second photographer guide
the tori kelner photography
welcome!
oh hey you!
I recommend bookmarking this page so you can reference it Before we work together!
YAY! I’m so excited to have you on my team as my invaluable second photographer! It's so special to have you alongside me and my couple for the biggest day of their life!
It truly comes down to mindset and values when we're taking on such a meaningful day! I'd love to share my heart and process with you, so you can feel like you understand my flow and vision for the experience I offer and gallery I deliver! As I'm sure you can guess, my couples mean the world to me – I adore them all SO freaking much! It's such an honor to be chosen as their photographer and be a part of their big day – it's a role I don't take lightly.
The experience I offer to my couples starts with a genuine friendship! I care deeply for them (and their family and friends) as individuals and a couple, and my goal is to give them an outstanding experience from minute one! As their photo team, I know the true impact we have on their day, and as my second photography, you play such a special role in that experience!
From making both partners feel so taken care of, capturing their details beautifully, photographing their loved ones thoughtfully, and grabbing extra angles to enhance their gallery, it really takes our full dedication and attention to crush the day! It's beyond helpful to have you help me be in multiple places at once and be my eyes when I'm busy shooting something else!
And let's not forget, wedding days are SO MUCH FUN and about celebration! I want my photo team to enjoy the day, feel comfortable, relaxed, and like family to me! Please scroll through each part of this guide to find tips, advice, my approach, and sample images to explain my process. I'm always here if you have any questions ahead of time or on the wedding day – please don't hesitate to ask me anything! Thank you so, so much. I'm so glad you're a part of the Tori Kelner Photography team! :)
You ready?! let's dive in
My style is warm, inspired by nature, a bit moody, vibrant, and joyful. I focus on storytelling and real moments over too many posed or forced moments! The details, candid moments, portraits, and all of the little moments that can easily be seen as ‘unimportant’ or not ‘photo-worthy’ all come together to tell the story of the wedding day! I want my couples to be able to relive every moment of their day – the parts they remember and the ones they may have missed! Here’s some insight into how I typically shoot:
APERTURE: I shoot with a mirrorless Canon R6’s, so I trust that I can shoot super wide open without risking being out of focus! I typically keep my aperture between 1.8 - 2.2 for that creamy shallow depth of field! With bigger groups (formal photos or candid group shots), I’ll stop down to a smaller aperture between f3.0 - f4.0 to ensure I get everyone in focus!
LIGHTING: I prefer natural light when it’s available and abundant! For getting ready, I aim for window light turning off harsh overhead lights or lamps in the room to avoid mixed lighting. Sometimes it’s not possible to turn them off, which is when I’ll pop a flash on to balance out the difference. When shooting outdoors, I look for open shade for even lighting, or black light if no shade is available. Direct sunlight is usually not my style unless I have to use it. As mentioned, if ample natural light is not an option, I’ll use my flash in as natural of a way as possible.
WB & EXPOSURE: White Balance is typically set to Auto unless I really need Kelvin to fix a crazy scenario, and I prefer to under expose just slightly in camera (to preserve highlight detail). I always try to avoid over exposing and losing those highlight details!
IMAGE QUANTITY: I’m an over shooter to my core and I prefer that from under shooting! Like I said, storytelling requires us to always be looking for moments that happen in split seconds. I always take multiple shots to have options to choose from and to ensure that the moment was caught in focus, framed well, and was the best expression! I’d rather have more than not enough. My second phtographers tend to shoot between 2,500-4,000 images on a full wedding day!
LENSES: Prime lenses (35 mm and 50 mm mainly) are my go-to lenses aside from a 70-200mm for ceremony, dances, and toasts!
COMPOSITION: I love to shoot a mix of portrait and landscape images! For portraits, I’m always trying to grab each option for variety. I tend to shoot more vertical portraits, but horizontal comes into play a lot during ceremony and reception!
style notes
all the details
The partner you’ll be photographing, whether that’s the groom, bride, or a partner who identifies differently, has spent time and thought choosing their special details, so it’s really important to show that off in their gallery!
