Second shooter "Cold Calling"

[angeladuncanphoto]

Hey all!

I was wondering how all of you felt about receiving a potential second shooters resume and references in the mail or email? You guys have seen me on the forum off an on the past 4-5 years and I shot weddings for 4 years and ran a photo business. I got sick of the drama, the not being able to make people happy. I ended up making mistakes in my booking a booked a really terrible bride and from then on, just didn't enjoy running my business anymore.

I've since "discontinued" my business, not sure permanently, and got my certification to teach this summer. (Bad idea, I know.)

Long story short, I still want to shoot, I just don't want to do the business part of it. I LOVE weddings, I LOVE shooting, I LOVE hanging out with super cool people (like other photographers!) and don't want my gear to sit and collect dust.

I am wanting to put together a photo-resume to send to studios in my area so that they have a contact in the event that they need a second shooter. I know there is the forum here, but I feel like there are always sooooo many 2nds on there it can sometimes be too daunting to go through all of them. I always ended up making a new thread to look for mine when I needed them.

What do you guys think about this? I'm not sure how I would have felt if someone had done that when I was still in business. I guess it might have depended on their quality? What I had going on at the moment?

I don't want to make anyone mad at me, so that's why I'm asking here first!

[dracula02]

I get a lot of e-mails (cold calls, i guess), and people that I've met that ask me if they can tag along or second shoot for me. I'm not annoyed with the people that I know asking me, but if someone I didn't know called and talked to me, then asked, I probably wouldn't be offended. I find that most business owners don't want to waste their time with non-essential conversations, but on the flip side, you have to get yourself known out there. Best thing to do, may be to join a guild, or local club, and network there. I've posted here a few times looking for second's, but I have a handful of go to's I use, so a new person trying to get in on that list is difficult. The one tag along that I've appreciated the most, is someone who I met at a commercial shoot and chatted me up in between models. They stayed out of my way and then asked me at the end of the shoot if they could tag along. I gave them a few dates that didn't work out, but a few weeks later, they called me to ask again, and it just so happened that our schedules lined up. All that I expected was for them to watch and observe, but they went the extra mile, by getting myself, my second, my clients, and their guests water (paid out of their own pocket without me asking). That has always stuck out in my mind and I've since, taken them under my wing (I feel), because I see a lot of potential in them, and the fact that they've been persistent, observant, and helpful.

Just remember, that most people who have a business (successful), are probably inundated with phone calls morning through night, and then e-mails 24-7. If you're looking to get into someone's lineup, I think that a personal (face to face) approach would be best. Keep their limited time in mind, be memorable, humble, helpful, and persistent. Just think of it as starting a business as a second shooter. You are your brand.

[Tom]

I'd probably give you a "Thanks, but I don't have anything available."

Spend some time and follow the photographers you would like to shoot with on twitter and facebook (I guess google+ and 500px, too!) Eventually someone will need a second shooter and tweet it or something like that and you will get a gig. Then keep track of people on here. Get your port together and have a gear list and let er rip when you see someone needs some help.

[LauraM]

I would straight up ignore it! (Just being honest!) There are lots of second shooters with great photos, I hire people who I've networked with online and usually have met in person at events as well. Weddings are about customer service. Brides don't know anything about photography but love a great customer service experience, so I hire people that I trust to not act like a wacko in front of my clients! Not that you're a wacko, you just have an image to protect! You have to be super careful.

[kayumangi]

Well, slight OT but this may help you somewhat.

The Pros is hiring togs for their Houston Branch. Pay is round $300-$500 per wedding. Not much but at least you get to shoot lots of weddings and not worry about the business side of things. I know some folks think it's offensive but it might work for you.

[suerenee]

Hey Angela!!! You can always shoot with me!

I shot with Angela at 4 weddings last year (including the aforementioned terrible bride). She's got chops!

I know you hate FB but I'd find a networking group through FB for Houston Photogs. I know I get all of my 2nd gigs from photogs posting to the group that they need a 2nd. The biggest thing I've learned this past year is that networking is the key to getting in with other photogs.

Move to Austin and then you can be my permanent 2nd :)

[grinner]

I like adding to my freelance pool and I reward initiative. Plus, I don't always have the budget to pay scale so if an up and comer is down with makinga couple hundred bucks in an afternoon, I like to help them while they help me.

[janetg]

there's a houston photog facebook group?

[MarkM]

About 3/4ths the assistants I've had the past 15 years were hired as a result of cold emails.
You can tell pretty quickly if they have a grasp of the medium.

The other 1/4th came from Tech, in the Mass Comm. dept.
Grads have to have 140 hours of studio (photographic or video production) to get their degree. Awesome for us. Free labor, and the kids come fairly educated.