Need some advice..1st time as a second shooter

Truth be told, first wedding as well. This is a close friend's wedding this coming weekend in San Fran (I'll be flying in with my wife, also a close friend of the B/G). That said, part of our gift is going to be the images. I'm working for the couple, not the primary. I did contact the primary as a matter of professional courtesy and because I want to compliment his work, not duplicate it during the ceremony. Even though I am not working for him, I want to treat the shoot as if I am.

He's a very cool guy and he's all about having me there, he's looked at my work and expressed a lot of respect for what I do. "Problem", is that he is quite zen in his approach and doesn't want to impede my creativity so he is offering me no direction at all. This should be a good thing but seeing as I have never shot a wedding... His words.."just feel the vibe and let things flow". Ummm, okaaaayy. Seriously, I think that's awesome but I have zero experience in wedding photography. FYI, I am only shooting the ceremony itself and some candids before and my style tends to be very editorial.

Getting to my questions..

What are the must have shots you'd want from your second shooter?

What is the best way to move around the ceremony inconspicuously? I'm a sports photog mainly so we are usually in assigned spots or crowded into a photo well, sideline, or baseline so its not an issue usually. Is it okay to move around alot or is that a really bad thing? How close can I get to the B/G without it being too close?

Flash. We will be using flash and I plan on setting one up off camera, with one on camera as fill. Are there any rules that you always follow when shooting flash? Not sure if I can bounce yet or not since I haven't seen the venue nor has the primary.

Positioning. This is similar to the first but what positioning tends to yield the highest number of good angles? Are there any positions to absolutely avoid?

I'm sure there are a thousand questions that I haven't asked but don't even know what the questions are I should be asking. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Truth be told, I'm pretty nervous about it. I've got plenty of experience shooting in high pressure situations, in public venues, for some big names in sports and music but this shoot for my friend has me really rattled. I have no idea how you guys do this all the time...and I'm just a second shooter...

Thanks in advance, I can't wait to hear your advice!

Scott

Get out of the primary's way and don't stand next to him getting the same shot. As long as you remember this, you will be fine.

That said...

namasste wrote in post #13024130
What is the best way to move around the ceremony inconspicuously? I'm a sports photog mainly so we are usually in assigned spots or crowded into a photo well, sideline, or baseline so its not an issue usually. Is it okay to move around alot or is that a really bad thing? How close can I get to the B/G without it being too close?

Get some shots while the bride is waiting in the back behind closed doors. Also get the bride walking in with her father. Scoot down and hide behind them so you don't get in the way of the primary, who'll most likely be shooting up front. Maybe squeeze in some shots of the father giving away the bride to the groom and the embraces. Nothing really critical. The primary will get those shots from up front. After that, get some wide shots of the venue with them seated or when everyone is standing in prayer. Get some guest reaction shots from the side. I'd stay away from the main isle or avoid getting too close, unless it's wide open. You should discuss this with the primary on location to make sure you aren't infringing on his turf. All the money shots, like the rings, kiss, etc, you probably should leave that up to the primary. If you have a telephoto lens and have the angle, then maybe you can catch that. Or maybe catch those from the side. You won't really get much from the side however, but again, the primary would get it so no big deal. Then go towards the back and get them exiting, etc.

namasste wrote in post #13024130
Flash. We will be using flash and I plan on setting one up off camera, with one on camera as fill. Are there any rules that you always follow when shooting flash? Not sure if I can bounce yet or not since I haven't seen the venue nor has the primary.

Is this at the church? If so, don't. That's too much IMO. Ask if flash is even allowed. If so, just stick with a speedlite on-camera. You can of course ask the primary if setting OCF is OK, but make sure it's waaaay out of the way. Same thing at the reception venue. Always ask the primary for permission. ALWAYS.

namasste wrote in post #13024130
Positioning. This is similar to the first but what positioning tends to yield the highest number of good angles? Are there any positions to absolutely avoid?

The best positioning will be reserved for the primary. So you should restrict yourself to the back and the sides. If the main isle is wide open, then go for it. But as I mentioned before, as the primary what is allowed. You don't want to be in the main isle up front when they are going to kiss, etc, because that's the primary's job and territory.

namasste wrote in post #13024130
I'm sure there are a thousand questions that I haven't asked but don't even know what the questions are I should be asking. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Truth be told, I'm pretty nervous about it. I've got plenty of experience shooting in high pressure situations, in public venues, for some big names in sports and music but this shoot for my friend has me really rattled. I have no idea how you guys do this all the time...and I'm just a second shooter...

Thanks in advance, I can't wait to hear your advice!

Scott

You'll be fine. The ceremony is a pretty static event. Not much movement except the beginning and the end. You just need to be aware of the different parts and anticipate them so that you can be in the right positions.

But always remember, primary ALWAYS get first dibs. You don't want to be in the way.

Thanks a ton. Good advice and if nothing else, it does calm me down a touch to here this from someone who does weddings for a living.

The crazy part is that I asked the primary these same questions and he basically said go anywhere and everywhere I want. I asked about being in his way and he says that its no problem since the cosmos is basically inspiring me to be where I am and I should just run with that. Like I said, its pretty zen, even for a California wedding.

The ceremony is going to be very small and held at the Fairmont, not in a church. I'll take your advice on no OCF, its less to deal for me anyway but I do know flash is okay to use.

If I am hearing you correctly (between the lines maybe), I should think about the main things in the ceremony and then leave those to the primary. For instance, rather than try to get the kiss, shoot the maid of honor or parents/grandparents reaction to the kiss? Sound right? If I am on spot with that, I'd apply that same philosophy to most other part of the ceremony and just try to position accordingly.

Thanks again and just let me know if I am understanding your comments correctly.

S

namasste wrote in post #13024334
Thanks a ton. Good advice and if nothing else, it does calm me down a touch to here this from someone who does weddings for a living.

The crazy part is that I asked the primary these same questions and he basically said go anywhere and everywhere I want. I asked about being in his way and he says that its no problem since the cosmos is basically inspiring me to be where I am and I should just run with that. Like I said, its pretty zen, even for a California wedding.

The ceremony is going to be very small and held at the Fairmont, not in a church. I'll take your advice on no OCF, its less to deal for me anyway but I do know flash is okay to use.

If I am hearing you correctly (between the lines maybe), I should think about the main things in the ceremony and then leave those to the primary. For instance, rather than try to get the kiss, shoot the maid of honor or parents/grandparents reaction to the kiss? Sound right? If I am on spot with that, I'd apply that same philosophy to most other part of the ceremony and just try to position accordingly.

Thanks again and just let me know if I am understanding your comments correctly.

S

It depends how important the money shots taken by YOU is to you and the couple because the primary will definitely get those. So they will just be redundant photos IMO. Worst yet, the primary might want the spot you are standing in, but might be too nice and zen to tell you to step away.

Instead, as a second shooter, you should be thinking about different angles/perspective, guest reaction shots, and the other things you mentioned. Maybe a parent wiping off tears, or other guests smiling, the B & G holding hands. Go to the side, and get the bride's face with the groom's back in the foreground, and vice versa.

The primary can't be in 2 different places at the same time. He'll almost always be up front, and during the lull in the action, he'll probably be moving around to the sides and maybe even the back. So stick to the back and the sides. Get the shots he won't be able to get. As I mentioned before, that means getting the bridal party behind closed doors before the ceremony begins, getting the shot from behind, etc. If there's a second level to the venue, then get a shot from up there. Stuff like that.