Once you arrive to their getting ready space and meet everyone, you’ll get started with photographing the details! I’ve prepared my couple with what to include in their details, but I have a list here and on the timeline in case they need guidance. Always best to run through the list with them to ensure they don’t forget anything. Totally okay if they don’t have all the details on the list!
Please approach these details like you would as a lead photographer and take the time to get creative and capture variety! To start, find a clean background in good natural lighting. You can use a styling mat (preferred), a nice fabric/carpet, a non-shiny floor, etc. Keep in mind that we want these to be cohesive in the gallery, so the background should fit the vibe and style of the space and wedding.
I deliver a lot of details on my end, so I want to deliver a comparable amount for each partner. I recommend starting with all of the details together as a whole (around 2 - 3 different variations). I like to style one that’s more horizontal/wide and one that’s more vertical/long, and then I get small ‘splices’ of the larger flat lay to get some tighter details of the set up. Then, I’ll shoot sets of smaller combinations in different compositions (ex: shoes and socks together, cologne, tie, and cufflinks together, the boutonnieres arranged together, etc.) I’ll finish up with individual photos of each item (shoes on their own, macro shot of the watch face, just the cufflinks, etc.)
For any super special/sentimental items, having the partner hold that item (ex: pocket watch from grandpa in hands) will highlight it beautifully!
The variety helps showcase all the fun details they prepared and also gives a lot of design choices for their wedding album. The mix of horizontal, vertical, tight, wide, macro, etc. will be super helpful!
- tie
- shoes / socks
- watch
- cufflinks
- cologne
- pocket square
- boutonniere
- belt
- gift / letter from partner
- groomsmen gifts
- special alcohol
- sentimental items
- dress
- shoes
- rings
- jewelry
- veil
- invitation suite
- flowers
- perfume
- gift / letter from partner
- bridesmaids gifts
- special alcohol
- sentimental items
preferred lenses:
50 mm
35 mm
100/105 macro
After photographing the details, you’ll photograph some groom preparation photos! This includes: candids of the guys hanging out, the groom putting on his tie, shoes, watch, etc., and groom portraits! I love approaching this with a storytelling mindset to capture the final touches of the groom getting ready, important people who are around him and helping him, and the fun natural moments in between!
CANDIDS: All those fun natural moments of the guys hanging out, having a drink, playing a video game, playing lawn games, petting the dog, etc. might be happening throughout the morning, during details, etc. Always keep an eye out for any of these golden moments. The wedding day is a blur and I want to help the groom relive the memories that happened that morning! Please feel free to ask the guys to share a toast, or help each other with their jackets, etc. if there isn’t much going on.
GETTING DRESSED: The guys should all have shirt and pants on when you arrive, but you’ll photograph them putting on those final touches! Tie, shoes, cufflinks, boutonniere, etc. If for some reason, when you arrive, the groom has already put on his tie, watch, etc., don’t be afraid to ask him to take those items off so you can capture details of them, and then photograph him putting them back on! I always tell the grooms not to put those items on before you arrive, but sometimes they forget! If you remind him, I’m sure he’ll be happy to oblige.
When possible, try to include important family members or the best man to help the groom with some of the getting dressed tasks like putting on the jacket or pinning the boutonniere!
GIFTS: Once the groom is fully dressed, if he and the bride are exchanging letters or gifts, now is a great time to have him open that! Capture him reading the card & any emotional reactions, from multiple angles when possible for variety! Once he’s opened the gift if you can, capture some extra detail shots of the gift, and additional shots of the card (from over the groom’s shoulder, shot of the card text - readable (in case they lose that card one day), and a shallow depth of field shot of the text, etc.) There may also be gifts for the groomsmen! If possible, please try to capture him giving the gifts, and/or detail shots of the gifts themselves.
PORTRAITS: Lastly, I always like to have my second shooter capture some groom portraits! Try to get a variety of poses (looking at the camera, looking off to the side, adjusting his bowtie, etc.), and different angles. Capturing tighter shots cropped at the wait and full body when possible! Please try to get horizontal/vertical variations.
