First confession is that I had never shot with another wedding photographer before last Saturday. I learned wedding photography by clawing my way up in the film world, dropping out, then clawing back up in the digital world. I was totally intimidated by other photographers when I started out. I didn’t find that sense of community that I have stumbled upon in the last few years. Striking up conversations was impossible, forget asking if I could carry their bag.
I my first chance to second shoot for another photographer last weekend. Luckily it was one whose work I was already a fan of. It gave me perspective on the way others shoot, and the role of my own second shooters in my business. It was a fine balance of adding my own flavor, catching what he couldn’t, staying out of the way, and occasionally anticipating a need. At the end of the night I had to do something I have never done before. I handed over 3 cards of RAW images that I never saw, for someone else to process. It was a huge lesson in trust, and letting go. It was his wedding. I was a player, but they were his images.
If you haven’t had a chance to play second fiddle before, do it. See how others work, how you work with others, and how it feels to let go. You can hook up with other photographers in need on the forum.
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1 Comment at "Confessions of a 2nd Shooter"
I just second shot two weddings back to back, and like you, it was a first time. The hardest part was not acting like a first shooter at the formals and doing that whole “engage the crowd” song and dance….
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