Frustrated: 2nd shooter

Now for some concrete suggestions on how to get real world photo shooting and people experience:

1.) PUBLIC BROADCASTING - Do you have a local PBS radio or TV station? These places LOVE volunteers to come and help out with just about anything. I know... I'm one of those volunteers. But instead of coming to hand out name tags at their last event, I offered to come and shoot some PR photography for use in their publications, annual report, brochures, web....etc. The accepted the offer, and now I'm friends with the CEO, Art Director, Communications Director and Events Planner of a major PBS station. Now I only got 3 things out of this: (1) A hearty appreciative thank you (2) connections to some connected people who know a LOT of other connected people and (3) the satisfaction of donating to my local PBS station.

2.) LOCAL STATE OR REGIONAL PARKS DISTRICT - My wife and I are park volunteers for one of the largest Metropolitan parks districts in the Midwest. Not only do we help with local events, but again, I do some of their photography; no pay, but more experience with different venues and more connections with CONNECTED people. Remember, your published work is always selling itself even if you are not.

3.) COMMUNITY THEATRE or LOCAL ARTS ORG. - These folks always welcome promotion and you can get some great experience at shooting stage lighting if they let you into dress rehearsals. And if you come up with some great shots, actors may purchase them for their own portfolio.

4.) HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE - I am friends with our local theatre coach at the daughters old high school. I've already shot a few dress rehearsals and made a couple of bucks besides my usual wedding work. These kids also grow up, get engaged and start looking for wedding photographers.

5.) OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGS - check your area for other non-profit organizations that I haven't mentioned. Again, you'll probably get paid nothing but will gain valuable shooting experience at their events as well as some connections.

Anybody else have suggestions along these lines? I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever thought of these.... let's hear YOUR ideas now

Jwreich wrote in post #2378881
For those looking to be a second shooter, I know it's hard to get your foot in the door. I run a successful studio and get calls every week from someone wanting to work with me. I have a regular assistants (2) that I used every weekend.

When I get the call I ask several questions to each of them including their experience level, their equipment selection and then simply talk to get a better understanding of their personality.

If I enjoy our conversation I meet with them to review their portfolio. If that all checks out, I might invite them to a shoot depending on my clients and the event.

There are a number of reasons I pass on people who call me. It may be their appearance, my studio has an image and if they don't match I don't want them around me. I may pass because their experience is so low that they would be in my way, I might also pass if the quality of their work would be more work for me then if they weren't there at all.

Here are some reasons you might not get a call or email back, the photographers your calling on are older and may be intimated by your forwardness, they have been ripped off by an assistance and have sworn them off, or they may just have a huge ego.

I got started by contacting the best photographer in my area and offered to buy him lunch anywhere he wanted.

While at lunch we talked and it naturally turned to business. I asked if he ever needed help. He said no but I was persistent and it turned in to two jobs. He was Nikon and I'm Canon so the relationship didn't work well for his workflow, but we are still friends. I got some great insight into the business and he got a free lunch and some free labor.

If your calling on photographers for help/work only call the BEST in the area. Everyone else will simply wast your time and teach you bad habits.

Good luck!

Great advice: Thanks for this, I will definitely take this to heart.

Talk to people you work with and see if they would like some free family pictures. You take em, they print em. I'm doing some of that now just for people I work with. This is a shoot I did for one of the guys if anyone is interested.

http://home.earthlink.​net/~woffles/

He wants to know when he can start giving my name out at his church now. I don't plan on officially starting until next year cause I need to learn some of the business side and improve my lighting and composition. But it's slowly coming together.

The big pros in my area all seem to have no interest in free work. I have even offered to just come and carry stuff, then stand in a corner and watch, but none to the pros I have spoken to in the last 2 years have even been friendly. So I just jumped in. I did one free wedding, and have now done several low budget weddings. The couples know that I am new, and are ok with it because they get a great low price, and all of them have been very happy with their results. I plan to increase my prices as I get better.

I know they way of doing it goes against what most people on this board would suggest, but working as a second shooter is not an option for me.

That's something else I have been doing. Shot at a friends wedding just to get the feel of it and then did my cousins wedding for free. Doing my nephews in March and going to go from there. Trying to hit this from as many sides as possible before I go broke!!!!

Become a Wedding Crasher. Get your local newspaper and see where the weddings are taking place, and show up. Do not bring any camera gear. Watch and learn.

Or ask your family and friends if they know anyone getting married. They might let you go with them to the wedding.