It’s been a long while since I’ve posted, so my blog is in desperate need of some love. This past month has been full of traveling to spend time with my family to celebrate the birth of my sister’s precious daughter and the life of my sweet grandmother who has gone on to be with Jesus, and in the middle of those highs and lows, struggling through the symptoms of the first trimester in my pregnancy. Yep! That’s right, we’re expecting and we recently shared the news with our family, friends and clients. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support over these last few weeks. It means the world to me and I’m glad to say that I’m back in the saddle again and gearing up for the 2012 Pittsburgh wedding season.

I left off blogging about the importance of wedding photographers having a good second shooter and shared some of my favorite photos by Alex Jones, my primary second shooter. This time, I’ll share some of my own favorites as a second shooter. Being a second shooter can be fun. There is more freedom to explore different angles, to notice interesting things happening on the periphery, and to catch wonderful candid moments with the bride and groom while the main photographer is focused on the many responsibilities that come with that job. Here are some favorites from weddings I’ve shot with Alex, Photorise Photography and Scheller & Co. during the past season.

Up next, I’ll share some photos from an on-location newborn session with my sister’s darling baby, Kynleigh.

I’m dedicating this blog post to all of the hard-working second shooters out there. And as I’m getting ready to expand my team of second shooters for the 2012 season, I have to say that I’ve been blessed with a solid second shooter who has helped me in so many ways. And I’m excited about the new shooters that will be joining us!

A good second shooter is invaluable. I’m not talking about someone who recently picked up a DSLR camera and is experimenting on the job—that’s not a good approach to providing coverage on a client’s wedding day. I’m talking about professional photographers who know their camera bodies, lenses, and speedlights like the back of their hand. A good second shooter is attentive and organized, and can respond quickly to the rapidly changing needs on a wedding day. Honestly, I think a photographer’s second shooter is a good measure of their overall commitment to providing clients with the best photography possible.

There is a lot of competition in Pittsburgh wedding photography and this is one of the issues that I think distinguishes professional photographers. So if you’re in the market to hire a wedding photographer, this is something you’ll want to consider. Because wedding photography is a two-person job (at least) and it’s important to know who you are entrusting to capture your memories.

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ve surely seen work by Alex Jones, my first choice in second shooters. This post includes some great shots that Alex has captured over the last season or two. Next post, I’ll share some of my own favorite shots as a second shooter working for Alex, Photorise Photography and Scheller Image and Design from this past season.