LIGHTING: I always prefer natural light when available! If there is enough window light to go natural, please try to remember to shut off any other lights that are on in the room. Mixed lighting can be tough to edit! If there is not enough natural light, then go for the flash! :)
preparation
partner putting on tie, shoes, cufflinks, watch, etc.
tight shots adjusting bowtie, watch, jacket buttons
best man/maid of honor helping put on jacket/dress
parent helping partner pin boutonniere
partner reading letter from their partner
partner opening gift from their partner
portraits (variety of tight, wide, sitting, standing, etc.)
partner with parents, best man/maid of honor, etc.
fun group photos hanging out
preferred lenses:
35 mm
50 mm
85 mm
EXAMPLE SHOT LIST
first look
A lot of my couples will do a first look! Here’s how it all works! Either you and I will have the opportunity to scout out a good first look location together earlier in the day OR my assistant and I will do so beforehand. If I scout the location just with my assistant, when it’s time for first look, my assistant will come and show you where we’ve deided on! Then, you’ll get the groom in place, facing away from the direction of where the bride will come from! Make sure that where ever the groom is placed (AND where the bride will be standing) has good, even lighting!
For the first look, we’ll go over a game plan, but typically I will be covering the groom’s reaction, you will be focused on the bride’s reaction, and I’ll have my assistant cover a third wider angle. That way we get lots of variety, and capture the excitement and emotion of BOTH the bride and groom!!
preferred lenses:
85 mm
70 - 200 mm
pro tip:
portraits
Bride & groom portraits are my fave! I shoot and deliver a LOT of portraits and my clients LOVE that! On a wedding day, when our portrait time can sometimes be limited, I’m counting on my second shooter to help me expand the variety of portraits I’m able to deliver, by shooting different angles and using different lenses than I am.
Maximizing our different angles is KEY! Now of course if there is a certain shot you love, and want to capture from the same angle as me, go for it!! I want you to get portfolio images you love! :) After snagging that shot, please try to capture other angles, too, so that I’ll have more portrait options to choose from when selecting images for their gallery! Below is a good example of what I’m talking about! Feel free to get creative & have fun with it! Shoot through leaves, try some fun different angles, etc.! :)
As far as lenses go, I am typically on two out of these three lenses (35mm, 50mm, 85mm) for portraits. So if you could use the focal length that I’m NOT using, (and if you use two cameras, the second camera can be what ever you’d like), that is ideal! If I forget to tell you which lenses I’m on, please feel free to ask me what I’m using so we can make sure to be on different ones!
preferred lenses:
35mm
50mm
85mm
same pose, 2 different angles/distances = 2 portraits from this one shot in their gallery!
For full wedding party photos, I'll have my second photographers grabbing different side angles to create plenty of variety to these moments! Typically, I'm shooting wider (35mm or 50mm), so a tight (85mm or 70-200mm) lens will create a lot more depth and variation! A side angle of the bouquet, 'slices' of the bridal party on both sides of the couple, and close ups of the couple surrounded by everyone. I'd love if you can snap those side angles more so than the same angle I'm shooting! This is a great time to get creative (shooting through trees, prisms, etc.) for those unique, 'less-expected' shots!
wedding party
preferred lenses:
50 mm
85 mm
70-200 MM
groomsmen
partner putting on tie, shoes, cufflinks, watch, etc.
tight shots adjusting bowtie, watch, jacket buttons
best man/maid of honor helping put on jacket/dress
parent helping partner pin boutonniere
partner reading letter from their partner
partner opening gift from their partner
portraits (variety of tight, wide, sitting, standing, etc.)
partner with parents, best man/maid of honor, etc.
fun group photos hanging out
preferred lenses:
35 mm
50 mm
85 mm
EXAMPLE SHOT LIST
Typically, while I shoot the bride with bridesmaids, my second shooter will photograph the groom & groomsmen! The guys (and you) should have a blast taking these! :) For groom and groomsmen photos, I approach it with a mindset of highlighting the fun dynamics of the group as a whole, and the groom’s individual relationships with each groomsman. This can be accomplished by doing a variety of full group poses (the classic, standard photos, and fun poses), photographing the groom with each of his groomsman separately, and capturing each groomsman by himself.
