Do I Need Two Wedding Photographers?

Choosing a wedding photographer is easy. Said no one ever. But I hope what you read below will help a little! I really don’t envy people in the position of having to choose a photographer for their wedding. There’s so much variation in style, quality, ways of need two wedding photographers? working, albums, products and pricing that it’s a bit of a minefield. I’m being asked more frequently ‘Do you work on your own?’, and ‘do you have an assistant?’ or  ‘can you provide a second photographer?’. The answer to these questions is; mostly, sometimes and yes. But do you really

The answer to this one is actually pretty simple but you just need to think about your wedding and how you want it to go. If you are having a huge wedding then two photographers will help get better coverage If you are having a wedding where the arrival and preparation of both parties is a big part of the day, such as big Indian wedding, then an extra shooter is a must. You also need to consider how much, or little you want to feel like you’re being photographed. If you don’t really like the idea of being photographed but want to capture the story of the day then one photographer is probably ample. Saying all of that and having thought about this for a long time, I have come to the conclusion that it shouldn’t really matter too much if what you’re really concerned about is the quality of the photographs. What it comes down to is a matter of taste. Find photographs you love and book that photographer. Whether it’s an individual or a pair of shooters, the results are what matter.

Photographer couples.

Over the past few years there’s been a growing trend of photographers working in pairs. It’s not a new thing though; there are loads of photography pairs who have produced some of the best wedding photography in the world for many years. These couples work together to capture different things or team up to produce images that take a little more direction or need a second person to help with lighting. The results are stunning.

Individual photographers.

Also within the best wedding photography in the word you’ll find a whole bunch of photographers who work alone. They argue that another photographer is intrusive, distracting for the wedding couple and guests and only provides a distraction for the main photographer. They like to concentrate on everything that’s going on and take full responsibility for each and every photograph. The final set of images is one person’s artwork, an interpretation of the wedding from their point of view. They follow the same principle as a Michelin starred chef who put their name to their food, or musicians who have such a distinct style that you can tell who the song is by before being told. Whether as part of a pair or as an individual, a good photographer will spend a lot of time watching, listening and anticipating key moments in the wedding.

So is two always better than one?

Well you can’t argue with the maths. But let’s consider quantity and quality. As I mentioned earlier there are plenty of really good photography pairings. But as with photographers who work alone, and anything else in this life for that matter, there will always be poor quality and great quality. Your budget as well as the importance you place on photography will determine how much research you do and your ultimate decision.
When choosing a wedding photographer it’s really easy to be drawn in by products and offers. In fact, it’s the one decision in your life when you really need to ignore the clutter and get to the heart of the matter… How good is the photography? I hope that for most people wedding photography isn’t a 1 or a 0, a tick box exercise. For those who care about their photography and preserving the memories of a monumental day, it’s possibly the most important decision after deciding who to marry!
So, one photographer or two, free album or no, look at the work, ask to see a full wedding. Speak to the photographers you are considering and decide if what they do, who they are, and how they work will be a good fit with you as a couple and with the wedding day, you have planned.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more of my random musing, there are a few more articles in amongst the wedding photography on my blog.