Beige Weddings - Second Shooter Guidelines
Welcome to our team! As a second shooter, you play a crucial role in capturing the special moments of a couple's wedding day. This guideline outlines our expectations to ensure a seamless and successful collaboration.
Pre-Wedding Preparation
Equipment Check:
Ensure all your gear is in excellent working condition.
Bring backups for critical items like camera bodies, lenses, and batteries
Familiarize yourself with our preferred camera settings and shooting style*.
Our Shooting Style: We love shooting wide-open, so please kindly have your aperture set at f/2 or wider (f/1.8, f/1.4 etc.). However when shooting a group photo, please make sure your aperture is set at f/4 (at least).
Attire:
Dress professionally and appropriately for a wedding setting. We do ask our team to be dressed in business formal (a buttoned shirt that can be long or short-sleeved, depending on the temperature of the day, as well as long pants that look good but also give you the flexibility to move around in). Black is preferred, but dark, non-flashy attire is totally okay too.
Comfortable shoes are a must, as you will be on your feet for extended periods.
Communication:
Confirm the schedule and location details with the lead photographer at least a week before the wedding.
Review the shot list and any specific requests from the couple provided by the lead photographer.
On the Wedding Day
Punctuality:
Arrive at the designated meeting point on time, typically 15-20 MINUTES before the scheduled start.
Be prepared to assist with any last-minute preparations.
Teamwork:
Follow the lead photographer’s instructions and stay in constant communication throughout the day.
Coordinate shots to ensure comprehensive coverage without duplicating efforts.
Shooting Style and Composition:
Capture candid moments, details, and alternative angles that complement the lead photographer’s shots.
Be creative but consistent with the overall aesthetic and style of the lead photographer.
Please have your main camera to have either a 50mm or an 85mm lens, and your secondary camera to have a 35mm or slightly wider lens. If this is the first time that we have worked together, please don’t hesitate to ask us directly regarding lens choices.
Ultimately, our job is to tell the story in the most beautiful and best way possible!
Professionalism:
Maintain a low profile during key moments like the ceremony and speeches to avoid distractions.
Most of the interactions between us with the couple, their guests, and other vendors will be done by the lead photographer, however, if you are to communicate with anyone on the wedding day, please do so courteously and respectfully. We are proud of all of our second shooters that we bring on board, and you’re welcome to present yourself as a part of the Beige Weddings team, of course!
Key Moments to Capture
Pre-Ceremony:
Bride and groom preparation shots. Note that sometimes you may be required to lead the groom’s getting ready portion by yourself, so please let us know if you need more inspiration for that.
In situations where the bride is interacting with her bridesmaids or her parents, please kindly focus on whoever that is interacting with the bride.
First Look: Please focus on the bride’s reaction.
Ceremony:
Guest arrivals and venue details.
Your focus during the ceremony will be the GROOM.
Multiple angles of the ceremony, including reactions from the couple and guests.
Post-Ceremony:
Candid moments during the cocktail hour.
Please don’t hesitate to ask guests if they’d like any portraits.
Reception:
Decor and detail shots of the reception area.
Get a side-angle for any key events like the first dance, toasts, cake cutting, and bouquet toss.
Post-Wedding
Image Delivery:
Hand all SD cards back to the lead photographer.
General Expectations
Reliability:
Be dependable and responsible throughout the entire process.
Communicate promptly about any potential issues or delays.
Adaptability:
Be prepared to handle unexpected changes in schedule or conditions.
Maintain a positive attitude and flexibility to ensure a smooth workflow.
Discretion:
Respect the privacy and preferences of the couple.
Avoid posting any images on social media or sharing them.
We appreciate your dedication and enthusiasm in helping us create beautiful memories for our clients. Thank you for being a part of our team!
Here are some examples of what we typically expect from our second shooters, you have the creative freedom to capture more on top of these shots of course.
GETTING READY
lead shooter shot
second shooter shot
lead shooter shot
second shooter shot
Wedding Ceremony
lead shooter shot
lead photographer shot
second shooter shot
NOTE: We don’t always get an angle like this, your lead photographer will inform you to either do this or focus on the groom’s reaction shot
second shooter shot
Photoshoot
lead photographer shot
second shooter shot
Reception
lead photographer shot
second photographer shot