Though i'm venturing on my own as a primary this year, i'm still will 2nd shoot to fill in days. in fact, in the next month i have 3 2nd shooting opportunities.
so my question is this: do you mind if the 2nd shoots over your shoulder during formals and when you set shots up? To be honest, i NEVER do this. First, i don't want to take the attention off the people off the main photographer (people looking at different places, etc.). 2nd, i didn't set the shot up, thus, it's not mine to shoot. I know one of the photogs i shot w/ last year was utterly annoyed by another one of her 2nds who shot over her shoulder during formals.
Ya, more cameras means more wandering eyes. I personally would prefer any 2nd to help look at the details (cuff links, shirts, ties, etc) since these are more formal and generally its the fine details that really stand out.
I also do like the candid group shots which are some of my favorites of the formals, but it's tricky making sure that all eyes are on the primary photographer.
Since you'll be shooting for me, I'll throw in my .02. haha, great question though Rob. I like a 2nd to help me make sure everything looks good (placement, ties, bouquets, dresses, hair, etc.) and then jump over to the side and grab some candids of the group. You'd be surprised that people actually buy a lot of these shots. So yeah, help set-up lights, help set-up groups and then snap a few candids. I would never shoot over someone's shoulder, there is no need for that. Basically you're saying "You suck and I'm getting a better shot from the same angle!" haha.
It would annoy the hell out of me if my 2nd shooter shot over my shoulder. The 2nd shooter needs to, throughout the day, complement, and expand on what I am shooting. And that means shooting independently from me.
Even when I am working with the couple or the bridal party, the 2nd photographer should be doing something like getting candid portraits with a longer lens .. but not over my shoulder.
When I did my first wedding, we sort of took the same formals shots on both our cameras (by both photographers) for security purposes, which doubled the time it took of course, and made a lot of the guests wait around. Then we saw the guests looked like they were going to attack us, so we switched to just one person taking the formals
When I second shoot my job during formals is to take care of lighting, wrangle the subjects who are up next, keep the family under control, and be a second pair of eyes for making sure everything looks good. Shooting at the same time would be distracting to both the clients and my boss (its bad enough all the family tells them to hold still for their shots, but adding ME doing that too!).
Dawei Ye wrote:
When I did my first wedding, we sort of took the same formals shots on both our cameras (by both photographers) for security purposes, which doubled the time it took of course, and made a lot of the guests wait around. Then we saw the guests looked like they were going to attack us, so we switched to just one person taking the formals
We did that, too, on our first wedding. There was not one single group shot that had all eyes on one photgrapher.... My wife watches for details now during formals, and helps set up the groups.... no shooting.
In my experience (which is not that extensive) 2nd shooting..IF I am taking a picture over someones shoulder its typically with a zoom and to get candid closeup portrait shot of either the bride and groom, or of them kissing closeup. Most likely the main is using a semi-wide angle. Again, with a zoom I may stand a little farther away and take some other shots but typically I'm far enough away that nobody is looking at me and therefore ruining the main shot.
I like my second to keep me hydrated with cool glasses of lemonade 8)
Seriously, when I second I find out what the primary wants and work around their needs first...Then it's play time and I'll do whatever support the primary needs. There are some I work with often and we sort of roam like basketball referees side to side, front to back getting shots from opposite angles.
What the primary that hired me wants first...
My stuff second.
I second shot these images while the main was posing them for the formals. I wasn't "over her shoulder" as much as I was off to the side or down on the floor. I think they add something to the mix. However, most of the time, I was off doing my own thing.
I tell my second shooters to always be looking for the shot/angle I'm NOT getting... So of course over my shoulder wouldn't qualify, and wouldn't make any sense. The exception would be if the primary ask you to "back me up" on the formals, in which case you'd step in after he got his, and direct the subjects to your camera to duplicate the shot for the primary.
Bottom line is, as a second you should always be looking for the angle opposite/perpendicular to the primary. At best you're wasting everybody's time shooting over his shoulder, and at worst you're going to offend him or at least get on his nerves. Just doesn't make any sense.
