Your second shooter/assistant equipment requirements.

People photography, and specifically wedding photography, has been of great interest to me lately. To the point where I'd like to start looking into assisting and possible second shooting for a wedding pro.

I'm in the middle of revamping my lenses (getting rid of what I don't use and picking up faster glass). But I shoot with a crop body (60D) and I find myself buying or looking to buy APS-C specific lenses (purchased the sigma 18-35 f1.8 and almost positive the next purchase will be sigma 50-150 f2.8 OS) while its good for me I'm wondering what you wedding pro's require your second shooter/assistants to use.

So all of that to simply ask: If you are a Pro wedding photographer that uses assistants and/or second shooters, do you require them to have full frame bodies and/or L glass?

What other requirement do you have for assistants/second shooters?

Thanks
Greg

All my second shooters use full frame cameras as that is what I shoot with. I want their images to closely match my own.

I don't use second shooters, I use assistants who sometimes shoot who get complimentary images. If they have a camera, great. I don't really care what it is, so long as it's modern and capable of taking decent photos. I shoot Nikon full frame, I've had assistants who shoot Canon crop, old Canon 5D (past its prime now), Nikon crop, Nikon full frame. Matching brands helps, but that's my editors problem really.

If I was hiring a second shoot, someone capable of working alone to take great images then I would expect good quality equipment. I don't really care if it's a crop body, but I want to see what they can do with it. Full frame and good lenses means you've made more of an investment, that you take it seriously, but I'd take the person who made the best photos regardless of their camera.

If I am hiring a second these days one minimum requirement is a dual memory card cameras. What lenses they have I don't care about so long as they produce the goods. They must also have their own backup equipment.

The only difference shooting as a second to shooting as a main shooter is you are not in charge. That is my take on it anyway. The "second" means additional. It shouldn't mean less professional, or not properly equipped, nor happy to take avoidable risks.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16257108
If I am hiring a second these days one minimum requirement is a dual memory card cameras. What lenses they have I don't care about so long as they produce the goods. They must also have their own backup equipment.

So in your mind 5d3 with a 5d2 backup would not be suitable? I've got gear, just working on skill... Haha tired of my 9 to 5

Ephur wrote in post #16258339
So in your mind 5d3 with a 5d2 backup would not be suitable?

No, it wouldn't be for me to hire them.

Ephur wrote in post #16258339
So in your mind 5d3 with a 5d2 backup would not be suitable? I've got gear, just working on skill... Haha tired of my 9 to 5

It would be fine for me. I don't require my seconds to have dual card cameras.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16257108
If I am hiring a second these days one minimum requirement is a dual memory card cameras.

Why is this?

rob0225 wrote in post #16258900
Why is this?

There is always the risk factor here in wedding where memory cards can fail. you have all your own photos backup (into 2 cards) and who knows when your 2nd shooter single card fail and you are liable for the lost of those important images.

Personally, i wont mind 2nd shooter not to have dual cards.
Scott

Full Frame camera with dual card slots

Know how to use on and off camera flash

Pro-quality lenses, primes preferred.

Prefer the same brand I am shooting so they can borrow gear as needed.

I was thinking I'd be okay with a 5d3 and 5d2 for backup, but guess that may not be the case for some folks. Bad days can certainly happen, and murphy states that certainly if the 5d3 fails, that would be the same day a card in the 5d2 would fail o_O

I don't have dual camera cards. To try to partially compensate I only use very good cards that I test twice a year. I also have a contract that doesn't actually say I'll take photos, though it is strongly implied!

agreed on the dual card things. even if you have a dual card backup. a fire can kill both cards at once. anything can happen

My requirement in a second shooter is a positive, teachable attitude with a somewhat decent photography foundation.

Everything else can be bought or taught.

All my seconds use crop bodies. But so do I, so I don't care.

I'm not too worried about dual cards for second shooters. I shoot the day assuming that I can deliver NONE of my second's shots and still come out with an excellent set.

Having upper end gear would also be helpful but not mandatory. The ability to shoot good photos with whatever gear at hand would trump all that though.

That said, I'd be hesitant to hire someone with an older DRebel simply due to IQ and reliability. Since the second shooter is going to be in places where I wouldn't be able to be, his/her images will be very important for complete coverage. The couple is also paying extra for his/her services.

So I want the second shooter to have the same type of redundancy/backup gear as me.