One vs. Two Wedding Photographers?

We get asked all the time: Do we really need to have a second photographer at our wedding? We understand—finding, booking and paying for one shooter is enough work. However – before you brush off the idea of multiple photographers as unnecessary, know there are some very valid reasons for having more than one to capture your day. The main factors for your decision for one or two photographers depend upon:

Guest count

One photographer’s ability to capture a large group of people is limited. If you plan on having more than 50 guests, the photographer is continually working to capture not only you and your partner throughout each part of the day, but also finding time to be with all of your guests. It is physically impossible to be in two places at once, so you will undoubtedly have some special moments missed in coverage. Two photographers able to divide and conquer, being in separate places to capture more people. For all the education-minded folks out there… Imagine this: a teacher in a classroom of over 50 students! That is a lot of facetime to cover and too much for one person to manage without leaving some students behind.

Wedding Party? Y or N?

If you plan to have a group of friends/bridesmaids/groomsmen with you that day, they will be dressing in two separate locations. One photographer can only be with one group at a time. Having two photographers allows you to ensure both groups are captured before the ceremony. You will be able to take separate portraits of both bridesmaids and groomsmen separately at the same time, making the most of your schedule.

Back-Up

The phone camera craze is a real thing, especially at a wedding. With wedding hashtags and Instastories abounding, it’s hard for guests to resist snapping a photo of you during a big moment (Such as: you coming down the aisle, or a first kiss). Guests with phones, iPads and cameras have no idea how to stay out of our way. They are most often unaware they are blocking us…. or YOU (see above photo). With only one photographer, you may miss moments of your own wedding (i.e. seeing your partner’s face for the first time) because there will be an iPad in the way. With two photographers, we always have a second angle and a back-up image for every major moment.

We made a handy graph with all of the features of your coverage, via one or two photographer. Take a look below to see what works for you:

	One Photographer	Two Photographers
Coverage of 50 guests or less	X	X
Coverage of more than 50 guests		X
Single angle of ceremony and reception	X	X
One partner dressing	X	X
Both partners dressing		X
Reaction of one partner to First Look/Aisle	X	X
Reaction of both partners to First Look/Aisle		X
Family & Guest Reactions to Vows and Toasts		X
Reception décor set up at beginning of cocktail hour		X
Back up camera in key moments (First Kiss) in the instance that a guest blocks one photographer with their cameras/phones 😬		X
Family Portraits	X	X
Wide angle scenery images of the venue		X
Wide angle version of the closeup from the First Kiss and First Dance		X
Speedy Formal Table Visits	Slow (+5 min per table to set up)	Quick and efficient (One photographer stages the group at each upcoming table for a quick snap and go!)

These are the logistical aspects of a photographer’s work on your wedding day. In the end, we want to ensure that all of your priceless memories are captured so that you can re-live this incredible day again and again in the years to come. Let’s discuss what’s best for you.