Being a 2nd shooter in the Big Apple

[rcheung07]

Hey Guys,

I'm located in New York City and I'm trying to get some experience shooting weddings. I've tried craigslist a millions times and I get no response from them. They want to see a wedding portfolio but how do I do that if I can't even get into the shoes of a 2nd shooter. I've read as much as I can on other threads but they seem not to work. Is it because of my location?? Anyone here in NYC on this forum willing to give me a go?? Any tips would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

[meatbag]

take your best photos, whatever they are, run them through photoshop´s web template, or open a flikr account if you dont have photoshop. that will get you started.

go to your friends and shoot portraits. I shot my first portrait with a kit lense and a piece of cardboard because i couldnt afford a reflector. take those pictures add them to your gallery so that you can prove you are capable of shooting portraits.

take your friends out for a day at the beach. photograph it so you can prove that you can document events photojournalistically. if your friends are boring, pose them if you have to.

there is no reason you cant have a robust portfolio within a month.

the whole point of having a portfolio is to prove you can do the work. being a second shooter is great for learning and experience but you have to remember that the photographer doesnt have time to hold your hand, you have to have the base skills to at least pull your own weight.

you can also think of it this way, would you hire someone as a second shooter without knowing whether they can shoot or not?

[rcheung07]

My friends are so camera shy and the other half aren't very serious about each other so they don't want pictures of themselves hanging anywhere. You make some good points though, like just shoot anything and everything. It's kinda hard shooting people in the street without feeling weird, sticking a white long lens in their face but I guess I'll have to give it a shot. Thanks for the advice.

[meatbag]

nyc is CRAWLING with actors and wannabe models who are looking to but something in their portfolio. i rented my agent´s studio and put out an ad on graigslist for models for a shoot-for-prints session. i even got a make-up artist who wanted stuff for her porfolio. the whole thing cost me 250 dollars. i got a whole day of shooting and with professional models. NYC is a great place to train.

[liza]

Talk to Emin Kuliyev. He's the only member I know of who lives in NYC, and his work is phenomenal.

[Crissy7682]

My sister in law has a sister who lives in NJ who, I think, use to want to get into modeling. If you give me your e-mail I can send to her and see if she is interested in helping you get some photos.

[rcheung07]

Thanks liza and everyone so far. I will definitely try to contact Emin and see if he can give me a shot. I will keep shooting.

[rcheung07]

Anyone shooting weddings here in New York need assistance? Let me know. :) Thanks for everyone's advice so far.

[picturecrazy]

If you don't take all the above suggestions...

You might have to be happy with carrying around gear and fetching coffee and stuff for a while if you don't have a portfolio yet. Take a non-shooting role and get into a studio... then after a while I'm sure you'll get a chance to do some shooting.

I know of a few who started this way and have gotten very far.

[Shane McGeown]

I know how you feel, although a colleague at work today told me that her aunt is looking for a photographer who is just starting out and would shoot her wedding for cheap, told her to put me forward, if she covers the costs of printing it will be all good for my portfolio, fingers crossed.

[rcheung07]

I've been trying to convince my friends to help me build a portfolio but they are so freakin' shy. sigh.. My general and some personal works can be found here:

http://www.defineconcept.blogspot.com

I've seen some ads for part-time flexible hours in studios but I have a full-time job and they usually want people in the studio during the day, which I obviously can do. I'm thinking about quitting and gym and start shooting more afterwork to follow the suggestions above.

I was around your way Lloyd, 2 weeks ago, Banff and Jasper to be exact. You live in a beautiful place, so different from the big city. Sigh.

[picturecrazy]

I was around your way Lloyd, 2 weeks ago, Banff and Jasper to be exact. You live in a beautiful place, so different from the big city. Sigh.

should've stopped by and said hi! Yes, I love Alberta very passionately... the best place in the world! :p


just posted some wedding pics from Jasper today, take a look. If you were around a couple weeks ago I would have let you shoot that wedding with me. We were likely in Jasper at the same time.

[Nan08]

just posted some wedding pics from Jasper today, take a look. If you were around a couple weeks ago I would have let you shoot that wedding with me. We were likely in Jasper at the same time.

cool place lloyd! great shtos as usual, I guess you guys got rained on again.

Back to rcheung07. I'll have my first wedding this Saturday and I have another one next month and I'm getting inquiries for next year. I don't even have a wedding portfolio at all.

It started when my wifes' sister got engaged and they wanted some photos of them. So I did that at the beach and other people loved them so a few other couples ask me to do theirs and said will pay me. I charged them fairly cheap, and all photos came out ok. So they ended up booking me for their wedding. With that said, I think you need to take time on shooting things you love. Things/Architecture/Landscape, show them what youre capable of and if they feel your photography, people will ask for your services. Give out some free services and if they love it, sooner or later, a friend of a friend then another friend will contact you. word of mouth. Just make sure you do a decent job.

I always shoot friends and family for free. well not all but when I do, weeks later, someone wants to book me because of that person.

Be patient, and it'll get better one of these days for you. That's what I always hope for and I'll never give up.

Good Luck.

[rcheung07]

Ronan,

That's pretty awesome. Good luck with your first wedding. Thanks for the inspiration and thought. That's exactly what I'm going to be doing. I've been trying to get some free stuff going and getting the word out.

[rcheung07]

Ok guys. I finally got my first wedding gig as a 2nd shooter. I'm really stoked and nervous about it. I don't even know what to expect. Any tips and pointers?

Nan08, how did your first shot go? Any pics.

[Ray Marrero]

I had much success with modelmayhem to find models that will shoot for a CD of the photos. It's a great practice and learning experience.

[Niraj]

congrats on the gig... best advice to give is don't be shy, but know that you are a shadow! When the first photog is shooting, get in a different (hidden) angle and take a few shots... as a shadow, you'll be getting alot more of the emotions rather than posed shots that the first shooter will be aiming to get. stay calm and don't worry about making the shot. the more relaxed you are, the higher the chances of capturing the moment :)

oh and ultimately, my best advice would have to be is PREP! get your equipment ready, make sure it all works, all power is juiced up, all memory sticks are working and formatted. Make sure you have your lenses ready, and carry a lens cloth. Then finally, get your outfit ready :) you will have been advised what you should wear, however within the limits make sure you are comfortable...

oh and .... enjoy the experience :D

[rcheung07]

Cool. I'm definitely going to stay back but I was given the job to shoot the groomsmen while the main is shooting the bride getting ready. So much is running through my mind and according to weather dot which is almost always inaccurate says it might rain.