I’ve always tried to avoid being the primary shooter at a wedding. It’s not that I don’t feel capable of getting fantastic images, it’s that I don’t desire the added stress and pressure in my life.

There’s a certain skill that goes along with photographing weddings. If you miss that one shot, you’re in trouble. Instantly. Miss the kiss the bride moment? Miss the first dance? Miss the first bite of cake? Miss the ring exchange? There’s no going back…

Of course, there will always be clients that INSIST on a photo that might not exist. I had a photographer contact me about a bride who insisted she turned toward the cameras and smiled right after the first kiss. Neither myself or the primary shooter had the image – because it never happened. The bride and groom kissed, turned and walked down the aisle. She may have planned to smile or thought she smiled but she didn’t. That’s one time I’m glad I didn’t have to argue with the bride.

I attended another wedding, as a guest, where the photographer staged nearly all of the shots. The bride pretended to throw the bouquet and froze before letting go so the photographer could get the shot. I prefer a more journalistic style. I want to get the random images, the sidebar shots, the different angles.

That’s why I prefer being a second shooter. I don’t need to worry about getting that first kiss, first bite of cake or ring exchange. I can get the other angle. I can get a photo of the bride’s mom wiping away a tear or the groom’s parents holding hands and looking on with pride instead.

While the pay isn’t as good as the primary shooter of a wedding, there’s a bit of creative freedom that comes with being the second shooter that I enjoy.