Jim Harris Studios

Bradley’s Bar Mitzvah at North Bowl (Video)

March 15th, 2012

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Bradley’s Bar Mitzvah at North Bowl

March 3rd, 2012

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Second Photography ~ Jim Harris Studios

February 15th, 2012

Today I was asked by a client to provide some samples of our Second Photography and I’ve been meaning to post some of our great Second Photographer’s shots! On all of our events, wedding or otherwise we offer the option of an additional photographer. I have about a half dozen photographers that I call upon for jobs. They are all talented, congenial, unobtrusive and I enjoy working with them all. Every studio handles their associate and second photographers in a different way. For some studios they are more assistants that also shoot and sometimes they beginners that are working to get experience in the field. In our case, they are all seasoned photographers that have shot numerous weddings and events on their own.

The primary photographers we use have their own business, either part-time or full-time and have become good friends of mine. They all have their own projects and commitments and my scheduling for weddings and events is usually determined by everyone’s schedule and logistics. However there are some weddings and situations where it might make more sense to have either a male or female photographer present. For example, I like to send my guy photographers to photograph the groomsmen all getting ready the day of the wedding.

When discussing the pros and cons of additional photographers, the pros are numerous and the only con solely comes down to budget. The advantages of a Second Photographer are more images throughout the day, more extensive coverage and angles and always having at least one photographer present to photograph while another may be setting up or breaking down lighting or other gear.

For weddings the primary roles for a Second Photographer are to photograph the groomsmen, particularly if they are at another location. With the ceremony, a Second Photographer is often shooting in the back of the church while I am typically stationed at the front of the aisle photographing the Bridal Party as they come down the aisle. A Second Photographer will often shoot from any balcony for a different vantage point of the ceremony and if the ceremony is outdoors, I like to have a shot of the entire ceremony from a distance. For the portraits, a Second Photographer will often shoot from the side and get some of those in-between moments as the formals are being taken. I have lots of these samples below. I’m always pleased with the formal portraits that we shoot, but I’m often more drawn to these moments taken by the Second Photographer in-between the formal smiles. For the reception a Second Photographer will often shoot from behind the bridal party for introductions and get that point-of-view shot of the couple as they enter the reception space for the first time. These are always great shots and there are some samples of those below as well. For the rest of the evening, it’s usually just additional coverage and reaction shots. The entire day, and event photography in general, is all action and reaction. If there is a toast being given, that is the action while the laughter and response by family and guests are the reaction. Do you need two photographers in order to get the action and reaction? Not always of course, most photographers will know enough to try and cover all angles when shooting, but it’s nice to sometimes have someone else on the floor whose sole purpose is to photograph that reaction.

That’s my 101 on Second Photography. I don’t typically shoot with assistants on Event work, just Second Photographers and I think the samples below provide a nice overview of the quality of work that I can add to my own photographs at any given event.