Wedding - second shooter - my first gig!

Just landed my first opportunity to shoot a wedding as the second shooter , wedding is tomorrow! Just got the deal on Wednesday. Basically, I just answered an ad in a local paper looking for assistance. So I've been looking at all kinds of wedding shots, etc. looking for some ideas on shots. So much stuff out there.

I've since talked with the primary shooter, seems like a great guy, seasoned professional for over 25 years, so one of use will know what we're doing.

Definitely going to use this as a training session; who knows, maybe some of my shots will be keepers. Plan is to of course give him the room he needs, he's the one directing the show (ok, shots).

Any advice for a second shooter? I guess try and shoot things from a different angle and make sure I don't get in his shots!

Stay back get candids and capture the guest who are standing around waiting for formals. You have a great set of lenses already. Get the angles the main photographer doesn't get. Try to communicate with him during the ceremony, try not to be in the same place together. And good luck.

Also, I have no experience with flash and was very upfront about that. He said, no worries, and if I wanted to I could experiment and try things out. Not sure though, I may just stick with available light and use my fast primes at least for this first wedding. Thanks for the comments!

rcheung07 wrote in post #5671521
Stay back get candids and capture the guest who are standing around waiting for formals. You have a great set of lenses already. Get the angles the main photographer doesn't get. Try to communicate with him during the ceremony, try not to be in the same place together. And good luck.

+ 1

Make sure you have talked through the details about usage and such. I wouldn't want to see another thread like this one
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=513678
any time soon.

Thanks guys! I've been reading so many threads on 2nd shooting today. I don't have anything in writing, either. Although I did have to fill out an application, at least partially. (for payment/tax purposes). In no way am I concerned or worried about the money part, just interested in getting some experience.

In this case, we keep the images on our cards, transfer to HD at home, backup to a DVD for hiring photog company.

Read that thread you mentioned, for $60 - a lot to go through. But, like him, I too am hopefully going to get some decent images to add to my portfolio. We shall see in less than 24 hrs

Don't photograph groups if he's photographing them, people look at the wrong camera. Don't move around beside/behind him or hold either. Other than that do what he asks and you'll be fine.

tim wrote in post #5674736
Don't photograph groups if he's photographing them, people look at the wrong camera.

Best advice yet! During the one wedding I shot a year or so ago, I had to ask the groom's dad to back off while I was taking group photos because half the people were looking at him when I'd try taking the photos.