20 Hours Of Shooting Becomes The New Minimum For Second Shooter Hires
NEW YORK, NY - Following reports that NASA astronauts receive 20 hours of photography training, lead photographers are raising the bar for their crews. If you want to shoot a wedding, you now need the training of an astronaut.
The 20-Hour Milestone
Reuters recently reported that NASA astronauts undergo a foundational 4–6 hour camera training course upon entering the program. According to NASA photography and video trainers, Paul Reichert and Katrina Willoughby, once an astronaut receives a space assignment, they complete an additional 10 photography classes—totaling approximately 20 hours of specialized training.
The industry has taken notice. Across major markets, professional lead photographers are officially raising the minimum hours of accumulated training or field experience for second shooter hires from zero to a strict 20-hour baseline.
"NASA-Level" Quality Control
“20 hours is just the new standard. My clients deserve NASA-level shooting, you know what I mean?” said a representative from Next Level Photos, NYC.
The move comes as a response to an influx of "portfolio padding" in the industry. “Just last week, I hired a second shooter because they showed me a portfolio that was supposed to be theirs; it looked nice. But the guy took 3,000 photos at the wedding, and I think I’m going to be able to use only 20 of them. Was it really his portfolio? I don’t think so. I don’t need 25 shots of one floral arrangement, and another 20 of the ornate door handle of the bridal suite. I”m still trying to figure out why there’s 100 shots of the bouquet from all weird angles. ”
Beyond the Gear List
Prior to this shift, most lead photographers assessed potential hires based solely on a gear list or a curated digital gallery. However, many leads admit they have no real clue regarding the depth of ability or creativity a would-be second shooter actually possesses. Until the Artemis II training standards went viral, there was no objective way to vet a hire until they were "let loose" in the field.
The new consensus? If you can be trusted to document the dark side of the moon, you can probably be trusted with the cocktail hour.
Our Assessment
“I mean, if they’re available, Commander Reid or Victor Glover or any one of the four can second shoot for me any weekend,” said Peter Ou of Photos By Ou, NYC.
“If they can produce the kinds of shots they produced while on the Orion, I imagine they can handle the groom prep. Although,” Peter questioned, “I have to see if they can actually light—cause, you know, that’s the differentiator.”
Whether the Artemis II crew can use Peter’s Profotos during a high-end Manhattan wedding reception remains to be seen, but for now, the barrier to entry has officially left the atmosphere.
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