I always appreciate if for as many set ups as possible, if you can shoot a variety of horizontal, vertical, tight, wide, full body, torso, etc. of that shot! Having multiple options is super helpful for designing the album, and just giving each couple lots of variety. Don’t be afraid to shoot several shots of the same thing to help ensure we get a frame where no is blinking or talking. When photographing the groomsmen, please make sure they all empty out their front pockets, no one has sunglasses on, and all their jackets are either buttoned or unbuttoned for consistency.
The shot list below is just an example of some of the shots I like to get, but feel free to get creative, or let the guys get creative too!
pre-ceremony
If the ceremony takes place at a church, you and the groom and groomsmen will arrive at the church first. Please capture details shots as outlined below, and any candid moments with groom and groomsmen hanging out before the ceremony begins! At the church, please try to find the priest and talk with him to confirm any areas that are off-limits, if we are allowed to use flash, etc. The bride and I often arrive only minutes before the ceremony, so having my second shooter confirm these rules upon arrival is ideal!
Whether the ceremony is at a church or outside in a field, I love to capture the details of the ceremony space before guests arrive and sit down. If you arrive at the ceremony before me or I’m photographing something else during this time, please make sure to capture the following:
Exterior of the building, empty interior, architectural details, ceremony flowers, programs (in basket and held by an usher or groomsman), signs, confetti/bubbles/bird seed for exit, etc. or what ever is applicable. Just think about capturing the space & the details! Variety is key here! Keep in mind that the vendors who helped put all of these details together rely on these images for their own portfolio, so please shoot with them in mind!
preferred lenses:
35mm
50mm
ceremony
The ceremony is really what the wedding day is all about! I always want to make sure we fully capture the ceremony events & important people, while remaining discreet and not distracting.
Prior to the start of the ceremony, we will always touch base to go over a game plan of where each of us will stand! Don’t worry about trying to memorize the chart on the opposite page, it’s just to help visualize some of the standard positions that we’ll be in throughout the ceremony. This may vary based on the venue, available space, restrictions/rules, etc. so we’ll chat before the ceremony starts to make sure we’ve got our plan! Below, I’ll run through the typical ceremony flow as an example, but the overall concept is to fill the empty space, where ever I’m not, until the kiss!
At the start of the ceremony, I am always up at the front of the aisle for the processional. My second shooter will be at the back of the aisle capturing everyone as the walk down (PINK dots) and then once the bride and father of the bride are in the aisle, if possible, I love for my 2nd shooter to capture a wide shot of the bride & her dad from behind! During the handoff, you can stay in the center aisle and photograph until I come into the center.
At that point, you can move to one of the two side front positions (GREEN dots). From this front position, if you can capture either the bride or groom’s reaction, parent reactions, other guest reactions, bridesmaids/groomsmen, etc. that would be amazing! For vows, I’ll either be in the center aisle, and have just you move from one front side angle, to the other, OR we’ll each be at either side front position.
Then for the rings & kiss, I’ll be back at the center aisle (YELLOW dots). I like to have my second shooter next to me in the aisle for the kiss, since it happens so fast you can never be too safe! :)
preferred lenses:
50 mm
85 mm
70-200 mm
During family photos, I will either have you OR my assistant helping me gather family and cross shots off the list! It will vary by that day, and I’ll let you know on the spot. If I am having you help me, here’s what I would need:
You won’t need to be shooting at all during family photos! It’ll just be me capturing the images, but I will need help organizing and orchestrating. I’ll have you calling out names/groupings from my list that will be on the wedding day timeline, and crossing them off the list once they’re captured. I try to keep family photos as efficient as possible by starting small and adding people in, or starting big and taking people away. The least amount of times that we’ll need to do a total reset of the group, the better (and quicker)!
Keep in mind we sometimes may need to go out of order if someone is missing, elderly family needs to go rest, or small children are not cooperating, etc. So, the list will serve as a guideline of efficiency, but you may have to think on your feet to re-organize and make sure we’re being efficient and also respecting needs of others that come up on the fly! If there are any sensitive family situations that you’ll need to be aware of, I’ll make sure to let you know ahead of time!
