A second wedding photographer can be useful when you want coverage in two places at once or more than one perspective on the day. The right choice depends on your plans, your guest count, and what matters most to you. Here are the situations I talk through with couples.
I photograph weddings on my own as well as with a second photographer. These are four reasons an additional photographer can be a good fit for your day.
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
A second photographer adds another perspective and another set of photographs. My approach to safeguarding images also includes photographing with dual card slots and backing up the files in multiple locations after the wedding.
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.
