March 8, 2009
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Random Epiphany...
Every now and then I get these miniature, totally random epiphanies about things. I have my addiction to photography forums to thank for this condition, actually. I very strongly believe that you learn by teaching. Or to be less cliche, but more verbose- putting enough energy into creating a worthwhile answer to a serious question will often cause us to, well, have an epiphany. We realize something that we've obviously known all along in our subconscious, and that "ah-ha!" is part of what helps us do better next time.
Anyways I was thinking about one of the stereotypes of the photography industry, one that is quite relevant in the wedding photography industry in particular... The stereotype of hiring an assistant / 2nd shooter, and then having that other photographer go behind your back and "steal" a referral that "should have been yours"... Even those who are not professional photographers, I'm sure you know what I mean, or at least you can imagine the stereotype that might surround this.
The logical "answer" to such a problem is, duh, to sign a contract with all your 2nd shooters etc. that dictates how a 2nd shooter should conduct themselves. Obviously I don't need my assistants passing out their own business cards at a wedding where they're assisting ME. That's crazy, and downright disrespectful! And in general, I'd expect an assistant to speak highly of me to other wedding guests, refer them to me if they're in the market, etc. etc.
But then I got to thinking, what about after the wedding? Does a 2nd shooter become fair game? I mean surely a bridesmaid can hunt down ANYBODY they want on facebook etc. Then I got to thinking again- Ya know, I'm fine with that. If I'm out of someone's price range, or if my style of photography is just not what they're looking for, then why would I try and force myself on that client? I wouldn't. Then, I got to thinking one last time... For what *other* reasons might a client be "going behind your back"??? Aren't most all the possible reasons indicative that YOU the primary photographer have bigger issues to deal with? Is your assistant taking better pictures than you? Ouch. Does your assistant have a better personality / attitude than you? OUCH!!!!!! In either case, it seems to me like you've got WAY bigger fish to fry than going after an assistant for one measley booking they stole.
I shoot weddings for Blue Shoe Photography with my good friend Eric a few times a year. We always work as such a team, a unit, that whenever there is talk of future weddings, it's always "gosh, we need to get Eric and Matt to shoot our wedding too!" The same thing with all the 2nd shooters I've had assisting me at my weddings- If we work as a team, and both have a positive, friendly attitude, anybody who sees us working together (and is getting married soon themselves) will automatically think of us BOTH. As a team. What a great position / status!
Hopefully anybody who has been in business for some time is thinking "well duh, this is just basic logic!" ...I know! But doesn't it help to keep things fresh in our minds, instead of cluttered somewhere in the back of our subconscious? I don't know about you, but writing these things down really helps me do a better job of living by them...
Take care,
=Matt=
(How they managed to build such a structure without a single modern-day crane continues to amaze me...)
Seville, Spain; October 2008 - Nikon D300, 17-55 @ 17mm, hand-held, RAW image processed in Bridge CS3.
Comments (10)
There are not a lot of 'innocent' reasons why a potential client would decide that a second shooter is more appealing than the primary photographer---99% of the time, even when the client knows that some of the images were taken by the second shooter, it is nevertheless assumed that ALL the photographs were thanks to the primary shooter, since they are the face of the business, and as such, they take the credit for what's produced. The flip side of this is they also take the heat for any mistakes that the secondary shooter might make since, again...the primary photographer is the one who is responsible.
Because the primary shooter is credited for what is produced from a shoot, If a client seeks out another photographer from the event than it seems likely that they either prefer the secondary photographer's disposition (which isn't anyone's fault), or the secondary photographer solicited them for his or herself (which is not OK at someone else's gig). The third option is that they stumble across the second shooter's photos accidentally (blog or such) and decide that they like them better, but I think this is just less likely to happen.
If they're good enough to be a "primary" shooter, why would they want to stay in the shadow of someone else (and make less money)? You wouldn't...
Unless you are keen to start a partnership with someone and work as a team, then yeah, a 2nd shooter will be potential competition. Either you treat them fairly and as an equal to begin with, or the inevitable "back stabbing" will happen.
@XtremePsionic - Au contraire, my friend! I love, love, LOVE the "shadow". But you DO bring up a good point- responsibility. You see, with that "primary" status (and paycheck) comes great responsibility / liability. When those things are YOUR burden to bear, it really changes the game. That's WHY I charge so much if I am the primary shooter- I guarantee my results...
But my point is, I LOVE to assist other photographers because it is like a fan having a back-stage pass: Aside from the few times you are in charge of capturing one or two specific shots during the ceremony, you are totally free to get as creative as you want. (Meaning, take creative risks...) I get many of my best images when I am assisting other photographers, because I'm not responsible for delivering anything specific.
At least, this is how it works for me, and the people who I assist and the people who assist me.
But of course, we definitely go into the job with the understanding of partnership and mutual benefit. My assistants book weddings on their own. I'm very happy for them; I'm their biggest fan!
=Matt=
@Molly - Thanks for taking the time to comment, Molly! You make good points. However, I do have a very distinct style, especially during portrait sessions when I start to use off-camera flash, and so I do believe that it is possible for clients to discern who took which photos. But like I said- when we're shooting together, we really don't ever consider ourselves to be available separately at all. We're a team. And I couldn't be happier with that status! So I'm grateful to be surrounded by the primary shooters / 2nd shooters that I am friends with...
=Matt=
my feeling is that, if a possible client goes up to the 2nd shooter during the wedding or even afters to get more information or possibly book a gig with them, it's totally fair game. there was obviously something that made the person pick them instead of the other, and like you said, there are larger things to think and worry about. plus, 2nd shooting not only to increase your portfolio or gain more experience, but to get urself out into the game and noticed as well in general. I feel that if you were to have a 2nd shooter...it's just something to think about and have to be willing to sacrifice.
I forgot to add...either way, it has to be a partnership, working together as a team to get the job done. and what is most important is the relationship, and if indirectly booking a job(s) comes from it would ever be considered "back-stabbing"...then...there is no real partnership
This is a very interesting post, Matt. I haven't been fortunate enough to be able to second shoot yet...though I really really hope to do so sometime soon...But I've been wondering about how the specifics such as what you mentioned worked (do second shooters get paid, are they allowed to give their cards out, does the primary shooter get credit for ALL images from the event, including the second shooter's, etc.) You don't see many posts about this on blogs so I'm glad you mentioned it and talked about it honestly. You can tell you are an honest person, and your photos always inspire me
I LOVE that photo... I was there over the summer. Aaaamazing. :)
Sorry I haven't been commenting! I look at all your pictures on Bri's computer and forget to comment when I'm on mine!
As for 2nd shooters...it comes down to ethics and talking to each other before the shoot.
I just wanted too say, that is some hardcore architecture going on in that photograph