Do I really NEED a second photographer for my wedding?
Let’s walk you through the pros and cons so you can make the best decision for your special day!
As you’re creating your perfect wedding package, you’re carefully considering what you TRULY want and need on your wedding day, and one of those is a second photographer!
You are hoping to have as many priceless moments captured with the least amount of stress. From your groom’s tearful reaction, and parents’ beaming faces, to your breath-taking walk down the aisle.
I rarely capture a wedding without a second photographer, because I truly believe in the value of these once-in-a-lifetime moments.
These two perspectives of key emotional moments would be impossible to capture without a second shooter!
After photographing hundreds of weddings, I’m a quick, observant shooter. However, wedding day moments happen SUPER quickly, often without much notice!
Having a second shooter is almost vital to ensuring all of these priceless moments are captured for you to savor for the rest of your life.
I know that wedding days can be unpredictable despite all of the careful planning, and I want you to walk away with all of the beautiful images you’ve been dreaming of!
Situations in which you’ll NEED a second photographer.
The value of having a second photographer is endless, thus it is ALWAYS a great idea to have one on your wedding day.
However, there are some situations in which you really NEED to have a second photographer included in your wedding package.
Here are some tips from a professional Florida & Georgia wedding photographer, so you can make an informed decision!!
🗺 Are you and your fiance’ getting ready in two different locations?
If there is more than one getting-ready location, and you want both you and your groom to have “getting ready” portraits, then a second photographer would be necessary.
Driving between two different getting-ready locations isn’t typically manageable unless the locations are super close together.
To ensure the best use of time and moments captured during this part of your wedding day, I definitely recommend two photographers for this scenario!
🚺 Do you prefer to only have females in the getting ready room, and men in the guy’s dressing room?
Having a team who has both a female & male photographer will allow you to feel comfortable and relaxed. This portion of coverage can be awkward and stressful if you’re trying to get ready while a man is in the room!
For instance, my hubby and second photographer, Adam, spends his time hanging out with the guys during this time. He captures their fun & shenanigans while I photograph the beautiful detail photos and lovely ladies getting ready!
⏳ Do you have a tight timeline?
Some wedding days are scheduled to the MINUTE, and if anyone runs behind, it’s full of stress and anxiety.
I would highly suggest having a second photographer who can photograph the groomsmen, cocktail hour, and candids while your lead photographer captured the bridesmaids, family portraits, and bride & groom portraits! It makes the best use of your time, and allows you to breathe much easier!
⛪ Are you having a traditional Catholic or religious ceremony?
I have photographed many religious ceremonies in which we are constrained as photographers by the rules of the church as far as where we can go to take photographs.
In this kind of situation, you’ll definitely want a second photographer so you can have more angles, and variety of coverage without a lot of moving around and distraction!
🏛 Are you planning to be at more than one location for the duration of your wedding day?
Adding in more locations on your wedding day always involves more time taken away from your photo timeline. Because of this, I would refer to my point above about having a tight timeline.
Definitely consider having a second photographer who can photograph the guys at their location, drive to cocktail hour while the lead is capturing family portraits, etc. It’s vital to ensure the best use of time & coverage!
📸 Is having a great variety of photographs on your wedding day important to you?
As a bride, you just want to see ALL of the emotional reactions, laughs, and sweet details of your wedding day!! I know I wanted as many wedding photographs as I could possibly have, and that’s what most of my brides tell me as well!!
Hiring a second photographer will ensure EVEN more priceless memories are captured, and you’ll cry your way all the way through each and every one of them in your gallery!!
I’d say that’s a pretty important reason to have a second photographer on your special day!
Benefits of having a second photographer.
As if all of those reasons weren’t enough, I’ll add a few more reasons here for you!!
😭🤣😍 You’ll get more variety, angles, and emotions in your photographs!
Looking through our galleries, I can visually pull out the moments that I captured versus the ones that my hubby captured! They’re photographs of the same moment, but captured in two completely different ways!! It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to walk away with two different perspectives!
Often I’ll shoot a bit wider to capture the scene, while my hubby captures the beautiful close-ups of our couples. These shots are just the perfect pairing together in your gallery!! You want the scenic, epic shots, but also the intimate, sweet photographs that showcase your connection as a couple!
🕺💃 Working with a married team only adds to the seamless, stress-free experience because we can literally read each other’s minds!
Adam plays the quiet hero & support system, while I direct and guide everyone through the photo experience!
👨👩👧👧 Having an extra helper on hand for family portraits allows you to get to your reception sooner!!
The second photographer often helps get family members together, arrange everyone, and keep track of the portrait list!
⚠ If for no other reason, the second photographer provides backup!!
All professional wedding photographers should have a backup camera and lens, not to mention flash equipment. However, the second shooter also provides a backup for your LEAD photographer!!
What if an accident occurs, and your lead photographer is out of commission for the rest of your wedding? Your second photographer can step in and provide coverage for the duration of your special day!
When to consider skipping hiring a second photographer
👏 Believe it or not, I DO think it’s best to only have one photographer in certain situations!!
➡ If you’re planning an intimate wedding or elopement
If you’re having an intimate wedding or elopement, more than likely you’re hoping to keep your wedding day intimate. You want your wedding to be full of people that you hold dear, and to soak in every special moment.
You know you want your wedding captured beautifully, but you just want to keep it simple.
All you need is one photographer who will intentionally capture the important key moments that mean the world to you!
➡ If you have a really small guest list & wedding party
A professional wedding photographer would be perfectly capable of rounding up your immediate family members and capturing them in an orderly fashion.
See the above point for more reasons why one photographer is perfectly reasonable in this scenario.
➡ If everything for your wedding is happening at one location
By having everything all at one location, your wedding photographer should be able to bounce back and forth between the guys and the girls getting ready. This saves a great deal of time since you’re not driving to multiple locations!
This situation could go either way, depending on your priorities!!
So now you know the importance of having a second photographer, YOU can make an informed decision and choose what works best for you!!
