How to Be the Second Shooter Everyone Wants to Hire with Jasmine Ortiz
Release Date: 06/12/2025
Is AI Destroying Art or Saving It? with Noella Andres of Imagen
Play It Brave Podcast
On this episode of Play It Brave, we’re diving into one of the biggest conversations happening in photography right now: AI. The excitement. The skepticism. The “Is this going to replace us?” energy. All of it. I brought on Noella Andres from Imagen AI to talk about what AI in editing actually is (and what it isn’t). Noella has spent over 20 years supporting photographers in finding more freedom in their workflows, and her move into Imagen fits perfectly with that mission. Together, we unpack how AI can support your artistry instead of threaten it, how it integrates into Lightroom, how...
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The Infinite Ways to Photograph a Woman with Elizabeth Messina
Play It Brave Podcast
There are episodes that feel like a permission slip… and this one is exactly that. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m a wedding photographer,” or “I’m a family photographer,” or you’ve let a label quietly box you in—this conversation is for you. I’m bringing back my dear friend Elizabeth Messina to the podcast, and every time she’s here, I’m reminded why her work has moved people for decades: she doesn’t just take photos—she sees women. We talk about what it actually looks like to evolve across genres without losing your signature. How to stay curious even after years...
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Building a Brand That Attracts the Right Opportunities with Gary & Kim Evans
Play It Brave Podcast
On today’s episode of the Play It Brave podcast, I’m sitting down with one of my favorite creative power couples in the photography industry, Gary Evans and Kim Evans. We talk about what it really looks like to rebrand with intention, build a cohesive identity, and grow multiple businesses together without losing alignment—or your relationship—in the process. This conversation weaves together the emotional and practical sides of entrepreneurship: branding beyond logos, finding your voice in the education space, building an email list that actually converts, and creating offers like...
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The Sales Call Mistakes Costing You Luxury Clients: Live Coaching with Jasmine Ortiz
Play It Brave Podcast
This week on the Play It Brave podcast, I’m doing something a little different — I’m bringing you behind the scenes for a real coaching session with one of my favorite photographers (and one of my trusted second shooters), Jasmine Ortiz. This episode is for every photographer who has ever thought: “I know my work is good… so why do I get weird and wobbly the second it’s time to talk about pricing?” Because that moment — where you’re ready to raise your rates, step into a higher tier of client, and be paid like the artist you actually are — requires more than updating a...
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Talking to Trees and Dealing with Depression: D’Arcy’s 2025 Reflection
Play It Brave Podcast
Welcome to the final episode of 2025 — the year of the snake, the year of shedding skins that no longer fit. If this year felt like a raw unraveling, a call to deeper truth, a refusal from the Universe to let you live inside half-truths or “good enough,” this episode is for you. As has become tradition, I invited one of my wisest, most grounded friends — Casey — to interview me about my year. She’s someone who’s seen my behind-the-scenes, the unglamorous parts, the sacred parts, the parts that never make it to Instagram. And because this was a year of immense change, grief,...
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The Art of High-End Weddings with Dawn Weisberg of Tularosa Flowers
Play It Brave Podcast
In today’s episode, I’m talking with my friend Dawn Weisberg of Tularosa Flowers about what it actually takes to create and book large-scale luxury weddings — not just from a “pretty” standpoint, but from a strategic, energetic, and logistical one. Dawn and I both came to the wedding industry later in life with long creative careers behind us — mine in directing and acting, hers in costume design for film and television. We get into how those backgrounds shaped the way we approach weddings as world-building: cinematic, intentional, immersive, and deeply rooted in storytelling. We...
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Live Coaching: When Marketing Feels Like Too Much (And What to Do Instead)
Play It Brave Podcast
On today’s episode of Play It Brave, I’m bringing you behind the scenes for Part Two of my coaching call with photographer Staci Addison. In Part One, we focused on nervous system safety, trauma, and getting her out of chronic fight-or-flight so she could actually show up for her business. In this Part Two, we shift into strategy – creating a marketing plan that feels simple, sustainable, and true to who she is, instead of a giant pile of “shoulds” that leave her frozen and overwhelmed. I walk Staci through how to narrow her focus to just a few key marketing channels, how to build...
