Do you want to get into the world of wedding photography?

One of the best ways to get into the wedding market is to gain experience through second shooting.

But how do you get second shooting jobs?

In this blog post we’re going to talk about the three places you should look to find second shooting opportunities as well as what to say and do to get the jobs.

One second shooting job can lead to dozens more, so in the next blog post we’re going to talk about how to be an awesome second shooter so you’ll continuously get more opportunities.

Where to Find Second Shooting Jobs

There are three main places to go to find second shooting opportunities. Each of the three will have different strategies for what you should be doing to get the job.

1. Facebook

Facebook groups are one of the best places to find second shooting opportunities. Search for groups that are both national and local and are filled with photographers or other wedding vendors. Find groups that are specifically meant for finding second shooters as well as groups for broader wedding topics.

A few of my favorite groups are my local Rising Tide Society’s Tuesdays Together groups, Second Shooter Source, and Second Shooters + Lead Shooters.

Once you find a group, I recommend commenting instead of posting. Quite a few new photographers post in these groups that they’re looking for second shooting experience, but rarely do they get engagement. Personally, when I see these posts I just ignore them because I’m not currently looking for a second shooter.

Instead, I recommend commenting on posts that explicitly say they’re looking for a second shooter. Photographers will post all the time that they need a second photographer for a certain wedding, and they’ll ask people to comment or DM them their information so they can pick who they want to bring.

First, turn on your notifications for these groups so you can be the first to comment. Often a few dozen photographers comment within the first hour and the poster disables comments afterwards so they have a limit of people to go through. I’m a big believer in turning off all notifications on your phone so you can focus on other things, but in the beginning this can truly get you your first opportunities.

Next, when you find a post where you’re free for the wedding and within a reasonable distance, immediately post the following:

You’re available, would love to be considered, where you’re located, your experience, your gear, your website/social media/email, and attach one photo so you’ll stick out

For example:

Hey [insert name of photographer]! I’m available and I would love to be considered to join you! I’m located in Harrisonburg, only 30 minutes from [venue]. I’ve shot x weddings and am super comfortable with photographing the guys by myself. I shoot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark iii and iv, and these are the lenses I use: [describe lenses]. Here’s where you can see more of my work! [website, social media] And here’s where you can contact me: [email]. Thank you so much! [attach your best photo to comment]

You want to do this for a few reasons:

1. If you just put your website and no words, it’s way less personal and they’re less likely to choose you
2. If you put all the information up front, it will eliminate the need for them to ask you a bunch of questions later
3. Some photographers look for specific things and will even say it in their posts. Sometimes they prefer other Canon shooters so they can share lenses, or they want a specific lens (ex: 70-200mm is great for ceremonies). Some only want people who are comfortable with shooting the guys on their own, or who are comfortable with a flash setup. Be honest about your experience and your gear, even if it’s not their preference. If you lie and are exposed on the wedding day, it will hurt you

Not only will you stick out to them, but you will stick out to all the other commenters too.

Note: you won’t get every wedding you comment on. In my first year of second shooting, I commented on probably 100 posts and got 5 second shooting jobs. But guess what? Those 5 second shooting jobs led me to being the wedding photographer I am now with a fully booked calendar. Don’t get discouraged: if you want it enough, keep trying.

2. Instagram

Instagram is a fantastic place to find second shooting opportunities, but the only way it’s going to work is if you play the long game.

First, you want to follow a bunch of photographers in your area who you might want to second shoot for. Search for them through hashtags, venue and other vendor accounts, and even just searching “your city photographer” or “your state photographer.”

DO NOT cold DM them asking to second shoot.

It is the worst feeling in the world when a photographer gets a DM from someone they don’t recognize asking to be brought to a wedding. When the account doesn’t follow us, they’ve never interacted with our content, and they’ve never had a conversation with us, it feels like we’re just being used (which we are). How do you know what I’m like if you’ve never taken the time to get to know me? What makes you think I would bring a total stranger to a wedding, a job that has been trusted to me by my couples to capture one of the biggest days of their lives?

No, I don’t think so. Don’t cold DM photographers like that.

Instead, you have to play the long game.

