Second Shooter Cheat Sheet

Groom Prep

• Ideally these should happen by a window or outside. I actually prefer them inside if you are able to find a nice window with a neutral backdrop.

• Don’t be afraid to photograph the “putting on the jacket” shot more than once if you didn’t nail it the first time. It helps if you ask the person helping with the jacket to pat the groom’s shoulders and help smooth out the jacket once they are done helping them put it on.

• Pay attention to the groom’s facial expressions and body language. He should look happy in these photos!

• Once the Groom is fully dressed, don’t be afraid to take more editorial style images of him buttoning his jacket, looking out the window, lounging, etc. I prefer these and so do publications!

Bride & Bridesmaids

1) Side shot of the bride

2) Side shots of the bouquets

3) Candids candids candids! Please always have an eye out for good candids and movement shots!

4) Sometimes I’ll ask you to take a close-up photo of one (or more) of the bridesmaids and their bouquets. Please feel free to have fun with these!

5) Close-up detail shots during bridal portraits! For example, here’s my photo vs. the photo my second shooter took at the same time:

First Look

Be close and cropped, but please do not cut off the Groom’s hands. Horizontal or vertical is fine for these.

Bride & Groom Portraits

Please do not shoot over my shoulder with the same focal length. Focus on close-up photos with a different focal length and/or angle. For example, here are my photos vs. the photos my second shooter took at the same time:

Wedding Party

If you’re with me for wedding party photos, try to focus on flower girls/ring bearers (if applicable) – otherwise, close-ups shots of wedding party members or the bride and groom are awesome!

Ceremony Details

If you are photographing ceremony details, please please please overshoot these!

1) Wide shot of the ceremony space both horizontal and vertical. I usually take these with the 35mm to avoid too much distortion. Please do not crop chairs for the wide shot — I need at least one clean photo.

2) Closer up shots of the ceremony space. Please do not take these with the 35mm. I prefer the 50mm. Once you have photographed everything with the 50mm, feel free to switch to 85mm for smaller zoomed in details.

Ceremony

1) Full-length shot of the bride and her father walking down the aisle from the back (horizontal and vertical) plus hand-off

2) Focus on guest candids and unique editorial close-ups during the rest of the ceremony!

Cocktail Hour

1) Grab and grins are the most important thing here. I want you to try to get as many nice photos of as many of the couple’s friends and family as possible. If you are taking a full-body photo, please do not crop out feet. If you are doing a cropped in photo, please do not cut off hands.

2) Editorial style photos of signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as you see them

3) One wide shot of the cocktail hour space and any editorial style details or candids

Reception Details

If you are photographing reception details, please please please overshoot these!

1) One overall shot of the entire space both vertical and horizontal

2) Each type of table from far away and closer up

• Please please please do NOT cut off the bottom of any tables or chair legs when doing wider shots – always air on the side of extra space around the edges of images!

3) Close-up shots of the different centerpieces