Second Shooter Brief: What to Send Before the Event

A second shooter brief is a one page document sent before the event that tells your team where to be, what to shoot, how to dress and how to hand over files. Send it a week ahead, and send a short reminder the day before. A good brief prevents most of the mistakes that happen on the day.

Below is what to include and a template you can copy.

What to include

Keep it to one page if you can. Cover:

• Basics: date, client names, event type and who is leading.
• Times and places: call time, venues, addresses and travel notes.
• Contacts: you, the planner and the venue contact.
• Timeline for the day.
• Positions and priorities for each key moment.
• Dress and conduct.
• Gear and files: what to bring, how to name and deliver.
• Special notes: family sensitivities, access limits, religious or cultural points.

Leave out prices, payment details and anything the client has asked to keep private. Our second shooter guide explains the role from the shooter's side.

Timeline

Give the schedule in clear blocks with times.

This is an example. Adjust for your event. Add buffer notes such as "the ceremony may start late" so your team knows how to adapt.

Positions and priorities

Say where your second shooter should stand and what matters most.

• Ceremony: one position for wide shots, one for reactions, and rules on moving during vows.
• Formals: their job is usually to help organise, then capture behind-the-scenes frames.
• Candids: which family members or friends to look for.
• Details: rings, flowers, decor and signs.
• Reception: speeches, first dance and guests, from an angle that differs from yours.

Add a shot priority list: must have, nice to have, avoid. For example, "Must have: the parents' reactions during the vows. Avoid: flash during the ceremony." The aim is images that complement yours, not copy them.

Dress and conduct

State the dress code clearly: colours, closed shoes and nothing that draws attention. Venue and cultural rules matter, so mention them.

Conduct points to include:

• Arrive early and stay close to the plan.
• Be polite to guests and vendors.
• Do not post or share anything without permission.
• Do not give clients quotes or pricing.
• Let the lead handle direction and problems.
• Keep phones away except for work.
• Eat and drink away from the guests.

Our onboarding checklist lists items to cover when you first work with someone.

Template

Copy and adapt:

Brief for [date] – [client names] Lead: [name, phone]. Call time: [time]. Venue: [address]. Timeline: [list with times]. Your role: Second shooter. Wide and reaction angles at the ceremony; candids of guests at the reception. Positions: [short notes per moment]. Priorities: Must have: [list]. Nice to have: [list]. Avoid: [list]. Dress: [description]. Gear: two bodies, fast lens, flash, spare batteries and cards. Files: name as [format], back up on the day, deliver to [location] by [date]. Questions: reply by [date].

Keep money out of the brief. Pay terms belong in the agreement, and tax questions such as UK VAT belong with your accountant.

If you use ClickBook, crew and call sheets can be attached to each job, so the brief sits with the booking and the team sees only what you share. Look at a demo to compare it with how you send briefs now.

After the event, ask your second shooter what they would change in the brief. The next one gets better each time.

Mistakes to avoid in a brief

• Sending it the night before, so there is no time for questions.
• Writing three pages when one will be read.
• Leaving out the address or parking details.
• Forgetting the cultural or religious points that affect what can be photographed.
• Using shorthand only you understand, such as nicknames for family members.
• Not asking for a reply to confirm they have read it.

Ask your second shooter to reply with one line confirming the call time and venue. If they do not reply, call them before the day, not on it.

After the event

Send a quick thank-you the next day and ask for the files by the agreed date. Ask two questions: what in the brief helped, and what was missing. Keep the answers with your template and edit it after each job. Over a season, the brief becomes sharper, and new team members get up to speed faster. If the venue or planner shared useful notes, such as loading doors or quiet rooms, add them to the template so the next team starts with the same advantage.

Frequently asked questions

What should a second shooter brief include?

The timeline, venue details, contacts, your priorities for each part of the day, where to stand, what to wear and bring, and how you want files delivered. One page is enough.

When should I send the brief?

A week before the event, with a short reminder the day before. This leaves time for questions without cluttering the day.

Should the brief include client personal details?

Share only what the second shooter needs, such as names and key family members. Keep phone numbers and private details to the minimum.

Should the second shooter see the pricing?

No. They need the job details, not what the client is paying.