Why Do I Need Two Wedding Photographers?

One of the most asked questions about wedding photography is “Do you need to hire two wedding photographers”.

Single shooters will assert that they can capture all of the important moments on their own. They often don’t see a need for a second photographer. However, they will gloss over the mass of advantages of hiring a wedding photography duo. They are unaware of disadvantages of hiring a single shooter.

We will talk about these advantages and disadvantages from our point of view. We deliver natural, documentary wedding photography as a duo working without time limits. Over hundreds of weddings, we have found this results in the highest quality wedding photographs.

When it comes to capturing your special day, knowing the advantages of hiring two wedding photographers is a must. We have broken it all down for you to make it easier to read:

We have recently read a few blog posts titled “Why you don’t need two wedding photographers”. So we would like to offer a more experienced perspective.

Some of these articles highlight downsides of having two wedding photographers. Unfortunately, it is clear that the writers haven’t worked as part of an effective duo such as Murray and myself. We can honestly tell you that there are actually no downsides to hiring the right wedding photography duo. Just a long list of advantages!

Wedding days tend to be pretty busy and long. From the get-go many things occur at different locations, simultaneously. They are all worth capturing as part of the entire story of your big day.

It’s hard to be in two places at one time. Obviously, a single shooter cannot achieve this. But a team of two wedding photographers can.

When You and Your Partner Are Getting Ready At Different Locations

A wedding day is about both partners and it’s only right that the same amount of attention is paid to each during preparation. Chances are that you and your loved one won’t be getting ready in the same room on your wedding morning. Even if you are at the same venue. In this case you will need a photographer in both locations so as to not miss the moments and details of the beginnings of your wedding day story. The build up to the ceremony is often full of intimate moments between close family and friends well away from the eyes of wedding guests.

Articles about “Why you don’t need two wedding photographers” argue that this is in fact a myth. They state that good logistical planning would allow a single shooter can capture the entire wedding morning. Looking at the time stamps from hundreds of weddings we can see that the heart of bridal and groom preparations often occurs at exactly the same time. No level of planning, no matter how good can negate this.

For this very reason we include coverage of both partners on the wedding morning as standard in all od our wedding photography packages.

Hiring a wedding photography duo means that we can then capture the details, people, emotions, and scenery in different locations at the same time throughout the day.

We refer to ‘natural’ wedding photography as capturing people without posing. They are often unaware that their photo is being taken. This involves real beauty, real emotions, and real personalities. One secret to achieving this type of photography the ability to able to blend in with the wedding guests. We think about this often in the delivery of our service. It’s involved in the clothes we wear and the equipment we use (and don’t use). It’s also involved in the psychology behind how we present ourselves to guests and the relationships we build with our clients.

You can read more about how we build relationships with our clients in our article on “Why you need an engagement photo shoot.”

Two wedding photographers can better achieve integration into a wedding day. For example, when a guest wants to talk about his latest camera. Or a bridesmaid needs help with her hair clips. There is another photographer still capturing the proceedings.

Advantages Of Integrating Into The Wedding Party

This integration puts us at a great advantage throughout the entire day, but no more than during the drinks reception and dancefloor. Here we are in ‘full documentary mode’, which requires a great level of skill and patience. We aim to incorporate genuine interactions between guests. Where their natural personalities and emotions shine through. This is easier to do when you are viewed as part of the ‘in group’ than the ‘out group’. Working as a team of two our chances are also much better for capturing those guests who are camera shy or even actively avoid the camera.

Ready to turn your wedding day vision into unforgettable moments? Our complimentary online consultation is designed specifically for couples like you, seeking a personalised wedding photography experience. Take 30 minutes to discuss your dreams, concerns, and wishes with our expert wedding photographer. Let’s collaborate to create a tailored approach that reflects your love story.

• End Guesswork – Easily navigate the ‘Wedding photography minefield’.
• Get Package Options – That fits your budget, with no hidden costs or surprises.
• Beat Planning Overwhelm – Expert advice from over 400+ weddings for minimum stress.
• Unlock Exclusive Tips & Insights – Make the most of planning with our insights.
• Enjoy the Convenience You Deserve – Schedule at a time that suits you, from the comfort of your own space

One prominent argument why “You don’t need two wedding photographers” centres around the premise that you don’t want an ‘entourage’ at your wedding day. So, let’s look at that realistically:

This seems an odd argument. It’s as if one extra person at the back of a room (or in a different room) has created an intrusive group. In reality, an extra photographer means that coverage is less intrusive. Your wedding photographers are noticed less, not more.

Intrusions Of A Single Shooter

A single shooter will have to move around a room during the wedding. They will need to do this during the ceremony, readings, and speeches to get different angles on the proceedings. A duo does not. Would you prefer someone bobbing up and down and walking about as your loved one pours their heart out in their speech or not?

It’s not unheard of (especially during church ceremonies) for those running the service to ask photographers not to move. We actively work to minimise the risk of this happening. But if it does, it means you are even more limited. You can’t capture the ceremony from as many perspectives. A single shooter then faces a choice. They can annoy the vicar and maybe interrupt the service (we have seen it done!) or deliver images all taken from the same position. With two wedding photographers this is not an issue.

