Second Shooter Guide
Hi there!
I’m so excited you’ll be second shooting with me! I put this page together to help guide you through one of my wedding days, and hopefully, it can help answer a few questions along the way!
Most images below were taken by me when I was second shooting for another photographer. I felt that by using my own images (instead of images other photographers have taken for me) it would give you the best idea of how I like certain parts of the day to be photographed.
Here are a few general notes before we dig in:
Attire:
I wear all black to my weddings. If you have an all-black outfit, that would be great. Otherwise, neutrals also work well. Please no t-shirts or jeans. I always wear makeup and do my hair to blend in more with guests. I like to look like if I were to put on a fancy dress, I could be attending the wedding. Please don’t feel the need to overdo it, though. I want you to feel comfortable and feel like “you”.
Food:
Please let me know if you have any dietary restrictions so I can pass that information along to the planner. Also, make sure to bring lots of water and snacks for you to have throughout the day!
Gear:
My go-to lenses are 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. I use the 50mm for 90% of the day. I’ll use the 35mm if I need a wide shot and the 85mm during toasts for closeups (and sometimes close-ups during the ceremony).
First thing first:
As soon as we get together on the wedding day I will give you an SD card. Please reformat it before using it so it is compatible with your camera.
During this time we will also time-sync our cameras (if I forget, please remind me if you remember!).
The parts of the day that are most relevant to you:
Cocktail Hour:
The most important things for you to capture during cocktail hour are:
Grab and Grins: These are portraits of guests. Please get as many as you can. The ideal goal would be to have a photo of every guest during cocktail hour. You can take these by approaching guests (I do this by identifying couples) and asking them if they’d like a photo together. If the couple is stylish, take a full-length photo in addition to a photo cropped from the thigh up. When taking these photos, please leave enough room for me to further crop the photo in post-processing. I crop to match my film (9 x 12.25 ratio, which isn’t as tall as digital images).
With Grab and Grins, please aim for the best possible light. This might mean you need to move the couple and that’s ok!
Food and drinks: Please take photos of the passed hors d’oeuvres (full trays only) and signature cocktails in guests’ hands. If you’re having trouble getting a full tray shot, ask a serving staff member where the hors d’oeuvres are coming from and maybe take a few photos as they’re leaving the catering tent, before guests have eaten some.
Set the scene: please get wide shots of the entire cocktail hour (from afar if possible) to help set the scene.
Candids: you might not have time for many candids. If you do though, I would love to have a couple!
Ceremony:
During the processional, you’ll be at the back and I’ll be at the front. Please get a wide shot of the bride walking up the aisle from behind. During the kiss, I’ll be on my 50mm. Please be on your wide angle and get a wide shot here as well. As the bride and groom are recessing, please continue to shoot on your wide.
Guys getting ready:
Reception: during toasts, please focus on guest candids and reactions. I’ll be focusing on the bride and groom
Below you’ll find parts of the wedding day broken down chronologically:
Girls Getting Ready
Digital settings: Photograph the majority of these between f/1.8 and f/2.8. If it’s a portrait and multiple girls are smiling at the camera, shift to f/4.0
You’ll be with me while I’m photographing details. During this time, you’ll be photographing the girls getting ready. Try and prioritize cute candids of the bridesmaids spending time together.
Examples below:
Guys Getting Ready
Settings: Photograph the majority of these between f/1.8 and f/2.8. If it’s a portrait and multiple guys are smiling at the camera, shift to f/4.0
Images to prioritize:
Best Man helping the groom get ready (tying his tie, bowtie, helping with jacket)
If the groom’s dad is present, dad helping him get ready
Groom tying his shoes
Adjusting watch
Adjusting cuff links
Aim for good light and position them in the best light that works for you.
First Look and Bride and Groom Portraits
Settings: Take these between f/1.4 and f/2.8.
Try and get different angles from me during Bride and Groom Portraits. Below are several examples of what I mean by different angles. In each set, the left photo was taken by the lead shooter and the right photo was taken at the exact same time by me when I was the second shooter.
Wedding Party Portraits:
Settings: Take these around f/2.8.
While I’m taking the big group photo, try and get different angles and micro-moments from different angles. These photos are fun extras to have but aren’t necessary, so please don’t overshoot.
The top photo was taken by the lead shooter, and the two photos beneath it were taken by me as the second shooter.
Here are a few more…
Bridesmaids bouquets: If you’re able to, get individuals of each bridesmaids bouquet (if they’re different). When taking it, focus on the flowers, crop from the nose down (so no eyes), having the bridesmaid smile off to a side, but not straight at you (since she’s not actually in the photo. Squat down a bit so you’re more on eye level with the top of the flowers than with the bridesmaid. Then angle the camera down (vs being completely eye level with the flowers, which will show too much stem).
Examples below:
Groomsmen Portraits
Formal Large Portraits:
Please make sure all groomsmen are lined up in a straight line. They tend to curve forward at the edges (like a horseshoe) and when they do, the guys on the ends will be out of focus. Shoot these at f/4.0 or f/5.6 (safer bet).
Position them in a relaxed stance, with one hand in pocket and each side angled a bit towards the groom. Please no “soccer” pose where all their hands are in front of them and all their shoulders are square towards you.
Make sure all of them have their top jacket button buttoned
Groom + single groomsmen shots:
Shoot at f/2.8. Make sure eyes are in focus.
Shoot full body vertical as well as tighter from knee up. When in doubt, crop at knee and I can crop in post.
Arm around each other (low around waist. Not high. When it’s high at shoulders it raises the jacket)
Opposite hand in pocket (full hand - no thumb out)
Cocktail Hour:
Images to get:
Get a wide of the entire cocktail hour from afar to “set the scene”.
Grab and grins:
Portraits of guests.
Take as many of these as you can.
Aim to get over 20 of these (this will vary based on guest count).
I like to deliver galleries where every guest is in a photo (or at least as many as possible)
Go up to people who look like they’re together and ask them if they’d like a photo together. Shoot these at f/2.8
If a group of more than 2 people asks you for a photo, shoot it at f/4.0
Try and get candids if you can. Wait for laughs.
Take photos of appetizers on trays before items have been eaten (full trays). For this, you might have to ask a server where the appetizers are coming from and wait for them there. Shoot this at f/2.8 and “focus” on the item that is closest to you.
Take photos of cocktails in guests hands. Single out guests with cool outfits. This might mean cool dresses, colorful tuxedos or suits, or outfits in the wedding day color palette.
Cocktail Hour After Dark
Reception
During toasts, focus on candids of family and guests. I’ll be covering the bride and groom.
Dance Floor
Settings: Use a speed light with a diffuser, with the flash turned around back, and up, so it doesn’t blind guests. High ISO (1600-3200), Shutter Speed around 1/125, Aperture around f/2.8 (you can change this depending on the power of your flash)
Please get lots of dance candids of guests