Blog

One thing as a photographer and probably for that fact anyone, is that you have to continue learning and growing in your field. There are many different ways of learning, either by reading books, attending workshops or by working along side another photographer. One morning I got speaking to a fellow photographer, who has been plying his trade for a lot longer and runs his own successful photographic business – Zooming Feet Photography. One thing led too another and Scot asked me to be the second shooter for him at Ryan and Rupert’s wedding in Wales. It was a great opportunity to learn from a seasoned photographer and to see how they tackle a wedding.

Late on a Friday afternoon in August, I packed the car and headed off to Wales.  A slow four-hour drive later, I arrived in Crickhowell and made my way to the guest house where the wedding was taking place. After getting slightly lost and a quick phone call later, I arrived at the guesthouse where Scot met me. Once I got settled in, we headed off into the main building, where Scot introduced me to Ryan and Rupert. From there we got down to business and started planning out the following day, which was going to start around nine and continue until late into the evening. With business out the way, we settled down, had a good chat and then got an early night to ensure we were well rested for the day ahead.

Before anyone starts a busy day, one should have a good breakfast and Scot did an excellent job by making us one. With that out the way, we got our kit ready and headed out. Time passed really quickly from that point onwards, as there was a lot to do and we had to ensure that we stayed on schedule. Before we knew it, we were sitting down for the main meal and had a chance to relax. We did a quick regroup, did some backing up of photos and prepared for the remainder of the day. The rest of the day passed just as quickly and we wrapped up after the first dance. I had a fantastic time and really enjoyed working with Scot. He was a good taskmaster and at no point during the day did I have any doubts as to what he expected off me.

As a second shooter, you play an important role during the day. Firstly, you need to make sure that the main photographer can work uninterrupted. You can achieve this by following instruction and ensuring that you stay out of their way. Make sure you communicate clearly and if you don’t understand something or are unsure, get clarity. Secondly, they cannot cover everything, so make sure you are capturing what they can’t. Keep an eye out for what the guest are up too as you are sure to capture a few special moments which will make the main photographer very happy and the couple even more so. Finally, ensure you have fun. Get the shot you need to get and then look for the creative shots, as it is the only way you will improve on your craft.

On a final note, it was a great experience sharing in Ryan and Rupert’s special day and I wish them all the best as they continue their journey in life together. Below are some of the images I captured during their day and I hope you enjoy them as much I enjoyed taking them.