Do you need a second wedding photographer?

With all the planning you do for your big day, all the vendors you’ve chosen to work with, one item that is often missed with engaged couples is, “do I need a second wedding photographer?”

And like most decisions, the answer is simple: it depends.

The decision for most couples starts with their budget for photography. While you may have committed to a particular package with the wedding photographer of your dreams, don’t think that adding a second person for the day will cost you double. Most professional wedding photographers have assistants they hire for a small additional cost. You can often choose the 2nd to be available for a shorter time than the main as well.

But do you need one….? Here are some example where having a second photographer is absolutely worth the additional cost.

You have a 6-10 hour wedding day planned, and you want images of both partners while they get ready. They are getting ready in 2 separate locations, then meeting at the ceremony venue. Your main photographer will have a difficult (read: impossible) time being in 2 places at once. This is where having a second photographer is crucial, they can cover the getting ready images at the second location.

You have an hour set for family portraits directly after the ceremony, but the majority of your guests will be at cocktail hour, and you’d like candids of those attending. Great time spent for a second photographer to handle this event!

Even if you can’t quite think of how a second photographer would be a bonus, they do provide additional images from different vantage points, help the main set up and complete requested images quicker, and generally provide a literal second set of eyes on your big day.

Now, if you have a micro wedding or elopement planned, where you only have 1-2 hours booked with your photographer, you may want to skip adding on the second.

What the decision really comes down to is the importance of images at specific events on your wedding day. Think about what you have planned in your schedule, and if you want images from that period to reflect on your overall day. When it makes sense for you, adding on a second photogrpaher to your wedding day is a no-brainer decision!

Want to know more about choosing your wedding photographer? https://www.victoriabremner.com/blog/2018/04/17/choosing-your-wedding-photographer/