Second Shooter, Photography Jobs in Washington, DC

About the role

We are accepting applications from photo second shooters in greater Washington. 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 Washington area run year-round, with the busiest calendar in April–June and September–November. Spring and fall carry the calendar, with summer weekends close behind. Our venue data covers 59 wedding venues across 6 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

Washington venues you could shoot

Weddings in this market take place at venues like these, drawn from our directory of 59 local venues:

• International Spy MuseumWashington
• The Wharf DCWashington
• Washington National CathedralWashington
• Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade CenterWashington
• InterContinental the Willard Washington D.C. by IHGWashington
• The Watergate HotelWashington
• City CruisesWashington
• The LINE DCWashington
• Stone Tower WineryLeesburg
• Top of the TownArlington
• 48 Fields FarmLeesburg
• Glenview MansionRockville

Areas covered

Washington (47), Arlington (2), Rockville (1), Leesburg (7), Middleburg (1), Reston (1). Numbers show venues per city in our data.

Pay in District of Columbia

For context, photographers in District of Columbia earn a median of $110,970 a year, with most earning between $46,080 and $148,360 (BLS, May 2025). Most wedding work is paid per event rather than salaried. See the full District of Columbia pay guide.