What Is a Second Shooter?
A second shooter is an additional photographer who assists the lead at an event, capturing extra angles and moments, common at weddings for fuller coverage.
A second shooter is an additional photographer who works alongside the lead photographer at an event, most commonly a wedding. They capture extra angles, candid moments and parallel events, such as both partners getting ready, that one photographer alone could not cover.
The lead photographer directs the coverage and owns the client relationship; the second shooter supports it. Their images are usually delivered as part of the lead's single gallery.
Frequently asked questions
Why hire a second shooter for a wedding?
For fuller coverage: two photographers can capture both partners preparing, different angles during the ceremony, and more candid guest moments than one alone.
Who owns the second shooter's images?
Typically the lead photographer, under the terms agreed with the second shooter, so all images are delivered to the client as one cohesive gallery.
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