Follow your local photographers, then INTERACT WITH THEM. Like and comment on their posts with GENUINE remarks. Watch their stories. Interact with their polls and question stickers. Respond to their stories and open up conversations. GET TO KNOW THEM.

After doing this for at least a month, but preferably for several months or at least a year, THEN DM them and say the following:

“Hey [photographer’s name]! I wanted to let you know that I’m hoping to start second shooting at weddings because I love [insert why you want to get into weddings]. I’m not sure if you’re looking for second shooters right now, but please keep me in mind for when you are! I would love to come with you to a wedding and learn from you while building up my portfolio. Thank you!”

Change it so it fits your voice, but the general gist is that you’re politely asking to be kept in mind for when they start looking for second shooters. They might respond and say that they’re looking for a second shooter right now and they’d love to bring you along! Or they might say they’re not currently looking for second shooters, but they’ll keep you in mind. Or they might say they don’t hire second shooters because they instead use their significant other. You don’t know what they’ll say, but as long as you approach the topic with good intentions and politeness they will more than likely respond to you in the same way.

Additionally, you should be post on your own feed and stories that you’re getting into couples photography and you’re looking to get into weddings. This is a public way to share that you’re looking for opportunities, and they might come to you. Don’t be spammy, be genuine.

You want to go for this long term strategy for a few reasons:

1. You’ll show up in their notifications more and more, and they’ll start to recognize your name and handle
2. They’ll eventually click on your profile to check out your work, and if they like you they’ll follow you back. This is fantastic because it will allow them to get to know you too
3. They will see that you’re genuinely interested in THEM and their content, not just every photographer out there
4. When you’re in it to build relationships, you’re setting yourself up for success in the long run. Everything will feel a lot less lonely and you’ll have real people to go to in the industry

This long-term strategy works. I was doing all these things when I first got started, but I wasn’t doing it with the intention of second shooting. I did it with the intention of learning and getting inspiration, and my natural communications led to some friendships and opportunities.

This strategy worked on me recently too. A beginner senior photographer followed me and started interacting with my work. Eventually I clicked on her profile and could see that she had a lot of potential, so I followed her back. After a few months of following each other, I learned more about her and her work. Eventually she posted on her feed that she just did her first couples session and she loved it, and she would love to get into weddings if any photographers out there needed a second shooter. I had a wedding coming up in a few months, so I reached out to her, and later that year I brought her along to the wedding. Now we’re friends, and because she did such a great job, I’ll be hiring her again.

If you want to learn how to be a great second shooter, make sure you check out this post! (coming next week!)

3. Go to in-person meetings

Obviously this one applies only when in-person meetings are safe.

One of the best ways to create relationships in the industry is to meet people in person. My favorite way to do this is to attend The Rising Tide Society’s Tuesdays Together meetings. Go to the meeting, get to know everyone, and learn alongside them.

DO NOT walk up to every photographer and ask to second shoot for them. That’s awkward.

Instead, genuinely connect and network with everyone there. Follow them on social media, and interact with them over the month. At the next meeting, reintroduce yourself and talk to everyone again. Really get to know them, participate in the meetings, and cultivate those relationships.

After a few months, you can either DM them over social media or ask them in person if they’re looking for second shooting opportunities. Even if they say no, it’s ok! Those relationships can be worth way more in business and life than second shooting opportunities can be right now.

Once you get the second shooting job…

Once you get your first few second shooting jobs, make sure you’re an awesome second shooter.

If you do a bad job, you won’t be hired again by the same photographer. And if the job was really bad, they’ll spread word around that you shouldn’t be hired.

On the flip side, if you do an amazing job, that photographer might hire you again and again. They might even recommend you to other photographers. You’ll develop a friendship with that photographer, and you’ll be invited into a world that is so valuable in our community.

That first second shooting job can turn into a thriving business, so make sure you start with the right intentions and you do everything you can to be genuine. That will get you so far in this community.

If you’d like to learn exactly how to be an awesome second shooter, check out this blog post! (coming next week!)

Check out this post to see how to build up a portfolio!

If you want to learn more behind the scenes tips of being a photographer, check out all my photographer education blog posts!

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