I am a part timer working on a 5 year plan.
I am starting year 4.
my day job is with a little company called TI.
me ... i built up my family/portrait work first.
Then hung out on another forum.
somebody from here was also on that forum. he was looking for a shooter. showed him my smugmug site and he gave me a chance.
yes it was in another state. it was a great experience.
I have shot with the shooter for 3 years. Now we try to shoot at least one a year together.
The shooter turned me onto Fred Miranda.
I have picked up several 2nd shooting gigs here on FM. mainly by hanging out and a great recommend from a the first photog i worked with.
It has been good working with other shooters.
I picked up several small weddings and shoot them as primary. ( Including 2 weddings in Taiwan because of my day job.)
Last year, I also picked up shooting 2nd for a local company that needed a second shooter.
over the course of 6-7 months, i shot 11 weddings.
I went to my first workshop last fall.
I am setting everything up to attend my first bridal show this year.
Next year i want 10-12 weddings as primary.
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The biggest thing i see is why higher somebody who just popped up on the radar screen.
Meaning you in Chicago.....
It can be done .... but you should have some marketing plan.
hey Ron, I am checking out your site, one bit of feedback, it is loading SUPER slow, I am in the Atlanta area and I do have some weddings coming up.... I am right now looking for 2nd shooters that I might be able to work with, of course I would like to have people nearby, but I am not against someone coming from somewhere else. Do you have backup equipment? I only ask because I previewed your profile.
+1 to networking just like any other industry to get your career started. Look at local professional organizations (ppa) where you can meet people. Attend workshops, go to a smugmug meeting. You will run into people that are starting up their business's and are desperate for second shooters. Target people at your stage, starting out. Do you take cold call sales for other services?? People look for people they can trust and you need to earn that.
sherijohnson wrote:
hey Ron, I am checking out your site, one bit of feedback, it is loading SUPER slow, I am in the Atlanta area and I do have some weddings coming up.... I am right now looking for 2nd shooters that I might be able to work with, of course I would like to have people nearby, but I am not against someone coming from somewhere else. Do you have backup equipment? I only ask because I previewed your profile.
RichardLavigne wrote:
Ron... my first bit of advice to anyone looking to second shoot is to be known... what's that mean?, well precisely what you're doing.. no one is going to hire a second shooter that they don't know. So first and foremost, you need to get active in your photography community. You're here, speaking up.. so people will start to recognize your name.... now show us some work. You may not have weddings to show us.... but I'm sure you have people, or engagement like shots.
I'd also recommend getting active in your local community, one way to do this is through Fast Track (better together), whatever the name is now. I don't know if there is a FT group in your area, but I'd bet there probably is... I know there are always people looking for second shooters in my group... again, no one is going to bring you on if they don't know you, so get active by going to meetings, group shoots, etc....Show more →
Yep, what you're saying completely makes sense. Just by doing what I did today, if nothing else, I'm noticed. When I start posting my work, I think some will remember this and be curious to see if I'm delivering the goods or not. If I am, that will lead to more opportunities. But bottom line, like you said, I need to network here, there, and everywhere.
iunknown2008 wrote:
+1 to networking just like any other industry to get your career started. Look at local professional organizations (ppa) where you can meet people. Attend workshops, go to a smugmug meeting. You will run into people that are starting up their business's and are desperate for second shooters. Target people at your stage, starting out. Do you take cold call sales for other services?? People look for people they can trust and you need to earn that.
Thanks, Greg. I am a member of PPA, so I can look into that. Will look into the other local clubs once I'm back in Chicago.
gravygraffix wrote:
I'm gonna need a second in June for an amazing wedding... there will be tanks! I haven't checked your stuff yet but lemme know if you're interested
I know how you feel. Most of 2011, I spent most of my time trying to 2nd shoot and never got one response from anyone. Decided to just go for it with one wedding and one trash the dress shoot. Booked my first 10 weddings for 2012. Good luck man. If you're in Pittsburgh, PA, you're welcome to one of my weddings. I promised myself if I book any weddings, I'd invite a 2nd and 3rd photographer.
second shooter jobs come from knowing someone in real life... too many people who i've never met or heard of email me looking to second shoot. like i'd ever show up to someone's wedding with an assistant i've never met before. attend meetings, workshops, WPPI, etc and make connections.
