Second Shooter Briefing Sheet

Turns the lead photographer's scattered notes about an event into a clear one-page-style briefing for the second shooter.

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Before and after

BEFORE · what the owner typed

need a brief for my second shooter adrian watts for sat oct 11. I'm adaeze valdez, lead photographer. couple is agnes yilmaz and aiden anand. aiden gets ready at his parents, 6534 Mapleton St, brookhill. agnes is at the venue, pebbleton event barn, 6913 Millton Ave brookhill. adrian shows up 1:00 at aidens, shoots details (cufflinks, watch, the letter from his dad) and the guys getting dressed till about 2:15 then drives to the barn. first look is 3:00, I shoot it, adrian stay back by the hay bales on the left and get the reaction from the side. family formals 3:30 to 3:50 me only, adrian grab candids of guests arriving. ceremony 4:00, I'm up front, adrian back left aisle wide shot, then moves to the right side for the kiss and exit. NO flash in the ceremony, officiant asked. cocktail hour 4:30 to 5:30 adrian does guest candids and the cocktail details, I do couple portraits. reception intro 5:30. toasts, adrian gets the faces of the crowd not the speaker, I get the speaker. cake cut 7:15 we both shoot, adrian from the left. adrian done at 8:00. bring 2 bodies, 35 and 85, extra cards. I park the tan 2015 GMC Acadia by the side door of the barn, meet me there. pay is $300 flat, paid within 7 days. cards to me by Monday. my number 330-555-0189. don't post anything and don't talk pricing with guests.

AFTER · what the skill produced

Job at a glance

Event: Wedding of Agnes Yilmaz and Aiden Anand
Date: Saturday, October 11
Second shooter: Adrian Watts
Your start: 1:00 pm. Your finish: 8:00 pm
Lead photographer: Adaeze Valdez, 330-555-0189

Timeline

1:00 pm, Aiden's parents' house, 6534 Mapleton St, Brookhill: Arrive and shoot details and the guys getting dressed.
2:15 pm: Wrap up and drive to the venue.
3:00 pm, Pebbleton Event Barn, 6913 Millton Ave, Brookhill: First look. I shoot it. You stay back by the hay bales on the left and get the reaction from the side.
3:30 to 3:50 pm: Family formals. I shoot these myself. You grab candids of guests arriving.
4:00 pm: Ceremony. I am up front. You are at the back left of the aisle for the wide shot, then move to the right side for the kiss and the exit.
4:30 to 5:30 pm: Cocktail hour. You shoot guest candids and the cocktail details. I do couple portraits.
5:30 pm: Reception introductions.
Toasts: You get the faces of the crowd. I get the speaker.
7:15 pm: Cake cutting. We both shoot, and you shoot from the left.
8:00 pm: You are done.

Your jobs

You own: the groom's side getting ready, the wide ceremony angle, guest candids, cocktail hour details, and crowd reactions during toasts.
I keep: the first look, family formals, couple portraits, the front of the ceremony, and the speakers during toasts.

Shot list

Getting ready: cufflinks, watch, the letter from Aiden's dad, the guys getting dressed
First look: Agnes and Aiden's reaction from the side
Arrivals: guests arriving, candid
Ceremony: wide shot from the back left, then the kiss and exit from the right side
Cocktail hour: guest candids and the cocktail details
Toasts: crowd faces, not the speaker
Cake cut: from the left

Rules for the day

No flash during the ceremony. The officiant asked for this.
Please do not post anything online.
Please do not talk pricing with guests.

Logistics

Gear: please bring 2 camera bodies, a 35mm lens, an 85mm lens, and extra cards.
Meeting point and parking: I park the tan 2015 GMC Acadia by the side door of the barn. Meet me there.
Pay: $300 flat, paid within 7 days.
Files: please get your cards to me by Monday.

Questions for the owner

Is a meal provided for the second shooter, and when should Adrian take a break?
Do you want to list any family members or VIPs by name for Adrian to watch for?
What is Adrian's phone number, in case you need to reach him on the day?
Where should Adrian park at Aiden's parents' house?
Do you have a backup plan for the first look and ceremony if it rains?

What it does

Turns the lead photographer's scattered notes about an event into a clear one-page-style briefing for the second shooter. It covers where to be, when, what to shoot, what to avoid, and who to call.

Use it when: Use when a wedding or event photographer needs to turn their notes into a briefing sheet for a second shooter, such as: write a brief for my second shooter, make a day-of sheet for my assistant, or what does my second photographer need to know.