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Live Coaching: When You Want to Grow, But Your Body Says No
Play It Brave Podcast
Today I’m sharing something different: a real coaching call with my client, Staci Addison. Instead of jumping straight into marketing, we start where sustainable growth actually begins—helping your nervous system feel safe after grief, burnout, and a long, hard season. Most creatives don’t get stuck because they lack strategy; they get stuck because fear, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and old money stories keep their bodies from feeling safe enough to take action. When we rebuild safety and self-trust, the execution part finally clicks. On this call, I guide Staci to separate the...
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The Price of Status: What It Really Takes to Get Published with Sandra Åberg
Play It Brave Podcast
Today I’m joined by my brilliant friend, fashion-and-wedding photographer Sandra Åberg, for a real talk we’ve both been having off-mic for years: does being “published” (Vogue, Harper’s, Martha) actually mean you’ve arrived—or is it another industry illusion that keeps creatives chasing validation? We swap origin stories (Milan fashion sets, Sports Illustrated mayhem, and stumbling into weddings), talk integrity lines, and share the unseen mechanics behind advertorials, vendor lists, and “top” roundups—what’s paid, what’s earned, and what actually moves the needle in a...
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The Myth of the Perfect Leader with Jessica Drogosz
Play It Brave Podcast
If you’ve ever paused on your next chapter because you think you need to be “more ready” or “more perfect,” this one’s for you. My dear friend, multi-hyphenate creative and mentor Jessica Eileen Drogosz joins me to dismantle the myth that leaders must have it all together before they lead. From building associate teams and separating brands to launching a heart-led coaching offer, Jessica shares the real (and often messy) middle—where clarity, courage, and connection are forged. So many of you are standing on the edge of your next season—coaching, teaching, creating a course,...
info_outlineEver wondered what it really takes to become a second shooter that lead photographers rave about—or how to find one you can trust with your name, brand, and reputation?
In this candid and wisdom-packed episode, I sit down with award-winning photographer and my own second shooter, Jasmine Ortiz, to dive deep into the art, etiquette, and energy of second shooting in the luxury wedding world.
With over 200 weddings under her belt, Jasmine brings a decade’s worth of insight into what it means to support lead photographers with professionalism, humility, and heart. From high-pressure moments and awkward vendor run-ins to gear checklists and social media boundaries, we don’t hold back in this conversation. We swap stories, laugh through horror moments (please don’t pitch yourself to the planner during cocktail hour), and unpack the subtle dynamics that can make or break a working relationship on the wedding day.
Whether you’re a new photographer hoping to break into the wedding industry, a seasoned second looking to elevate your presence, or a lead ready to build your dream team, this episode is full of real talk and practical gold.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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What NOT to do as a second shooter (like drinking on the job)
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How to match a lead’s style and energy so you complement—not compete
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Why gear prep, clear communication, and a calm presence matter more than you think
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How to navigate photographing grooms and groomsmen as a female second shooter
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What to avoid when posting online—and why it’s essential to wait and ask for permission first
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How to energetically show up in service, not self-promotion
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Why building trust, humility, and team spirit will get you hired again and again
Jasmine also shares her favorite behind-the-scenes moment as a second shooter, how she handles fast-moving situations with grace, and why her second shooter checklist has become her wedding-day go-to.
And of course, Jasmine and I reflect on our own working relationship—from Target snack runs to shared values—and how much fun it can be when the lead/second synergy is just right.
This is more than just a how-to episode. It’s a heartfelt look into the power of being a solid, grounded, and generous support on a couple’s most important day.
Meet Jasmine
Jasmine Ortiz is an internationally-renowned wedding photographer based in California. She made a name for herself masterfully documenting irreplaceable moments and polished celebrations. She was named one of the "Top 30 Wedding Photographers in the USA" in 2023 and has photographed well over 200 weddings in her decade-long career.
→ Get Jasmine’s Second Shooter Checklist here
Jasmine’s Website
Jasmine’s Instagram
P.S. Want me to edit your images with the new DB Signature Presets & Editing Suite? Send me up to 5 RAW photos here.