Do I Really Need Two Photographers At My Wedding?
TL:DR - YES. A million times YES.
We get it. There are so many decisions to make when planning your wedding, and wedding photography is one of the biggest! One of the questions I get most often from prospective couples is, “Do I need a second photographer at my wedding?” The short answer…YES. One perk of working with US is that a second photographer is included in just about every collection. It’s basically a non-negotiable, that ultimately benefits you, the couple. We do this for several reasons, but first…
What even is a second shooter at a wedding?
To start with, what is a ‘second shooter’ or second photographer? Basically, a second wedding photographer is someone who works alongside your lead wedding photographer to photograph different angles, separate locations and assist with logistics of wedding day photography.
So now that you know what a second photographer actually is, we can dive into the reasons why having one on your wedding day is the bees-knees!
7 Reasons Why Two Photographers Are Better Than One
Here are a few of my favorite reasons to have a second shooter at the wedding! Since wedding planning is all about lists (am I right?) I’ll list the reasons first, and then break each one down with a little more detail below.
Able to photograph both the bride and groom with their wedding party as they get ready.
Your timeline will run smoother.
Two photographers provide coverage from different angles.
Second photographer can help get you to the party sooner!
Main photographer has a backup.
A second photographer adds creativity to your final gallery of images by bringing their own unique vision.
The second shooter assists with difficult shots, holding lights, ladders and carrying extra gear.
We can be in two places at once.
Two photographers allow for one to be with the bride before the wedding and the other to photograph the groom before the wedding. If the bride and groom are getting ready in two separate locations this is a no brainer. Even if the bride and groom are getting ready in the same place, we are able to photograph getting ready simultaneously making sure that no shots are missed due to delays in arrival time or hair/makeup.
2. Makes your wedding day timeline run smoother.
Not only can we photograph getting ready at the same time, we can also shoot bridal party portraits at the same time leaving more room for what really matters, party time with your guests! So instead of bridal party taking 45 minutes with people standing around “waiting for their turn,” we can photograph them at the same time and be done in half the time it would take a single photographer.
3. Two photographers provide coverage from different angles.
There are lots of times that having photos from different angles comes in handy! During the ceremony and first look, one photographer can focus on the groom’s reaction, and the other can photograph the bride. During the ceremony, one can photograph an epic wider shot from the back of the church, one can photograph more intimate, emotional images from the front. During your reception, one may be shooting party dancing while another can be capturing fun group shots and candids.
4. The second shooter can help get you to your cocktail hour sooner.
If you have a large wedding party, or large family, a second shooter really saves the day! Two photographers help speed up family portraits, allowing you to get to your reception sooner! They can assist with rounding up family members for the next photo and keep track of which portraits have been shot and which ones remain. The second photographer also provides another set of eyes to make sure everything in your family formals is perfect, helping me look for things like hair bands on the ladies’ wrists, removing sunglasses, making sure zippers are up and collars are down! That allows me to focus on composition, posing, and making sure all family members looks their best!
5. A second wedding photographer provides a backup.
I wear two cameras on my harness and shoot with both of them throughout the day, so I always have a backup camera on me. But the second shooter provides a backup for me! So if something epic happens while I’ve gone to grab a glass of water, or change batteries or camera cards, for example, you’ve still got coverage!
6. A second photographer adds creativity to your final gallery of images by bringing their own unique vision.
This circles back to reason #3. A second photographer provides another pair of eyes to capture the same moment but from a completely different perspective. In the example below, I laid down on the ground to get the shot on the right, while my second photographer shot the same moment from a higher vantage point giving our couple more variety in less time.
7. The second shooter can physically help me get shots that I’d have difficulty getting on my own.
Simply put, I’m able to get more creative shots when I have another set of hands around. They help hold lights at the right angles and help me hang the wedding dress in places I couldn’t reach on my own. They stabilize the chair or ladder I’m standing on to get certain shots. One of my favorite things they help me with is making the veil ‘fly’ in photos as though the wind captured it. They toss the veil in the air and literally run out of frame before it falls! When it’s pouring down the rain, they help by holding umbrellas. In the image below, I had my second photographer hold a light on camera left in order to get the perfect lighting on the groom while keeping the dramatic ambience of the dining room untouched. Without the help of my second shooter this shot wouldn’t have been possible with the limited time we had.
If you managed to actually read this far give yourself a pat on the back for doing your research about the benefits of having two photographers at your wedding. We think that unscheduled, impromptu moments make the most unforgettable memories and the best way to capture that is with TWO photographers. If you’re still on the fence, hit us up to schedule a discovery call to ask any burning questions you may have!