One camera or two?

[smith3576]

We are looking to book our photographer and are trying to decide whether to go with someone who has 2 photographers (or at least an assistant helping to take pics) or just one. We are also considering whether we need two cameramen(women) for our video. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

[O'Driscoll Photography]

Hi Jamie,

 

Congrats and welcome!

 

In my opinion, unless you are planning to have a lot of guests (200 or more), a second photographer is not a requirement. If the photographer you are considering is experienced, he or she should have no problem covering your wedding by themselves. That said, though, if there are special circumstances at your wedding (such as the guys getting ready at a different hotel which is not near the hotel where you will be getting ready, etc.), then it would be a good idea to have a second photographer so that they could cover the guys getting ready while the lead photographer gets images of you and the ladies getting ready.

 

If circumstances warrant it, or my clients request it, I do bring along an experienced and talented second photographer. You should make sure that the other photographer is somebody who is also talented and experienced. You will probably be paying an additional amount for the second shooter, and you want to make sure that they will be adding real value to the body of work, and not just taking up space.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best wishes,

Tod

[endlesslove]

Sometimes photographers have an assistant who will help take photos during the wedding. We're using Claudia Rodriguez, and she has an assistant. We were going to have the resort photographer as well, but she told us she prefers to work with her assistant only so they're not in the way of another photographer. If you do go with a second photographer, and they happen to be from another company make sure it is okay with them to shoot with another photographer there. Some prefer not to.

[bellalucefoto]

Lots of good advice has been posted. I just want to add that it is nice to get another perspective too. Sometimes one photographer will envision a picture one way and another a totally different way. So it is cool to get two totally different pictures at the same time! When I started offering a second shooter for our packages, brides were really excited and have loved getting both of our artistic work. I generally shoot with another photographer so that we can capture all the different things happening, sometimes at different locations, collaborate on ideas together, especially since time is sometimes very limited. With some photographers shooting for travel costs, it is an especially great time!

 

Katie