Second Shooter Guide
Annemarie Deale Weddings
Welcome
from Annemarie
I love second shooting and I'm excited to have you along for the day! A great second shooter is an essential part of the wedding experience and final gallery - you play an important role in the overall client experience and I'm grateful to to have you on my team - thank you!
After second shooting for more than 40 different photographers, I know first-hand what a difference communication and clear expectations make. My favorite leads told me exactly what they wanted and how they wanted it done, or they were clear that I had artistic control. Either way, it gave me a sense of confidence because my ultimate goal was to please the lead and the couple. Knowing this assured me I could do both.
Prior to hiring you, we discussed gear requirements, but please let me know if you have any questions. Dual slot is essential.
The general rule is to look like a wedding guest and while I like this rule a lot, let's face it, we're much more active than a guest! If you're not comfortable in a dress or jumpsuit, it's perfectly acceptable to wear business casual in all black. I've tried wearing dresses and sometimes I still do, but I'm personally more comfortable in pants. What's most important is that you dress professionally and in neutral colors (though obviously not white.) Nothing sleeveless or with spaghetti straps, please. Note the venues and use common sense about the dress code - you should dress more conservatively for a church ceremony but could be a little more "garden party" for a vineyard wedding, for example. Black is best to avoid unattractive reflections and allows us to blend in more easily.
Arrival time will be noted on the timeline which you should receive at least a week prior. Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can get cards from me and format them before you begin.
Dress & Arrival
before the wedding
Throughout the day, your primary job is to capture the B-roll footage - like the couples' parents during the ceremony, the groom's hand around the bride's waist during portraits, guest reactions during toasts, and details throughout the day. I'm especially fond of hands - couples and parents/children holding hands are always a favorite shot of mine. These photos are ESSENTIAL to telling the story of the day!
Please don't shoot behind me. Try to find a unique angle or focus on the action I may be missing while I'm focused on the couple: zoom in on a few people in the group, or catch a photo of mom and grandma watching the fun. A tip I learned in street photography: always look behind you! We miss so much by simply forgetting to turn around. As my mentor says, "keep moving, keeping shooting, keep adjusting."
Attention to detail is crucial. Please tidy up backgrounds before shooting, and make sure there are as few distractions as possible (garbage and piles of clothes in rooms, trees behind a person's head, etc.) Have people remove sunglasses, ask regular glasses-wearers if they want to wear their glasses and if so, have them tilt them forward slightly to prevent glare, watch for transition lenses that have turned dark. Check pockets for cell phones and keys, and make sure everyone is standing close together in a straight line - I always tell them to have an imaginary line in front of them. It's human nature to form a C shape for some reason but that means not everyone will be i focus - a flat line is essential for portraits. Watch for hanging arms and be careful not to cut off feet and elbows. If you are shooting a large group of people with multiple lines, change your aperture to at least 5.6.
If I'm shooting vertical, please get some horizontal shots. I also love it when you can zoom in on a 70-200 too. Please do not use 35mm for portraits and getting ready - especially closeups - unless the space is simply too tight for a 50m. When used close to the subject, the 35mm produces awkward angles and big head/small body distortion that I like to avoid as much as possible.
Take time to find the good light and don't hesitate to ask questions if you're unsure. For posed shots, it's always preferable to move your subjects over shooting in bad light or a distracting background. Shoot between F 2.0 - 2.8 whenever possible. Increase your aperture with bigger groups: 4.0-5.6 is safe for groups of 4 or more. Very large groups may require a bigger increase.
second shooter tips, tricks, and style guide
Not every wedding is the same but in general you can expect these parts of the day and responsibilities.
Parts of the Day
Groom Prep
After assisting me with details, you'll begin with the groom and groomsmen. You'll likely just be photographing finishing touches such as putting on the tie, jacket, and shoes. Include the best man, brothers, mom, and dad when available.
Ask if he has any details and get nice photos of some simple "flatlays" or vignettes of them. If they're doing shots or have nice glasses and a fancy bottle of bourbon or similar, make a vingette of them and also get a photo of them pouring and a "cheers".
