Secondary Photographer for Wedding

[bsaber]

So this is my situation right now. I shot a wedding for a friend awhile back as a secondary photographer working on my own. I've been keeping in touch with the primary photog since then and today he contacted me and asked if I would be willing to work with him as a secondary freelance photog for an upcoming wedding. I will be working under him and assisting him. We haven't talked about anything yet other than I'm interested and that we're discuss it in more detail tomorrow when I have time to visit his studio.

I have a few questions: what does a freelance secondary photog usually charge/make per wedding? Will I be able to use some of the pictures for my own portfolio? Do I need to sign a contract?

And any other tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[bsaber]

Anyone?

[JakeB.]

You probably haven't gotten any replies because this seems to come up pretty often. Since it's at the top anyway...

You should definately have a contract, and we pay our (good, and accustomed) second's $30/hr. The average is a little less I think.

[Rock Photo Star]

Anyone?

What I've seen mentioned on other boards are a rate from $20-$40 an hour on the upper end plus a percent of print sales [again a condition on the upper end and rare].

So if you are second shooting for 5 hours, then payment would be between $100-200 not counting post-processing time - which the main photog might do.

I think I've seen people get as high as $300-$400 for a second shoot gig for all day.

[bsaber]

Thanks for the replies. I mainly wanted to know if I could use the photos in my portfolio. Guess I should of put that question first.

[Philco]

Every primary shooter has their own parameters - most allow for in-studio use of your images, but forbid online use in general, except sometimes for blog use with credit given to the primary photographer. Their clients sign a release for them to use images online for marketing, etc. but it doesn't extend to second shooters, though by rights, your images are your images. I think $200- 350 is pretty common for a day, depending on what you bring to the party.

[bsaber]

Every primary shooter has their own parameters - most allow for in-studio use of your images, but forbid online use in general, except sometimes for blog use with credit given to the primary photographer. Their clients sign a release for them to use images online for marketing, etc. but it doesn't extend to second shooters, though by rights, your images are your images. I think $200- 350 is pretty common for a day, depending on what you bring to the party.

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Will be going to talk to the photog in an hour or so. :D

[RyanSweeney]

Photographers in my area pay $150 for a full day on a straight up "assisting" gig, which is 6 to 8 hours. For second shooters, they pay $250.

And yes, most primary photographers will want to PP your pics.

[bsaber]

Thanks, I'm getting $100 for this wedding (5-6 hours) and I get to use the pics in my port. The primary photog will process but I can do whatever I want with my pics except for commercial use of course. No contract for me to sign just show up and do the work. I think I got a pretty good deal out of it.

[SuzyView]

Sounds good, but make sure you take a zillion pictures so the primary can have lots to choose from. You have great gear, so go at it! Maybe talk to the primary about what kind of shots he wants you to cover for him. I would put the 24-70 on and the 580 with diffuser and go nuts. :) If you have a prime, like the 85 1.8, it's wonderful for portraits of people while they are just hanging around.

[bsaber]

Thanks for the advice Suzy! I will definitely take as many shots as possible. I'll be taking about 20GBs of CF cards which is plenty.

[amfoto1]

The primary photog should provide you with a copy of his contract with the B&G. It probably clarifies who keeps the copyright and how the photos can be used by the photographer after the fact.

A copy of it would be handy to have just in case any questions ever came up.

[bsaber]

The primary photog should provide you with a copy of his contract with the B&G. It probably clarifies who keeps the copyright and how the photos can be used by the photographer after the fact.

A copy of it would be handy to have just in case any questions ever came up.

That's a good point, I'll bring it up with the photog when I see him again next week before the actual wedding day. Thanks for the advice.

[tim]

With little experience: nothing to minimum wage, maybe a bit more.
If you've a little experience: minimum wage
If you're pretty good and mostly a 2nd shooter: double minimum wage
If you could shoot on your own: name your own price

[bsaber]

I don't have a lot of experience but the photog likes my work from a previous wedding I did. I'm getting about $10/hr which is about $2 over minimum wage.