John + Erin | East Portland Offbeat Wedding

It’s time for me to start sharing some of the beautiful weddings that I had the good fortune to participate in as a second shooter.

…but first I’d like to answer a couple common questions that photographers get about second shooting. 1. Do you work for (primary photographer) all the time or do you have your own business? If you’re reading this then you know that I have my own business, but when I’m second’ing for another photographer I’m theirs for the day. I do not promote or talk about (if I can at all avoid it) my business; I don’t even bring business cards with me. Nope nope nope. It’s even better when the primary photographer seconds for me also so then we both get to experience working with and for each other. For myself hiring a second shooter, it’s critical that they are experienced enough to work on their own; I didn’t hire them so I could babysit and tell them what to do. I give general directions, make sure that they’re familiar with my style and expectations, then walk away.  …which is why I only hire other professionals. If an inexperienced photographer wants to second for me I ask them to come as an assistant first, or work on a wedding or project where I’m still covering the whole wedding on my own and their photos are a bonus. You might say, “How’s someone supposed to get experience if nobody will hire them?” and I’ll answer that I will hire them, but not for a wedding where I neeeeeed them. It’s too high risk, and if you know me you know that I’m not much of a risk taker when it comes to my business (read: baby). 2. Who’s in charge here? They (primary photographer) are! Unless it’s just me there, then I am, but I’m still working from the primary’s instructions/guidelines. 3. You guys make a really good team. Why don’t you just have a business together? This gets asked A LOT when I work with Stevi Sayler. No matter who’s primary or second we are a great team and work together as often as we can. We both not-so-secretly wish that the other didn’t want to be a primary photographer so that we could always work together, but we’re too happy that each others’ businesses are doing well to mess with it. Plus when you’ve worked so hard to build a business, a brand, and a style …let’s just say you’ll have to pry it from our cold undead zombie fingers. Then we’ll eat you.

Anyway… back in March I needed a second shooter for Rosalinda + Jeremy’s DIY Portland Pi Day wedding. Since this was a geeky, colorful, offbeat couple I knew just who to call for my #2 – Beth Olson of Beth Olson Creative. I don’t recall the order of events, but she also needed a second shooter for this wedding in May so we worked out an even wedding for wedding trade. Easy peasy. Usually, as the second shooter, I’m hanging out the Groom + Groomsmen before the wedding while the primary hangs with the Bride. One thing that I enjoy most about working with a second shooter (besides getting double the awesome varied photography during the ceremony) is that both people get a photographer’s full attention. Folks often say that it’s the Bride’s day, but photographers know that it takes at least two people to make a marriage and that both of them are equally deserving of our thoughtful service. Grooms are NOT props. John + Erin are such a fun and laid-back couple; the day was full of love, laughter, and happy tears. Their ceremony and reception was at the beautiful, urban-rustic Union Pine in Portland’s East Side. Even though it was early May we can all recall what a screamin’ hot spring/summer/fall we had last year… this day was no exception. Everyone stayed in good spirits as we routinely and gently dabbed sweat off the wedding party’s faces.

Here are a few of my personal favorites from the day. Enjoy!

Want to see Beth’s blog post from this wedding? Click here.

As you may have read in my previous blog post John and I moved to Bend, Oregon on New Year’s Eve. I’m very excited to work in this new landscape… like really really excited! So if you’re recently engaged or know someone who is, especially in Central Oregon, I’d love to hear all about your wedding day vision and how I can tell your love story with my photography. I have several dates this summer and fall still available. Contact me for booking and details!