Position the groom near a window, paying attention to keeping good light on his face. Get as much variety as you can with the space you have (serious, smile, look at you/out the window.) Move furniture to clean up the background if you need to. It's okay to ask the guys to help. If they need help with boutonnieres, eagerly offer to help - they are always grateful and it leaves a great impression. If you don't know how to do this, remind me to explain it to you when we talk!
Ceremony
This is a good time to put on your 70-200 if you have one. During the ceremony, focus on different angles than mine and especially close ups of parents' faces (and hands if they're holding hands or comforting each other!)
It's okay to move around (unless the rules prohibit this), but please be discreet and move slowly and quietly.
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Cocktail Hour
If family formals are during cocktail hour, that means cocktail hour is all on you! Please capture detail shots of any signature drinks and hors d'oeuvres, candid shots of the action, and grab as many portraits of couples/groupings as you can.
Don't be afraid to quickly ask them to turn around / shift positions to get better light and backgrounds! When shooting guest portraits, focus on family, the wedding party, and any guests that are in outfits that match the color story of the wedding (and of course, any portraits that guests ask you to take!)
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Reception
During the reception, the focus should be on guest reactions as key events unfold! Please pay special attention to parents, using long lenses when possible so as not to draw too much attention. And remember that tip from street photography: don't forget to turn around!
As the daylight fades, don't be afraid to crank up your ISO and bounce flash when needed.
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When you arrive, you'll get a card from me. Be sure to format it before you begin. If you begin at a different location, you'll use your own cards, give them to me at the end of the night, and I'll mail them to you the next week.
In general I like to shoot open. Mirrorless shooters should aim for proper exposure, DSLR users can slightly underexpose to save highlights. Please do not intentionally underexpose on mirrorless - it's harder to lift shadows on mirrorless and gets muddy quick.
35mm should only be used from a distance or when space doesn't allow for anything else. Detail shots should be done in 50mm. Venue shots can be as wide as 24mm but never shoot groups of people at less than 35mm unless it's far away like a distant cocktail landscape.
Transferring Images & Settings
I generally allow you to use your images but I ask that you check with me first. I offer my clients privacy so not all of them have agreed for their photos to be shared publicly.
If you get to share the images, please do not tag me. I've found that editing styles vary too much and I want to keep my images online consistent to my brand.
Standard to the general rules of the industry, do not tag the clients or vendors. Do not follow the clients on social media. It's important to keep clear, professional boundaries for everyone's sake.
Image Use
Never be shy about needing water but please eat away from clients and guests.
Do not ask to eat the food in the getting ready room but you may accept if they offer it to you.
Do not drink alcohol while working.
Relate to all guests and clients in a professional way. If you have a problem with client or guest behavior or ever feel unsafe, please speak to me immediately so I can handle it.
It is critical to appear calm and happy. No matter what is going on around us, we must convey calm confidence. The clients sense our calm or chaos, and chaos is neither comforting nor professional.
Never express boredom, frustration, or annoyance. A positive attitude and willingness to serve is essential to a good client experience. Lots of people take pretty pictures - it's our job to make it as pleasant as possible.
We serve all guests and vendors as gladly as we serve our clients. Guests are important to our clients and vendors are our team. If you cannot say "yes" to a request, please come get me. I will always try to find a way to say "yes".
Never talk about the bride, the couple, the families, the details, or the guests except to give compliments or encouragement- even when you think you're alone.
Etiquette
Meals
You will receive a break and dinner when we shoot more than 6 hours. However, this meal break typically comes 7-8 hours into our coverage, so you might want to bring a snack and big water bottle as well. Never hesitate to drink water but please be discreet about eating - find a private space or moment away from clients and guests. Please do not ask to eat the food they may have in their getting ready rooms though if they offer, it's totally fine to accept. It is always okay to ask for water - it's so important to stay hydrated.
I like to pay you within 24 hours of the wedding. If you use a CRM, please send me an invoice for your hours when you get home. If you don't use a CRM, I will send you a check. Please email me with your preference and your address if you want a check.
Payment
I'm looking forward to working with you and appreciate your help! I'll be in touch with details close to the wedding date and in the meantime, please check out the gallery below for examples of second shooter shots I like to have in the couple's gallery.