Hiring A Second Shooter For Your Wedding

DETAILS
When — May 2024
Where — The Grand Ivory
Service — Photography

Let’s talk about coverage, and the benefits of extra hands on deck.

At the beginning of my career, I didn’t even know what associate shooting or second shooting was. To break this down for people not in the wedding industry, It is a hired professional that either is lead shooting for the main photographer in their place, or it is an additional photographer tagging along to capture extra moments throughout the wedding day that the lead may not get to capture. There are sooo many benefits to this. I was hired as a second shooter over the weekend, and these photos shown in this post are merely from my creative stand point as a second shooter. This allows my lead photographer that day to have anywhere from 100-200 images she may use that wouldn’t have existed from the places I was standing/ things I was seeing.

With multiple shooters covering different angles and aspects of the event, from details, to your entrance into ceremony, to your final private dance, there is SO many moments that would benefit from being captured from different perspectives. In my experience, having a second shooter can also save valuable time during wedding party portraits. With one photographer focusing on group shots, the other can capture candid moments or set up the next pose, making the process more efficient and allowing you to move through the portrait session swiftly. This not only saves time but also ensures that the wedding party and guests spend less time posing and more time enjoying the celebration. CANDID MOMENTS ARE KEY. In my experience, having a second shooter, or being the second shooter myself, gives less pressure and more space to capture creatively. If you’re a couple that wants a fuller, more creative gallery, this is my best idea to achieve that. Different photographers have unique styles and techniques, so having multiple shooters guarantees that you'll have a diverse selection of photos to choose from. Plus, if your main shooter is focusing on the important shots, your second shooter may be the one that is able to document your family and friends cheering you on during your first kiss, your nieces and nephews coloring quietly during speeches, etc. This variety enhances the overall visual storytelling of the wedding day, offering a more dynamic collection of images for the couple to cherish for years to come.

To wrap this up, talk to your photographer and see what your options are to add in another shooter. If having a more diverse and creative gallery sounds like something you’d want for your photos, talk to your photographer! Your wedding day only happens once!