AUSTIN COWBOY WEDDING: 6 LESSONS I LEARNED AS A SECOND SHOOTER
This wedding was one of the wildest, most fun, and most eye-opening experiences of my photography career. Abby (WildAbbyPhotos) brought me on again as her second shooter, and we flew into Austin before driving about 40 minutes out of the city into the desert.
The venue was a massive ranch with 29 yurts, where guests stayed for a full week. Think cowboy boots, sunburned shoulders, big Texas skies, and a community of people who loved to dance, drink, and celebrate hard.
We were hired for three days of coverage — and here’s what I learned:
1. Cowboy Weddings Are a Whole Different Vibe
Line dancing, a party bus into town, bar photos, denim everything, and a pool that absolutely got jumped into fully clothed by all the guests after the reception.
The whole weekend felt like a movie — big personalities, big outfits, big fun.
Items for a Flat Lay given to us by the bride - boots, bolos, and everything texas.
2. Handmade Details Make the Day Even More Meaningful
The bride was insanely crafty — she hand-knit the napkins for the table settings and embroidered custom gifts for each bridesmaid.
Little touches like that add heart to the images and make storytelling effortless.
3. As a Second Shooter, Your Job Is to Support the Lead — Fully
I was hired to shoot digital and film, while another third shooter covered additional angles.
Your role as a second shooter is simple:
follow directions
show initiative
stay professional
and always make the lead look good
It’s a partnership — and a privilege — to be asked.
Abby, Alyx and I as we arrived in our yurt at the Texas ranch - ready to cover the wedding for three days and live it up.
4. A Wedding Is Not a Party for You
This was the hard lesson of the weekend.
Our third shooter, Alex, came in excited — which was great — but she drank too much at the open bar, flirted with guests (including someone who had a girlfriend), got overly caught up in the party, and misplaced her camera three different times.
The venue manager noticed and ended up giving us a negative note about professionalism, even though Abby and I did our jobs well.
One person’s choices impact everyone.
5. Gratitude and Humility Go Further Than Talent Alone
Being hired as a second shooter is an opportunity — someone trusted you enough to bring you into their client experience.
Showing up with:
gratitude
professionalism
willingness to learn
and respect for the team
…is everything.
This experience reminded me not to take any role for granted.
6. Traveling for Work Teaches You How to Adapt
Between flying in, driving out to the ranch, shooting long days, and then heading straight from Texas to Glacier National Park for another shoot, I learned how to flow between environments quickly.
I also learned new skills during downtime — editing approaches, carousel design, improving my Lightroom workflow while sitting in cute Austin coffee shops.
Being a traveling photographer means being a lifelong learner.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Cowboy weddings might be wild — but they’re full of heart.
This trip taught me to show up professionally, appreciate the chance to work with talented photographers like Abby, and remember that every wedding is an ecosystem. Your energy becomes part of the story.
And honestly? I’d shoot another Texas cowboy wedding in a heartbeat.
