Second Shooter, Photography Jobs in San Diego, CA

About the role

We are accepting applications from photo second shooters in greater San Diego. Applicants here are contacted first when our companies begin booking weddings in this market. Cover preparation, guests, candids and alternate angles while the lead photographer directs.

Weddings in the San Diego area run year-round, with the busiest calendar in April–October. Mild weather means weddings run year-round, with the heaviest calendar from spring into fall. Our venue data covers 86 wedding venues across 7 cities in this market.

What you'll do

• Photograph the getting-ready rooms the lead is not in
• Shoot alternate ceremony angles and guest reactions
• Capture candids, details and cocktail hour
• Help with lighting setups and family formals

What you bring

• Some wedding or event experience, or a strong portrait portfolio
• One professional body, a fast lens and a flash
• Willingness to learn our house style and follow a lead

San Diego venues you could shoot

Weddings in this market take place at venues like these, drawn from our directory of 86 local venues:

• Spreckels Organ PavilionSan Diego
• Marina Village Conference CenterSan Diego
• University Club San DiegoSan Diego
• Encore Event CenterSan Diego
• BRICKSan Diego
• The Thursday ClubSan Diego
• Mission Hills VenueSan Diego
• JULEP VenueSan Diego
• Wilson Creek WineryTemecula
• Temecula Creek InnTemecula
• Europa Village Wineries & ResortTemecula
• Leoness CellarsTemecula

Areas covered

San Diego (41), Carlsbad (2), Escondido (5), Oceanside (1), Temecula (35), Chula Vista (1), Rancho Santa Fe (1). Numbers show venues per city in our data.

Pay in California

For context, photographers in California earn a median of $47,840 a year, with most earning between $36,470 and $125,490 (BLS, May 2025). Most wedding work is paid per event rather than salaried. See the full California pay guide.