Do I Need A Second Wedding Photographer?

I encounter brides who either ask this question or state up front that they want a second photographer for wedding coverage. I think someone somewhere is telling them, "Make SURE you get a second photographer!" However, these days everyone is on a budget, and as that means cutting out the extras in most cases, in other cases having the addition is critical.

There is no Yes or No to this question; the real answer is based both on your preferences and your scenarios. This article will help you assess particular situations and help you decide if you need a second photog or if having one would be overkill.

Situations Absolutely Requiring Second Coverage

If any one of these situations is true of your wedding day, then you'll want to heavily consider a second photog:

• Two events are simultaneously happening in two separate places and there is not enough time for one photographer to cover both. Example: groomsmen and bridesmaids getting ready at totally separate venues.
• You want shots of different expressions from multiple angles simultaneously. Example: One photog captures your bridal party recessing from the altar at the same time the second photog captures you and your spouse exchanging just-off-the-altar excitements in the lobby.
• Your ceremony is 20 minutes long. There's only so much moving around and capturing as many angles as possible during such a short ceremony!
• You create your own photo booth and want it to be covered by your professional photographer. You must have one photog on the booth and the other on the dance floor.
• You want to choreograph an off-altar First Look. First Looks, like any short lasting moment, are best covered from two angles simultaneously.
• Your venue is in low light, either outdoors at night or a dimly lit space with a high ceiling. These dark situations sometimes require special spot lighting for best exposure. A second photog is required to manage lighting equipment. 

Situations Perfectly Well Covered with One Photographer 

• All events are happening in the same venue and you have 7 or more hours of coverage. Longer coverage means more time for your photog to mosey and cover pretty much everyone and everything.
• Your bridal party has 4 or less groomsmen/bridesmaids. Smaller groups take less time to manage and pose with just one photog.
• You have a Catholic wedding. The length of Catholic ceremonies offers more than enough time for just one photog to cover everything and everyone from many angles. Two photogs is overkill here.

It's a Toss Up

If after reading these scenarios, you're still undecided whether you need a second photog, consider that getting one will not necessarily allow you to shorten your coverage hours. Also consider that adding a second photog to an Amkar package which doesn't include one is the same cost as adding more hours of coverage for your primary single photographer ($150/hr/photog). Consider too that having a second photog shooting the same subject from two angles may result in your second photog showing up in the background of some of your shots. If this happens, expect longer image turnaround time so the second photog can be digitally removed from critical images.

Having two photographers is often a benefit to the photographers themselves; coordination, equipment management and travel can more easily be arranged. For instance, if I jump on the limo with you when you travel to multiple photo sites, things will go more smoothly if I can jump on and off with you and not need to find parking separately. My second photog can manage my car elsewhere. This indirectly affects the fluency of your schedule as well.

Hopefully this will aid you in your decision regarding one or two photographers! As I mentioned, it really is very situational, and not everyone needs to have two photographers, but you can clearly see the benefits in certain situations. 90% of weddings I cover tend to have one photographer and they can be shot sufficiently as such.

To learn if your specific coverage requires two, I recommend we meet up and chat about your particular venues, budget and wedding day schedule.