wedding photography assistinggg

[my_computer]

Hi.

I know from dropping by here over the years that some of you guys do some great work for weddings. I'm wondering how many of the users here have managed to assist at weddings (coming from NO professional experience). bold highlighted and underlined!

I'm looking to study a masters next year in documentary photography. Whilst I'm planning on working on personal projects for this, I'm also eager to get stuck in and photograph weddings for the trial by fire kind of experience I believe it'll offer.
I think i'm basically competent. I have high standards, specific likes and dislikes and SOME of the stuff I've taken I think is alright (I hope that over the years I can improve and become the kind of photographer I enjoy)

I'm not hugely technically proficient. I usually shoot with a medium format rangefinder though I use a 5dII at times.

I know insurance is a *thing* which would possibly make assisting anyone a headache for the photographer

I'm sure I've seen threads asking this same sort of question so I hope I'm not being a nuisance!

So has anyone had any luck in contacting strangers, showing them their own work and managed to tag along and help out as a 2nd photographer?

I'm in the North East...If anyone has any contacts that would be great!

 

[my_computer]

Good point about being competition. I hadn't thought about that.

I've done some asking around and found out that someone who works with my girlfriend has shot some weddings. I think this was her first summer doing it so they might be more grateful for some help, whereas a seasoned professional might see me as more hindrance than anything useful. Anyway I'll have a word and see how it goes.

Thanks D.P.