Second Photographer Prep Guide

AWP WEDDINGS

everything you need to know!

Welcome

FROM AMANDA

I'm so excited to work together soon! As my second photographer, you play an incredibly important role on the AWP team. I believe that communication and expectations management is the key to a successful relationship, and hopefully this guide will help to lay out all roles, responsibilities, and what to expect when working together!

Minimum gear requirements:
- Full frame DSLR camera with dual card slots
- Lenses with an aperture of at least 1.8 (no kit lenses)
- At least one flash and diffuser
- Ample batteries and spare cards

My preference is to look like a wedding guest - except one that's ready to work! That said, my go-to is a dressy jumpsuit and Rothy's flats or nice sandals. Please dress in neutrals (so that it's not too distracting if you're in the background of photos) and be sure to wear comfy shoes! Additionally, be sure to arrive 15 minutes early to ensure time to get set up and be ready to go at start time. You'll receive the wedding timeline approx. one month prior to the wedding!

Dress & Arrival

BEFORE THE WEDDING

Throughout the day, your primary job is to capture the B-roll footage - things like reactions from VIPs during the ceremony, the groom's hand around the bride's waist during portraits, guest reactions during toasts, big establishing shots of the venue, etc.

No need to shoot over my shoulder, please! Instead, try to find a unique angle or focus on the action we may be missing, such as portraits of guests during cocktail hour.

Attention to detail is crucial! Please tidy up backgrounds before shooting, and make sure there are as few distractions as possible such as cups and cans. Check pockets for cell phones and keys, and make sure everyone is standing nice and tight together.

I tend to shoot nearly all vertical, so if you think of it, please try to shoot some horizontal to complement what I'm shooting! Similarly, try to shoot at a different focal length than me whenever possible. I photograph 95% of my work on a 58mm unless forced to use something else due to space!

My style is bright and vibrant with true to life color and lots of pop. To achieve this, great use of light is crucial! Make sure to have the sun behind your subjects and slightly to an angle and expose for the faces. Shoot around F-2.0 whenever possible, focusing on the eyes of the person closest to the camera.

SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER TIPS & TRICKS

This section reviews guidance and responsibilities throughout the wedding day! Of course, this may change depending on the day's plan, but I will let you know if anything is different.

Parts of the Day

Groom Prep

You'll begin with the groom and groomsmen, and if they're getting ready offsite, you'll be on your own. They will be instructed to be fully dressed - you should only be photographing finishing touches such as putting on tie, jacket, and shoes. I like to have the best man, dad, or a brother participate in this too!

Position the groom near and shoot from the window, in order to have the best possible light on his face. Try to have him seated and standing, with a mix of camera aware and looking off camera, soft smile / "smize" and no smile.

Ceremony

During the ceremony, please focus on guest reactions - especially close-ups of the couples' parents! Don't be afraid to move from side to side to get closeups and reactions of the couple during key moments.

However, please try not to draw attention to yourself and refrain from moving too quickly / distracting from the ceremony! My goal is to be as inobtrusive as possible during this time, using longer focal length lenses to get close as opposed to physically moving closer.

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!)

Reception Events

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.

As the daylight fades, don't be afraid to crank up your ISO and bounce flash when needed. I regularly shoot between 2500-4000 ISO during receptions, using the ambient light and my flash to properly light my subjects.

Transferring Images & Settings

If we're starting the day in the same location, please come see me before you start shooting and I'll give you one of my cards to put in your second card slot! With that in mind, make sure that your camera is set to duplicate to that second card slot, and not overflow.

Additionally, it's crucial that you shoot in RAW to ensure maximum flexibility while editing. My preference is to shoot in auto white balance, but feel free to shoot in whatever WB makes you most comfortable.

If we're not starting the day in the same place, shoot on your own card! I'll collect it at the end of the night and mail it to you within one week of the wedding, after I've backed up the images.

I understand that second shooting is a great way to diversify your portfolio, and I'm happy for you to use the images that you've shot! However, I do have a few requirements in order to help minimize confusion with the client, which is always my first priority.

First, please wait until I've delivered the full gallery (one month post wedding) before sharing images. When sharing on social media, please include a note and a tag "photographed while second shooting for @amandawose".

Additionally, please don't tag other vendors or the clients themselves! I do want and encourage you to be friendly and sociable with the couple and the rest of the vendor team, but it's important to keep things professional and clear.

Image Usage

Etiquette

You're representing my brand while we're working together, and I want to make sure you're set up for success! The heartbeat of my business is based in a stellar client experience, and you're a crucial part of that on the happiest day of our couples' lives.

Please be sure to leave negativity at the door and remember that we're problem-solvers and joy-bringers. Even if we're stressed or the timeline is running behind, never ever complain or vent in front of the couple or guests. We can do that later if needed ;)

If you run into any trouble or inappropriate behavior, don't hesitate to let me know immediately so that I can help you or handle it directly. I've never had this happen, but my contract protects us from harassment and I will absolutely advocate for us as needed.

Meals

You will receive a break and dinner per the terms of my contract with the couple! However, this meal break typically comes 6-7 hours into our coverage, so you might want to bring a snack and big water bottle as well.

I like to bring protein bars and quickly scarf one down prior to the ceremony. If you have any dietary restrictions or preferences, please let me know ASAP so that I can communicate that with the couple!

You'll receive payment within 48 hours of the conclusion of the wedding. I process payments via Paypal or you can send me an invoice via Honeybook, Dubsado, etc. Please note that I do not pay in cash - personally, I find pulling out my wallet a little tacky at a wedding, and carrying such a large amount of cash could be a liability!

If you have a preference for how you receive payment or the methods above won't work for you, please let me know ASAP so we can work something else out!

Payment

Again, I truly can't wait to work together! If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'll be in touch 3-4 weeks prior to the wedding with the final timeline, but in the meantime, feel free to check out a full sample gallery to get a feel for a typical final deliverable and what I'm looking for!