Why a second wedding photographer?
What exactly is a second wedding photographer (from my point of view)
You may be wondering, “What is a second photographer for?” And, trust us, that’s a very good question!
The second photographer is there to assist your lead photographer and to give the lead photographer a bit of relief. Their main role is to capture moments from a different perspective with enhance creativity and provide photography coverage during moments when your lead photographer can’t be in two places at once. For example, if you and your partner are getting ready in different locations, the second photographer will travel to the groom or brides to capture the morning preperations at one location while the lead photographer will be at the other location to capture the preparations/details.
Here’s when you definitely should have a second photographer:
There are some instances where we—and our expert photographers—agree you should absolutely hire a second photographer. Some photographers even include one if their wedding packages but beware as they may be starter photographers! Your lead photographer will also likely recommend hiring a second in your initial conversations about the flow of your day. If you are getting ready at separate locations, have a tight timeline, or will be including many traditional elements or activities into your day, you probably should have another person there to capture all of the moments that are important to you. It’s also customary for a lead photographer to hire the second photographer as they will have their own photographer’s who would match their own style.
You might not need a second photographer if…
There are many instances in which you might not need a second photographer. Bonus tip: If you allocated budget for a second photographer and realize you don’t need one, you can allocate that budget somewhere else! Here are a few scenarios in which you likely won’t need to hire a second photographer:
Your lead photographer, who you trust is an expert in their field, feels confident shooting solo
You are eloping or having an intimate wedding
Very relaxed wedding with a timeline which isn’t go go go.
“I don’t think you should make your decision about a second photographer based off Google-ing things you need to have included in your wedding package. I shoot alone for the majority of my weddings—and, most of the time, I prefer it that way! Unless the wedding day requires a second photographer because of a tight timeline or multiple locations, then I will discourage my clients from spending extra and adding that to their package. Ultimately, hiring a second photographer is completely determined by how your lead photographer works and how your day is set up.” — Madeline Shea
In conclusion:
At the end of the day, trust your lead photographer. We hope you have full confidence in the photographer you’ve selected to trust with all of the important moments that will happen on your special day. Have an honest conversation with them about the need for a second photographer. If finances are a concern, there are creative ways save in other areas so you can put more toward your photography budget!