How much to pay 2nd photographer for upcoming wedding

11 years 3 months ago #271340 by MYoung
I have a large wedding coming up where I might need an additional photographer. What is typical rate rate to pay a 2nd shooter? Hourly or flat rate for the 5 hours I'm scheduled to be there?


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11 years 3 months ago - 11 years 3 months ago #271408 by rmeyer7
For me it depends on the qualifications of the second shooter and how much work he/she will be doing. I have two different guys who I use as assistants and one is definitely more skilled than the other. I know if he's available I'm going to have someone very capable, who will do good work and give me some great photos to present to the client, so I'll pay him more.

Basically I think my "formula" goes something like this:
  • What percentage of the overall work will the assistant be doing (including the post work that I'll be doing, the lugging around and helping with equipment, etc.)?
  • How skilled is he/she compared to me?

So, if I estimate my second shooter is going to do 15% of the actual work, and I think he/she's skilled enough to capture photos as good as mine, I'll pay 15% of my fee. If he/she's going to have half the rate of keepers that I will, then maybe 10%.

On the other hand, a friend of mine did a wedding where they had three locations -- wedding at a church, outdoor location portrait session several miles west of the church, and reception several miles east of the church. It was a *LONG* day and a lot of work, and lots of hauling and setting up lighting, plus helping direct the wedding party during the shoot. I don't know what the second shooter got paid, but I would have given him between 20 and 25%.


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11 years 3 months ago #271550 by Kid Prodigy
What's the second shooters skill set? How long have they been shooting weddings?

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11 years 3 months ago #271617 by The Gardener
Totally depends on their experience, you can find plenty of second shooters out there for $150 to $250


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11 years 3 months ago #271627 by Stealthy Ninja

rmeyer7 wrote: For me it depends on the qualifications of the second shooter and how much work he/she will be doing.


Yes. I have a student photographer who's ok as a 2nd photographer who I t very little. She mainly does it for experience, but I still give her more than a fair amount.

If I shoot with my photography partner (I usually don't shoot alone, I have a partner who nearly always works with me) he gets paid the exact same amount I do.

So it depends.
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