SAMPLE FAMILY FORMALS LIST
BRIDE’S FAMILY
Bride with mom
Bride with dad
Bride with parents
Bride & Groom with bride’s parents
Bride & Groom with bride’s immediate family
GROOM’S FAMILY
Groom with mom
Groom with dad
Groom with parents
Bride & Groom with groom’s parents
Bride & Groom with groom’s immediate family
BOTH FAMILIES
Bride & Groom with both sets of parents
Bride & Groom with both full families
family
reception details
If the timeline calls for it (no first look, all photos during cocktail hour), I may need to rely on my second shooter to capture the reception details on their own. If so, the way I like to capture reception details is with a mindset of capturing anything that has value (sentimental, monetary, or time) to my couples. Also, I always try to capture great images of every vendor’s work!
I shoot most details on a 50mm lens and a wider lens like a 35mm for a full room shot! Most of the time these need to be shot with flash! (See the “Shooting with Flash” page for more details on that!) Below is a sample shot list of what I like to capture in terms of reception details! As always, variety is super helpful here, especially if I’m not able to shoot this myself. I want to know that every little detail is covered in multiple ways to enhace the gallery and help with album design!
Shot of a full table
Cake, cake table, cake details (floral pieces, forks/serving knife, topper)
Menu & place setting (overhead shot, and shot from lower angle)
Flower details, centerpieces
Place cards/seating chart
Welcome signs
Sweetheart table (Full table, and table details like champagne flutes, etc.)
Reception room architectural details
Guestbook & card box
Family Photos/Memory Table
preferred lenses:
50 mm
35 mm
EXAMPLE SHOT LIST:
cocktail hour
During cocktail hour, towards the second half (after people have had a chance to eat), I’ll have my second shooter make a couple rounds in cocktail hour! I typically don’t do table shots during the reception, so this is a great opportunity to capture a lot of my couples’ guests! It’s really important to me to try and capture at least one nice photo of all the guests at the wedding, so maximizing this time is super important. During cocktail hour, capturing a mix of some candid moments of people interacting with the bride and groom or other guests, along with some posed group or couples photos is awesome!
Just go up to some smaller groups of people and ask if you can take a photo of them! People are usually happy to oblige. :) I also try to make sure we get photos of bridal party members with significant others when applicable! Don’t be shy here! :)
For these shots I like to use my 35mm (since the cocktail hour space may be tight/crowded) for group shots, and my 85mm for some of the candid shots!
preferred lenses:
35mm
50mm
85mm
intros, first dances, toasts
preferred lenses:
50 mm
85 mm
For the introductions, I like to have my second shooter at a different position closer to the door, while I’m on the dance floor. During intros you never know where the bridal party is going to bust a move, so having shooters stationed in two positions is helpful to make sure we capture all those fun, and well-rehearsed intro dance moves! :) We’ll make sure to discuss the game plan before intros start, to choose our positions based on the layout of the reception room!
For first dance, parent dances & toasts, I love to have my second shooter on a tight lens like the 70-200mm to be able to capture some super close up details, emotional reactions, and guest reactions, as well! All of these tend to have a fair amount of emotion, so in addition to the bride & groom, focusing on the emotions and moments happening on the peripherals would be awesome! Always think about capturing the moments that the bride and groom may miss while they are busy being the center of attention!
reception
preferred lenses:
24 mm
35 mm
50 mm
During the dancing portion of the reception I like to make sure we capture a good mix of fun dancing shots, group photos, and reception events (cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc.). Receptions are SO MUCH FUN and I want the images I deliver to my clients to reflect the excitement and memories of that night! I like to use a combination of some really wide shots capturing a lot of movement on the dance floor, and some tight shots capturing individuals or couples!
At some point during the dancing, I like to have my second shooter make a round throughout the room taking photos of groups or couples who are sitting at their tables or not on the dance floor! This goes back to my cocktail hour mindset of trying to get some great photos of all the guests at the wedding!
