For those who shoot with second shooters or assistants, or second shooters in general

Has anyone thought to use radios to keep in touch with your assistants? I read in quite a few thread about panic moments because an assistant/second has disappeared with memory/lens/camera etc at a true moment of need. I ask because I've got a pair of 4 watt suckers that I use for airsoft that I'm considering selling, but if they could be put to use in this manner I'll keep em.

Thoughts?

I see assistants and second shooters as distinct entities actually, so I think you may be thinking about assistants when it comes to disappearing with memory/lens/camera etc, no?

Nope, I have never thought of using radios.

Well I suppose it comes down to the skill/equipment of your second, last wedding I shot she had to borrow more of my gear than I cared for, which made it a PITA when she would seemingly disappear and I'd have to go hunting for her!

I generally only work with assistants. Maybe there's a need with second shooters, but assistants should always be close enough that radios are not necessary. I did once have an assistant somewhere else just as I needed another card; I simply don't allow us to be in different places anymore, especially since there generally isn't a need for that to happen anyway.

I work with either one of the same two assistants every time and we've gotten pretty good at reading each other's hand or other gestures so as long as we have sight of one another, we're good.

Electric Monk wrote in post #10653945
Has anyone thought to use radios to keep in touch with your assistants?

One word: Cell Phones.

Ok, 2 words.

Roger, over and out. 10-4.

the issues I see with cells comes down to reception and speed. Its a lot quicker to hit a PTT button then to dial a phone and wait and hope for the other party to pick up.

I ususally use an assistant for shoots. That way only one person has a camera.

Electric Monk wrote in post #10654333
the issues I see with cells comes down to reception and speed.

Bluetooth head/ear set. Just keep the call open and press mute.

The real issue might be whatever calling plan you're on. I've got unlimited minutes. Even at that, many carriers have free minutes on weekends.

Electric Monk wrote in post #10654113
Well I suppose it comes down to the skill/equipment of your second, last wedding I shot she had to borrow more of my gear than I cared for, which made it a PITA when she would seemingly disappear and I'd have to go hunting for her!

IMO, Assistants typically don't do any shooting. They are there to help you with your gear, lights, bags, etc.

Second shooters are there to shoot. I don't expect them to hold bags, setup lights, etc. You pay them to shoot. If the second shooter needed to borrow more of your gear than you cared for, I would say you should have known better. Next time, perhaps ask for a gear list and tell them at minimum, what they should bring. Make sure he/she can carry his/her own weight.

An assistant should be by your side at all times. So I don't see a need for the radio/cell setup at all.

Of course, there's the hybrid position. Assistant + Shooting. That can get dicey at times I suppose.

having a radio during a wedding is a must for us .. even thou you may not talk to your asst or 2nd .. but when you do, you'll be glad you have one .. it weighs nothing, and its cost is minimal compared to your bag ..

nicksan wrote in post #10654685
IMO, Assistants typically don't do any shooting. They are there to help you with your gear, lights, bags, etc.

Second shooters are there to shoot. I don't expect them to hold bags, setup lights, etc. You pay them to shoot. If the second shooter needed to borrow more of your gear than you cared for, I would say you should have known better. Next time, perhaps ask for a gear list and tell them at minimum, what they should bring. Make sure he/she can carry his/her own weight.

An assistant should be by your side at all times. So I don't see a need for the radio/cell setup at all.

Of course, there's the hybrid position. Assistant + Shooting. That can get dicey at times I suppose.

All very good points. As for my last situation, I wasn't suppose to be the primary shooter, I was there to help my friend. However after seeing the venue, the fact that she had nothing remotely resembling a fast lens, brought 2gb of memory, and was planning to shoot the whole thing with pop up flash, I basically stepped up to keep the bride's day from being ruined.

I use a radio with a headset.
Especially useful during the ceremony.

My husband second shoots every wedding with me. We have walkie talkies with wireless headsets to be in constant communication, and this has helped tremendously.
Things like:
"get out of my shot"
"can you grab my stool for me so I can get this aerial shot?"
"Go up top! this shot that I set up would look great from up there!" are much easier when I don't have to yell or find him.


This is also very helpful when the bride and groom on are on the same grounds when getting ready, but don't want to see each other. Jason's with the groom n the guys, and I'm with the bride. If one wants to go outside for pictures, we can make sure that the other has their party safe and out of view.
My head set broke one wedding right before we started shooting... I think this was the hardest wedding to this day.... mainly for this reason. Moral of my story? I wouldn't step foot into a wedding with a second without some sort of communication between us... whether it be walkie talkies, or a cell w/ bluetooth.

Glad to see I'm not alone in my thinking, as that was my biggest complaint, especially the "get out of my shots!" situations. Thanks for the perspective on the other side

I have an assistant who shoots sometimes. I know where she is at all times. It's only when I have an amateur photographer friend along to help that i'm not sure where he gets to sometimes, but I always have the gear I need with me.