“Why would I ever need two photographers for my wedding?” You may ask yourself if you look into hiring a wedding photographer for the first time. Yes, it may come as an additional expense but in this blog, I’ll provide some explanations as to what second shooters do and under what circumstances can they be beneficial to you.

What is a second shooter?

A second shooter is essentially a second photographer or videographer who assists the primary photographer or videographer at weddings and elopements. The tasks of the second shooter can vary depending on the event or primary shooter but typically only enhances the client’s final gallery of images!

Here are some reasons as to why you may want to consider a second shooter:

#1 You and your partner are getting ready at different locations.

If your wedding or elopement package includes getting ready before the ceremony, photographers would typically ask if you and your partner are getting ready at different locations.

If you are getting ready in the same building, typically one photographer can suffice in capturing both sides of getting ready in the morning.

However a lot of couples choose to get ready separately to build excitement leading up to the “first look” and can be as far as across town! To maximize the number of hours you have with your photographer, having a second shooter is helpful so that they can be present when the lead photographer can’t be at two places at once!

#2 You are having a big wedding with over 100 guests.

Larger weddings are a good reason to have a second shooter because that means there are more chances for your guests to appear in your final gallery. You invited all your loved ones to your wedding - of course you want photos of them! Typically the lead photographer focuses on the bride & groom while the second shooter captures the guests’ (with particular attention to family members) reactions to you & your partner exchanging vows.

#3 You hired your lead photographer for a long period of time.

Photographers need breaks too! From the lead photographer’s perspective, having another hand means they can sneak off for a few minutes to use the restroom without missing any fun candids happening on the dance floor! In addition, typically with long days the reception goes deep into the night and the photographers needs to adjust by setting up lights. Having another person to help out with set up ensures that the lead photographer can be set up promptly and one of your guests won’t be disturbed!

#4 You want more photographs of your day.

Whether it be quantity, different angles, additional details, your parents’ reactions, or more, having a second shooter can increase the variety of photos in your final gallery.

Do you think you need a second shooter?

The trick to determining what’s in your wedding photography package is to always consider your wedding photography priorities. If you’re still unsure of whether or not you need a second photographer at your wedding - consult your lead photographer!