stepping on photographer's feet?

[kaitanium]

hey guys since you guys are the pros here...

i was recently offered the opportunity to shoot my friends wedding but i turned it down due to the lack of experience and i dont want to mess their wedding up.

but i have offered my services as a "suuplemental" photographer to their main one free of charge and whatever good shots i can get ill just edit and give to them. will be fun for me and with no pressure.

but i was wondering if theres some unwritten (or written!) rule of no other photographers can be in the wedding? ive heard of "places to stand" as being off limits to everyone except the main photographer and such but never really got confirmation. i dont want to be stepping on the main photographer's feet. whoever that guy is, he doesnt know ill be there too.

any comments? thanks!

[sblais]

i dont want to be stepping on the main photographer's feet.

That's good. Cause it hurts if you do step on his/her feet. ;)

Otherwise, you should contact the photographer directly and ask him this question. Just don't get in any of his shots (stay behind him, not in front). Don't try to avoid getting in his way by going on the opposide side of the room from him. You will get in his shots this way!

[Mario.]

Why would you beat around the bush and ask a bunch of people who don't know the photographer. Everyone does things differently. Give him a call. :)

[sblais]

You can also have a look at past threads on this topic, for example:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=265460

[kaitanium]

thanks guys for the quick tips and the linky. im contacting the guy.

[jt168]

Most photographers would have a clause in their against a 2nd photographer, for obvious reasons. Then again, I've been lucky to have been able to build up my portfolio so far as a 2nd shooter when the primary photographer didn't mind.

[*Mike*]

This is probably after the fact, if you already called him, but some photogs go as far as no one can have a pro camera of any sort or the B&G are in breech. Double check. Some won't care, others will throw a hissey fit. If you have ever 2nd shot B4, you'll figure out real quick, your main job is to stay out of the primary's shots. 2nd job is to get photos. Good luck!

[kaitanium]

sent the photog an email. guess ill find out soon!

[italianfemmy]

Good luck kaitanium.

[kaitanium]

thanks everyone! ill update with what the dude says

[newbie_photog]

This is probably after the fact, if you already called him, but some photogs go as far as no one can have a pro camera of any sort or the B&G are in breech. Double check. Some won't care, others will throw a hissey fit. If you have ever 2nd shot B4, you'll figure out real quick, your main job is to stay out of the primary's shots. 2nd job is to get photos. Good luck!

I was second at a wedding last weekend that would have caused these photogs a heart attack. Besides the main photog and my self, the brides stepdad had a 5d with a 24-70 L and a sigma 70-200, there was another quest with a Nikon something or another with a huge 4x6 soft box on his flash a guy with an Rebel XT with a 70-200 f4 L and a guy from the local paper doing shots for a story on weddings at vinyards. Needless to say every angle was covered. And amazingly nobody got in The main photogs or my way. Oh and there was a video guy too.

[kaitanium]

sounds pretty crazy hopefully that doesnt happen at the wedding im gonnna be in.

UPDATE: photographer agreed and is a pretty darn nice guy too. we are talking about how things are gonna happen. this turned out better than i thought!

[howzitboy]

if i was going to be the second shooter, what i would shoot is everything the main dont. he is shooting bride, ill shoot groom. he doing from back of church, ill be in front. just make sure you are not in his line of fire and it should work out great! id really concentrate on the faces of the families and their reactions.

[kaitanium]

mm i see well im not really a second shooter in his company, im off on my own so ill shoot everything. my shots will not go to him to make money off of.