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Whenever I meet up with potential clients for consultations I’m always asked whether I provide a second photographer. It seems to almost be the norm these days for a wedding photography package to come as standard with two photographers, but there are also situations where it may not always be necessary to have two cameras on you all day.
So I decided to sit down this morning and write a post for you going over all the pro’s and con’s of having two photographers at your wedding day so that you can make up your own mind as to whether you think having an assistant at your day is what you’d like.
Let’s get started!
Pro’s
We Can Split Up for Morning Preparation
If there are two of us to cover your wedding day, it’s the morning preparations that really benefit. I’ll be at the bride prep whilst my second photographer will meet up with the boys. This is usually at a pub just before they head to church or the venue. Or can be at home for more prep to capture photos of ties being tied and final tweaks being made.
This gives me more time to spend with the bride and ensures I’m there for the dress going on and that I’ll have time for some photos of you dressed and ready to go with your parents and bridesmaids.
My second photographer will stay with the groom until they arrive at the ceremony where they will then grab some photos of the groom and his best man and ushers together before stepping back and documenting guests arriving and the groom looking a little nervous as he awaits the start of the ceremony.
You Get Two Angles of Your Ceremony
Depending on your vicar/registrars rules I will always take position at the front of the ceremony, whilst my second photographer can take up a position at the back of the room to photograph down the aisle.
This means I get to focus on your faces and reactions throughout and my assistant gets those nice wide room shots (and usually the better first kiss photo!). In some situations they can also get the reaction of your groom’s face as you walk up the aisle too.
Your Group Photos Will Be A Breeze!
This is where my second photographers are worth their weight in gold! Whilst I’m photographing one group of people, she will be rounding up the next set of guests we need so they are ready to step in the frame as soon as I’m done.
They’ll liase with a member of your wedding party who can point out your family members and she’ll pre-empt them that they are needed and where they need to go.
This saves SO MUCH TIME on your wedding day, as group photos are notouriously the point of the day where someone important tends to wander off, so we can avoid this by having two people working on them to eliminate how long you have to stand around waiting!
We Can Capture More Natural Moments
Having two sets of eyes on your wedding day means we can be in two places at once and this is especially useful to capture candid natural photos of your guests as they mingle and chat.
These documentary style photos are always the ones I hear people say they love the most so a second photographer can be capturing these photos whilst I get the detail shots of your room set up, or may just be in the perfect spot to capture an expression or moment when I may be on the other side of the venue.
Con’s
You’ll Have Two Cameras focussed on you all day
If you’re particularly nervous about having your photo taken, having two cameras on you all day may well be a little intimidating for you. Especially if you also have a videographer as well!
My second photographers are all also professional wedding photographers and we know how to be discreet and unobtrusive, so don’t let this worry you too much.
Less Unobtrusive at Smaller Weddings
When you have a small wedding with less than 50 guests two photographers may be a little overkill.
I’d always suggest you book a package with just one photographer in this case to avoid making your guests uneasy as it seems as though every movement would be captured!
It May Cost A Little More
Of course having two photographers at your day isn’t going to come for free, so it will make your wedding package slightly more expensive. So if your budget can’t stretch you may want to opt for just the one photographer.
