on time/early. Don't stress your main shooter out by being late!!
-Ask if there is anything specific the main shooter wants you to cover that day. There may be a few specific things that they want you to cover. At all other times, shoot something different than the main shooter or shoot from a different angle with a different lens. Chances are if you shoot over the shoulder of the main shooter the whole time, you are going to end up being useless. I am beyond thrilled with my 2nd shooters when they capture something I didn't see. In general, I'm more focused on the bride and groom throughout the day so I love when my 2nd shooters capture lots of tight shots of guests and kids and moments happening at the periphery of the day.
-Pay attention to which lens the main shooter is using, where they are pointing it and stay out of the way. If the main shooter is using a long lens like the 70-200mm you most likely won't be in the shot unless it is pointed straight at you. But with wide angle lenses, you have to pay a lot more attention and make sure to stay clear. Usually I'll mention to my 2nd shooter that I'm using a wide angle lens and just ask them to step to the side for the moment. But it's good to be sensitive and pay attention to what the main shooter is doing when you're 2nd shooting.
-This one seems obvious but don't pass out your business cards! You are an employee of the main shooter on that day so you are there to represent and promote their business.
-Do whatever you can to reduce stress for the main shooter. Don't come to the wedding with a lot of goals for what YOU want to do that day. Be there to serve the main shooter. Sometimes my 2nd shooters don't get the chance to shoot portraits of the bride and groom because I ask them to cover cocktail hour during the time I'm shooting them. This is a bummer but they do it because they're not there for themselves; they're part of a team.
COULD I 2ND SHOOT WITH YOU?
My answer to this question is generally: Thank you for offering, I'll keep your info on file, but I'm all set for right now. At the point I'm at with my business, I'm all about optimum performance and stress-reduction at my weddings. I'm willing to pay a 2nd shooter who I can rely on and I like to use the same team as much as possible to develop a rhythm and keep my stress at a minimum. I love helping other photographers -- I'll meet with you for lunch, share info on my blog, during coaching sessions or my workshops -- but on a wedding day, I'm all about serving my clients. So I can't use the wedding day to teach another photographer who is tagging along to learn. I need someone I can rely on who will do the job and serve me rather than relying on me for anything. This may sound harsh, but it's just the reality of where I'm at. Currently I use two 2nd shooters -- Michelle Meyer and Lizzie Kimball -- and they have both shot with me for some time. I plan to keep them around as long as I can. But inevitably, they'll become too cool for me and I'll need to find other 2nd shooters. So feel free to email me your info, but I'm all set for right now!
Phew! That is a PLETHERA of info about 2nd shooting. I hope I covered it all! I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments!
Click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
PAY
There are about 4 different tiers of pay for second shooters and they are largely determined by the experience of the 2nd shooter and success of the main shooter.
1. FREE
When I was newer in the business, I didn't have money to pay a 2nd shooter. But there always seems to be someone who is even newer that you are, and I had some folks who volunteered to shoot with me just to gain experience. When you're just starting out, 2nd shooting is a great way to familiarize yourself with weddings and build your portfolio. But generally speaking, you need to 2nd shoot with another newbie who is just at the same level or a little further along (I'll talk about why in the next section). I always encourage new photographers to get together with each other and shoot with one another for free. It's a great trade, you both have back-ups and you each gain even more experience by shooting with each other. Every once in awhile my friends and I will second shoot for each other still just to have fun and enjoy shooting a wedding without the responsibility of being the main shooter.
2. $200-$300/day
As I became more experienced and started charging enough to be able to pay a 2nd shooter, I wanted to bring along a photographer who I felt I could rely on more to capture parts of the day that I couldn't shoot. For instance, while I shoot the girls getting ready, I need someone who can cover the guys and while I shoot reception details, I need someone who can cover the cocktail hour. While I work on the slideshow for the reception, I want to have someone I can rely on to shoot the toasts. So I currently pay a 2nd shooter who has their own business and even shoots weddings on their own, but hasn't yet reached the stage where they are "too cool" to shoot with me :). I pay between $200-$300 a day (9 hours of shooting) depending on their experience and the level of their work. I love having someone along who I feel like I can rely on to get some of the shots I don't get. At this level the 2nd shooter is not just there for their own experience and to build their portfolio, but they are there to shoot primarily for your business.
3. Rate determined by 2nd shooter
This tier involves a main shooter and a 2nd shooter who both are experienced and have established businesses. I don't see this happen too often, but sometimes a client wants two photographers who are really good and the client is willing to pay top price to get them both. So they will contract with one photographer and ask them to bring along a colleague who is equally talented and experienced. The rate for the service is determined by the 2nd shooter and that cost is passed on to the client.
