The short answer?

YES!

Stay with me here.

This is a very common question I receive. While I am fully capable of photographing a wedding on my own, I always recommend adding on a second shooter. Here are my top 4 reasons why!

I can't be in two places at once!

Are you and your partner getting ready at two different locations, at the same time, and both want photos? I love getting ready photos and the detail photos during the calm part of the day. I want to ensure that we capture both of you, not just one! If you have a second shooter, I can be photographing one partner and they can photograph the other.

First Look and Wedding Angles

This is so important! I want to ensure to capture BOTH of your reactions when you see each other for the first time. I will focus on one partner while my second shooter will focus on the other. Do you get where I'm going with this yet?

Candids and Wedding Portraits

This last point is more schedule dependent, but typically when I am shooting portraits of the wedding couple right after the ceremony (and during cocktail hour), I'll bang out the family formals and then head off with you two! My second shooter can head off to cocktail hour and capture fun candids of your friends and family. Sometimes depending on the itinerary of the day we can sneak in portraits during a different time if you want to join cocktail hour.

Extra Security

This is the absolute last thing you should be worrying about on your wedding day, and I take every precaution to ensure that your photos are safe! I have dual card slots and back up your photos as soon as I get home from the wedding in multiple locations. BUT having a second shooter guarantees at least one set of photos for you. This point is purely for extra peace of mind. This is why when I stay super late and over 2 hours away, I ask for accommodations close to the venue to ensure that me and your photos get home safe and backed up right away.

I hope this list was helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and check out my other tips for future couples in my education section.