Do I need a Second photographer for my wedding day?

If you are starting to think about who you want to book to be your wedding photographer on your special day, you may well be wondering about whether or not you need a second wedding photographer. The aim of this blog is to give you some examples of what can be achieved by having two skilled photographers at your wedding.

Making the right decision in choosing a second photographer.

I think the first thing to say in this blog is that the final decision has to be yours as a couple when planning your wedding. Does your budget allow for a second photographer?

Is there a value that you put on your wedding photography that means a second photographer is more important than items that may well be in the bin the following morning?

There are, as always, no right or wrong answers. It’s purely down to whether or not you WANT a second photographer. Your photography will last for many years to come so, personally, I think they are a brilliant option for your wedding, and in this blog I will try to explain why.

Examples of weddings where I have worked as a second are included in this write up. I am fortunate to work with many fabulous photographers, but Stacey Oliver Photography and Clare from claralouphotography are great fun to be around on a wedding day as well as being hugely professional and caring about their couples. Have a look at their work and you will see it comes through in their images.

It’s their work that you will see as the primary photographer, on the left of each gallery, that sits alongside mine as their second, on the right. Thanks for having me along ladies xx

What are the advantages of booking a second photographer?

Good question! Well, firstly, you will receive more content from your wedding day. Generally, a second will cover groom prep and be around for the rest of the day either up until the wedding breakfast, after the speeches, or until first dance.

It’s worth checking with whoever you have booked what it is they offer as different people offer different options and costs.

Secondly, you will receive images from alternative angles to your primary shooter. The great advantage for the second photographer is that you have a freedom to roam and capture moments away from the bride and groom, so your final edit of pictures will include parts of the day that you never got to see.

What happens during the ceremony?

Something that is asked for by many couples thinking of have two wedding photographers is what happens during the ceremony? This can vary on who you book so it’s always worth asking.

I always like to try and find an alternative view from the front of the ceremony, which is where I feel your primary photographer should be. Most of the time I will be at the back for any reaction from the groom as he looks towards his future wife as she walks down the aisle.

This is not always possible though, so you then have the option of having two photographers at the front, again, covering different angles.

If there is a balcony or some way of getting high up, for example, this allows you another great viewpoint of your wedding ceremony.

The pictures below show examples of almost the exact same moments from the same weddings when working with Stacey and Clare.

The images on the right showing the alternative angle provided by having a second photographer present on your wedding day which would be a lot harder to achieve if you only had one person photographing your wedding.

Do you both stay for the speeches and first dance?

This will depend on what you have agreed at the point of booking. Perhaps think about your venue and speak to the photographer. If you have two covering the speeches, again, it frees one photographer up to keep an eye on things like guest reactions, or just simply focus on the bride or groom for their reaction to any moments during the speeches.

Bride and Groom portraits.

You can also get extra pictures of the two of you together! At all the weddings I cover, I factor in a part of the day to take the new Mr & Mrs away for some portraits. When your primary photographer is working from one angle, your second can roam around again, providing you with an alternative view. If not, then they can always hang back and look for pictures of the guests enjoying the day.

First dance.

Once all the excitement of the day has almost come to an end, there is always the first dance to get everyone in the party spirit.

It’s another great chance for photographers to split up and capture the party atmosphere of your wedding and again, capture some moments you didn’t see (or may not have wanted to!!)

Trust your wedding photographers!

Whoever you book to photograph your wedding will no doubt have several fellow pros who they will book for you.

As always, it’s about trusting your main photographer to get the right person for your wedding.

You may not actually meet the second photographer until the wedding itself, but fear not, that’s perfectly normal.

They want the best photographs possible to create amazing memories for you to keep!

I’d love to hear more about what you have planned for your wedding so if you would like to get in touch and arrange to meet up, then please drop me a line.