This is my first year in business. I have some questions on hiring a second shooter. I have five weddings coming up in the next few months. I know most people let the second shooter only use a limited amount of photos on their blog but not on their web sites. Now with the trend of having blog-sites how are photographers dealing with this. I guess I want to know what is the best way to handle the whole second shooter image usage situation. The photographers that could shoot for me all are just starting their own businesses as well. I just don’t want to run into the problem of other photographer in my town/market having the same portfolio as me. I don’t think it would be a problem if I had an extensive portfolio. But I am still in the process of building my own portfolio. In the past year I have invested lots of money in (gear, website, blog, ads, seminars, wppi) getting to this point. It makes me feel a little uneasy allowing another photographer to build an entire portfolio from weddings I worked hard to get. Am I wrong to feel this way? What should I do?

I can really only answer from the second shooter perspective. I have had a second shooter before and will again soon, and I don't have any personal problem with them using the photos themselves, but I don't have a lot of experience with that. The photographer I have second-shot for has always let me use any/all of my photos from his weddings on my site and blog. I am incredibly thankful for that. It's given me the opportunity to build up my portfolio in a way that I wouldn't have otherwise. That being said, he's not in the same position as you (building your business) and is very established and he's in an entirely different league than I am, so I could see his view on it being different than yours.

I hope this helps!

I'm in a very different position than you. I've been shooting for a very long time and the second shooters I use are people I am mentoring. My ultimate goal for them is to be on their own as a photographer. I spend time critiquing images, talking through business planning, discussing process and workflow and generally teaching them how to find their own niche in the market.

You are in a very different spot as you are just starting out. I wish I had a really clear answer for you, but here is the best I can do. Only have people you really trust shooting with you and build a relationship with them that is mutually beneficial relationship. That is a hard balance, but worthwhile for you in the long run. Treat them the way you want to be treated in a similar situation.

Good Luck...

I can only speak from the 2nd shooters point of view as well...and I can say without hesitation that as I gain experience and want to build my own book/site that I won't even shoot for anyone who isn't going to let me use my images anymore--seems like waste of time unless you are just in it for the money (ha ha). I am looking to work with people who can elevate my level, give me pointers, critiques, etc....not someone who wants me to shoot on their cards and take them at the end of the day and never even let me see or use what I spent all day creating for them.

That said, I also try to be mindful not to piggyback a lot of the main's shots during the wedding or follow them around like a puppy...I am there trying to capture the moments he/she can't capture due to what is happening/timing and be the proverbial eyes in the back of the head....so I don't end up with a ton of similars and it isn't like I want group shots or family stuff to use...if something is similar it is at least from a totally different angle with a different focal length lens and would be post processed differently by me anyway.... if your second shooters images are so similar to your that you are worried about your books/websites looking the same then perhaps your second shooter isn't fulfilling their purpose too well in getting the shots you would have otherwise missed (?). I hope you aren't talking about using their images in your book...I have had this happen once, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. I release the right to sell the images, put them in slideshows, albums, etc... to the main and agree that I will not ever sell them, but for them to claim someone else's work as their own is wrong no matter how you shake the tree.

I know all of these "2nd shooter issues" are touchy for everyone, and it is kind of a grey area sometimes---makes it even more important to work with people you know and trust and can talk to openly. Good luck :-)

Thanks for the advice everyone. There is still a lot I have to learn. I totally agree with helping others, because I would not be were I am with out the help of others and forums like osp. I feel that I am in a tuff spot. My business has only been fully up and running for about 7 months so I am just starting to book weddings more consistently. I need to find a middle ground so that I am comfortable and my second shooter gains something out of the opportunity as well. Thanks for bringing up the actual job of a second shooter, covering things that I can not get to. Also I need to work on giving my shooters direction. I don’t think I would have this problem if I had a stronger portfolio. Thanks again all.

I have been second shooting for about 4 years now. The first person I second shot for did not allow me to use my photos. I eventually quit and started working for another photographer (an OSP member!) who is allowing me to use them for my portfolio. But with that said, I think I have to show some discretion on my part as to which images I use. When I do actually get around to showing my portfolio I plan to only use images that are really unique or set apart from the kind of shots that the main photog has from those weddings. If I filled up my portfolio with images that are very similar to the same shots she got at a particular wedding then I think that would get a little fuzzy. With that said, I would not work for a photog that would not allow me to use my images because there would be no point. It would be very difficult to start booking weddings if I didn't have a portfolio of any images from my 4 years of shooting. I don't think "Just trust me...I'm pretty good" goes very far with brides.

And one more thing, I am pretty much using my images from second shooting to merely supplement my portfolio of images I have taken on my own from free weddings I have done for family and friends.