Second shooting

All images on this page were taken whilst second shooting at five different weddings with photographers Lianne Gray, Michelle Hardingham, Holly Bryan & Ashley Sealy. I’ve edited these select images for the purpose of creating this page.

My style & approach

At my own weddings I take the documentary approach, but I’m happily adaptable when second shooting. So should you wish, I can do portraits at prep when I’m second shooting (as below) and any details that you’d like doing. Any styled details (shoes, rings etc) I tend to photograph in a simple way (see a couple of the detail shots above). I’m very much used to getting these done as quickly as simply as possible to focus on the people (but I’m happy to work to your style when working for you). Just let me know if you’d like me to do these.

When second shooting my main goal is to capture things differently to you for the extra perspective, so I’ll be looking out for where you are and not standing next to you, I’m always on the lookout for a different perspective. I’m not a photographer who stands really far away from people with a long lens, however I think I’m good at reading the room to judge whether guests are noticing the camera or being more involved in the wedding. If it’s a fun, party crowd who aren’t noticing/caring about the camera then I’m not afraid to get up close, and if it’s a quieter/smaller/more formal wedding and people seem to be noticing the camera more then I’ll keep more of a distance.

My equipment

I use two Nikon mirrorless cameras (Z6 and Z6ii) alongside 24mm, 35mm and 85mm prime lenses. I also have a 135mm, which I don’t use so often but if I’m at the back of a large church it can come in handy. I also use flash, where necessary, to adapt to the lighting conditions. My cameras use XQD cards (which are unfortunately very expensive!) so I can’t give them to you but I can either transfer my files to you on the day if you have a laptop on you, or we can work something else out.

My past experience

I have a degree in Visual Communication specialising in Photography. I graduated in about 2007 (probably?) and I shot my first wedding (badly!) for a former colleague in 2010 and decided I never wanted to be a wedding photographer. It then just kind of happened and I photographed weddings part time from around 2014 (ish) as a duo with another photographer, alongside other jobs. We parted ways in 2018/19 (I think!) and I made it my full time career not long after that. I now absolutely love it and love taking on second shooting jobs in between doing my own weddings.

Me

I’m laid back, low maintenance and easily pleased! If food isn’t provided then I’m absolutely cool with that and more than happy to bring my own food, just let me know the situation so I know what to bring. I do have dietary requirements so it’s always good to know what’s happening, either way!

I live in Lincoln and am happy to travel for up to two hours to second shoot, which covers all of Lincolnshire and a lot of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and probably more! I’m also very lucky to have somewhere to stay in London and advance fares between Lincoln and London can be pretty cheap so I’m happy second shooting there with a slightly higher rate to cover the time away from home the night before and train fares. I travel all over the UK for my own weddings so if I apply for a second shooter job that’s far away then it’ll likely be because I’m already in the area for a wedding.