When & how will I get paid?
I can pay you via check, PayPal, or Venmo (let me know what you prefer!) If I’m paying by check, I’ll pay you at the end of the night before we leave. If paying via PayPal or Venmo I will pay you the following day!
How & when can I use my images after the wedding?
I always want my second shooters to use their images!!! :) You are free to use them in your portfolio, blog, and social media, I just ask that you don’t submit the images to blogs or publications or send them directly to my couple. You are free to share images anytime AFTER I share the wedding on my own blog! When you do share, please just include a line of credit in your posts, “Second shooting for @ToriKelner”
Will you credit me when you blog about the wedding?
Absolutely!!! I always credit the entire vendor team and that includes YOU! :) At the end of my blog post I’ll list you as the second shooter and link to your website!
How do I deliver the images to you?
I always bring my laptop and harddrive with me to a wedding! Before we leave at the end of the night, I’ll load your images onto my computer so that you can take your cards home with you that night! If for any reason, we don’t have an opportunity to load all the cards that night, we’ll make another arrangement where I’ll take your cards home with me and mail them back to you! If you don’t want or need your images and we are meeting before the day begins, you are free to borrow and shoot directly onto my cards.
What should I wear?
On a wedding day, I usually wear a dress (with pockets :)), a romper, or dress pants and a nice shirt if it’s cold out! The colors of my outfits are typically, black, navy, dark green, maroon, etc.). You don’t have to wear a specific color, but I do try to avoid any super bright or distracting colors and patterns! The goal is to blend in! Just look nice, but make sure it is functional! Also, comfy shoes always and feel free to bring a second pair to change into!!
How many images should I take?
There’s no specific number of images you should take! (I’m always in the camp of erring on the side of over-shooting rather than under-shooting.) It depends a lot on the day, like how many details there are, how many hours we’re there, etc., but generally speaking, my second shooters take about 1600-2000 images on average. No need to hit a certain number or stay under a certain number, as long as you feel that you’ve covered every part of the day sufficiently, I know it’ll be perfect!!
faqs
shooting flash
While natural light is always my preferred light source, sometimes it just doesn’t cut it to get the look of the images that I want! Whether it’s a getting ready room with no windows, dark church ceremony, or dance floor situation, having flashes on hand for wedding day lighting is a must! I like to have my second shooters shoot flash in a similar style to me when possible, because it helps create an overall consistent look to the final gallery! When I need to use flash, here is how I approach it:
CAMERA SETTINGS: In most situations I tend to use a higher ISO when shooting flash (1600 - 2500 ISO or higher if needed). This allows for there to be more ambient light in the images, so that it’s not all flash. You’ll still capture the uplighting in the reception room, or warmth of the church, all while supplementing the light. As an added bonus, the flash doesn’t have to work as hard, so it recycles much faster!
FLASH SETTINGS: I usually keep my flash on TTL, and let it do the hard work for me! But feel free to use what you’re comfortable with to get the best outcome! Please feel free to take a look at the back of my camera to compare what you’re getting!
FLASH DIRECTION: 99.9% of the time when I’m using a flash on camera I am bouncing it over my shoulder (See photos). I prefer this method because it keeps the lighting softer and more flattering! I don’t typically use a bounce card or mag mod in most lighting conditions (though there are occassional exceptions!)
OFF-CAMERA FLASH: I do always bring a lightstand for off-camera flash when needed, which is typically only during the reception. We can set it up together if we feel it’s necessary depending on the reception space!! :)
view the gallery
emily & david
normandy farm
pennsylvania
view the gallery
hannah & andrew
wave resort
new jersey
view the gallery
avery & alec
winterthur museum
delaware
galleries
sample
thank you
Thank you for being here to photograph my couples' big day with me! I don't take it lightly and am SO excited to have you alongside me. I'm here for you if you have any questions at all along the way, feel free to reach out to me via email or text at any point. I hope this guide serves as an amazing resource for you as you photograph the day! Try to focusing on the moments and details – big and small – that will tell the full story of their day! Thank you again! xo
With love,
Tori
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