4. 2nd shooter is asked to pay main shooter for experience
I've only seen this done a few times, but really well-known and talented photographers sometimes offer 2nd shooting experiences to newer photographers and ask them to pay for the experience. This may initially seem unreasonable and arrogant but I think, when viewed from the main shooter's perspective, it makes sense. It's kind of like offering a workshop but better in some senses -- you get to see the photographer working an actual wedding. In this instance, the main photographer doesn't expect anything from the 2nd shooter by way of images but the 2nd shooter gets to come along for the ride to shoot a really cool wedding and watch the main shooter in action.
IMAGE RIGHTS
The copyright for all wedding images -- including those of the 2nd shooter -- always remains with the contracting shooter's business. The main shooter has the right to use all of the images shot by the 2nd shooter for whatever purposes he/she sees fit. But the usage rights for the 2nd shooter vary widely and are determined by the main shooter. It is important that before you 2nd shoot with someone, you ask them what their policy is on how you can use the images after the wedding. And it's a good idea, if you are a main shooter, that you have a contract for your 2nd shooters to sign that delineates your policy.
In general, most photographers allow 2nd shooters to blog the images they shot at the wedding as long as they say they were 2nd shooting and link to the main photographer's website. I allow my 2nd shooters to use their images on their website portfolio if they are working toward building their businesses, but I ask them to move toward filling their website portfolio with images from weddings they contracted for. Many photographers are not comfortable with their 2nd shooters using their images on their website or anything beyond a blog post. Again, policies vary and communication is of utmost importance. I think it's safe to say that it is ALWAYS inappropriate for a 2nd shooter to use images they shot for publications or ads of any kind. I've heard horror stories of a 2nd shooter getting a wedding they shot with another photographer published on a wedding blog, being listed as the photographer, and the main shooter finding out after the fact. This is BEYOND over the line.
ROLES
Second shooter roles vary widely too, depending on the main shooter. I bring along a non-shooting assistant as well as a 2nd shooter to all of my weddings, so my 2nd shooter is not asked to do many tasks beyond shooting, but I know that some photographers roll the 2nd shooter and assistant roles into one. In this case 2nd shooters can be asked to help with carrying equipment, setting up lighting, and a variety of other tasks. These are the things I ask of my 2nd shooter:
-Dress appropriately. Dress to blend in at the wedding. Each photographer has different clothing protocol so it's good to ask ahead of time. We wear all black, black slacks and closed-toed black shoes.
-Show up on time/early. Don't stress your main shooter out by being late!!
-Ask if there is anything specific the main shooter wants you to cover that day. There may be a few specific things that they want you to cover. At all other times, shoot something different than the main shooter or shoot from a different angle with a different lens. Chances are if you shoot over the shoulder of the main shooter the whole time, you are going to end up being useless. I am beyond thrilled with my 2nd shooters when they capture something I didn't see. In general, I'm more focused on the bride and groom throughout the day so I love when my 2nd shooters capture lots of tight shots of guests and kids and moments happening at the periphery of the day.
-Pay attention to which lens the main shooter is using, where they are pointing it and stay out of the way. If the main shooter is using a long lens like the 70-200mm you most likely won't be in the shot unless it is pointed straight at you. But with wide angle lenses, you have to pay a lot more attention and make sure to stay clear. Usually I'll mention to my 2nd shooter that I'm using a wide angle lens and just ask them to step to the side for the moment. But it's good to be sensitive and pay attention to what the main shooter is doing when you're 2nd shooting.
-This one seems obvious but don't pass out your business cards! You are an employee of the main shooter on that day so you are there to represent and promote their business.
-Do whatever you can to reduce stress for the main shooter. Don't come to the wedding with a lot of goals for what YOU want to do that day. Be there to serve the main shooter. Sometimes my 2nd shooters don't get the chance to shoot portraits of the bride and groom because I ask them to cover cocktail hour during the time I'm shooting them. This is a bummer but they do it because they're not there for themselves; they're part of a team.
COULD I 2ND SHOOT WITH YOU?
My answer to this question is generally: Thank you for offering, I'll keep your info on file, but I'm all set for right now. At the point I'm at with my business, I'm all about optimum performance and stress-reduction at my weddings. I'm willing to pay a 2nd shooter who I can rely on and I like to use the same team as much as possible to develop a rhythm and keep my stress at a minimum. I love helping other photographers -- I'll meet with you for lunch, share info on my blog, during coaching sessions or my workshops -- but on a wedding day, I'm all about serving my clients. So I can't use the wedding day to teach another photographer who is tagging along to learn. I need someone I can rely on who will do the job and serve me rather than relying on me for anything. This may sound harsh, but it's just the reality of where I'm at. Currently I use two 2nd shooters -- Michelle Meyer and Lizzie Kimball -- and they have both shot with me for some time. I plan to keep them around as long as I can. But inevitably, they'll become too cool for me and I'll need to find other 2nd shooters. So feel free to email me your info, but I'm all set for right now!
Phew! That is a PLETHERA of info about 2nd shooting. I hope I covered it all! I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments!
Click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
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