When we originally came up with the idea of a second shooter directory (take a full tour here), we thought it would be just for finding second shooters. Since we created it though we realised it has additional benefits! So we thought we’d list all the possible uses of our second shooter directory here, let us know if there’s anything we haven’t thought of!

Find Second Shooters for weddings

Ok this one is obvious, but would be silly not to mention it! As the saying goes, our second shooter directory does what it says on the tin – and it’s designed to help you find second shooters, or be found as a second shooter for either photo or video. The great thing about using our directory versus using Facebook for finding second shooters is that with our directory you can see most things you need to see at a glance, including rates, equipment, location, and a portfolio. So instead of clicking around people’s websites, trying to find their portfolio page or browsing social profiles it’s all in one place for you.

Find Assistants for weddings

Sometimes you might not need a second shooter but you might want or need an assistant on the day. Someone to help you with lighting setups or a runner to help you with on-the-ground logistics on the day. We’ve set up our second shooter directory so someone can say they’re available to assist in this way – and this can be a great way to give aspiring wedding photographers and filmmakers experience at weddings too, to pay it forward especially if you were helped in this way early in your own career.

Find Associate Shooters for weddings

Especially since 2020 we’ve seen a rise in the use of associate shooters. This can be for a variety of reasons but is usually one of two reasons – emergencies and business strategy. For emergencies our second shooter directory is great because you can use the map to find associates based nearest to the venue, and also being able to quickly browse portfolios means you can make a call if that person will also be a good fit stylistically for your couple. If it’s a business strategy where you’ve expanded to become an associate studio our directory could also be invaluable because you can see people who are explicitly available for associate shooting and also what they charge for associate shooting weddings.

Getting location based advice

Maybe you’re based in London but you’ve got a couple asking for a pre-shoot in Northern Ireland because they love Game of Thrones… using the second shooter directory you’ll be able to find a bunch of photographers based in Northern Ireland and ask them for location tips for your couple’s pre-shoot. Community over competition!

Referring location specific jobs along to someone more local

Using the same example above, maybe your couple has suggested they’d like a pre-shoot in Northern Ireland but you don’t offer pre-shoots or maybe that’s too far for you to go for a pre-shoot. You could use the second shooter directory to find someone in that location to refer the job along to. Another great example of community over competition!

Emergency referrals

When a client invariably asks you ‘what happens if you’re sick or injured on our wedding day’ you can tell them confidently that you use an industry leading second shooter directory and will have no trouble finding someone local to take over at the last minute. Obviously we hope this never happens but it’s a layer of peace of mind for you and your clients that you have access to a map-based second shooter directory should the worst happen and you can’t make it to a wedding.

A member of our panel last year fell and cracked his ribs at a wedding and was unable to carry on, he’d have loved to have access to the second shooter directory at that time to help him quickly find a local replacement to take over so he could take himself off to A&E!

Emergency equipment loans

Have you ever turned up to a wedding and realised you’ve forgotten your spare batteries? Yeah, us too… Or maybe a lens breaks mid wedding, or a camera body, or… well… any element of your kit. Using our second shooter directory you could zoom in on your location, filter the results by your camera brand and see everyone around you that could potentially help you with an emergency equipment loan… and using the profile link to their social media you can quickly message them too.