We tend to work in a way where I embed myself in the choir stalls or behind a floral spray at the top of the aisle. I can then capture the bride’s entrance from the groom’s view. I will focus on the couple’s faces and emotions during the ceremony and their guests’ reactions. Unseen Murray can work at the rear of the venue capturing the groom’s face during his first look at his bride. He can focus on guests delivering readings, wide shots of the ceremony within the context of the venue and the first kiss from a guest’s perspective. We can achieve all of this together without moving. A single shooter, simply put, cannot.

Capturing Natural Emotions

It makes sense that some of the greatest emotional reactions from the couple’s nearest and dearest take place during wedding speeches. It is this time of the day that one photographer can focus on the top table and those performing the speeches and the other on the guest’s reactions. We can then work the different angles and positions to tell a more complete story.

So we’ve talked about achieving more natural photographs through integrating ourselves into the wedding. Shooting from different angles throughout a wedding day also allows us to capture the wedding party unawares.

During a drinks reception, guests may see one photographer capture the bride and groom laughing together. But, they may not realize the other has just taken candid photos of them laughing at the same joke.

During couple and group photographs, we use two photographers. They capture natural images in what was is typically an unnatural situation. By meeting people’s expectations (that a photographer will capture the kiss or the smiling group after the count of three) we can then use the second photographer to capture the relaxed moments before and afterwards candidly.

Back to the articles on “Why you don’t need two wedding photographers” and we see another myth being propagated. Here it is suggested that wedding photography duo’s get in each other’s way. This simply isn’t true. Yes, I may fire a frame that has Murray in it or vice versa, but these occurrences are extremely rare.

Three Schools Of Thought

From our training with many photography duos all over the world we have discerned three main schools of thought on this:

1. An experienced duo can easily work in such a way that we aren’t in each other’s images. We do it without thinking.

2. The ‘so what?’ school of thought! Where photographers are making documentary wedding photos. The other photographer was there as part of the day, so they are included in the images. As other suppliers such as the videographers, service staff etc. are.

3. The ‘so what we have photoshop’ school of thought. Where an erroneous photographer in the background of a photograph is easily removed. So it’s not something that needs to be worried about.

Our wedding photography service is designed to make life as easy as possible for our brides and grooms. With two photographers’ groups are much easier to photograph and the couple photographs are swifter than a blink of an eye. Now, no bride or groom wants their formal group or couple photos to take up much of their wedding day.

We tend to work with a designated guest (one who knows most of the other guest’s names), where both Murray and myself will quickly gather a group. While I am shooting, Murray can capture interactions within the group. He can do so in a candid manner or focus on other guests’ activities. We can then both clear that group, and arrange the next in the most efficient manner possible.

We know from experience that single shooters will take much longer to perform group photographs. It is often the jokes between Murray and myself that keep the groups smiling and laughing throughout the ‘formal photographs’. This takes any nervous attention away from themselves.

Efficiency Is Good For Everyone

We often bounce ideas off each other throughout the day, keeping our creative juices flowing. If one of us needs a five-minute rest the other will still be shooting away, which, again, a single shooter cannot do.

One argument “why you don’t need two wedding photographers” is that your wedding photographs will lack consistency. This may be true with some ‘second shooters’. However, over our time together Murray and I not only shoot weddings but we train together. We are constantly experimenting and improving our techniques together. This results in our distinctive style, which is entirely consistent. Sometimes we even take almost exactly the same image at different times. We often have no idea (without checking the metadata) who has taken a particular image.

Consistency Of Quality

It seems ironic for a ‘single shooter’ to raise the topic of the consistency of images. Especially when we look at the consistency of quality. Weddings are by definition a long and tiring day. A single shooter will be missing out on moments if they take breaks to help keep the quality of their work high. However, with a wedding photography duo one of us can continue to shoot whilst the other rests and vice versa. This means that the quality of our work is maintained at a consistently high level no matter how long the wedding day is.

For more information on the quality of wedding photography please take a look at our article “How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost”.

Nowadays wedding insurance is a must have, not only for a bride and groom but for their venue and for their suppliers. In order to work as wedding photographer, we have to carry pretty hefty multi million pound private and public liability insurance. But what about insuring you receive beautiful wedding photographs no matter what?

Not only do we have back up equipment at a wedding but also, as a duo, back up photographers. If something unfortunate makes one of us unable to work (it hasn’t happened yet) you will still have a photographer. They will still be taking beautiful photographs. To be honest, we would probably document the mishap before calling for assistance!

A single shooter cannot do this. If a solo shooter breaks a leg or a backup camera your coverage ends there. This is probably the reason why the topic of insurance seems to have been missed out by photographers writing about “Why you don’t need two wedding photographers”!

Further argument for “Why you don’t need two wedding photographers” is based on the premise that more wedding photographs is not a good thing. Here we agree, but it is the distinction between images captured and photographs delivered that needs to be made.

Having more images to source from for a beautifully curated selection of wedding photographs is definitely an advantage. The greater the number of captured images (and perspectives) the better we can tell the story of the day through the curation/ story telling process.

For further insights into this process please see our article on “Do wedding photographers give you all of the wedding photos?”

However, the additional expense is absolutely worth it and really isn’t in proportion to the sheer number of additional advantages offered by a duo. So hiring a single shooter could be viewed as a false economy. Quite often you can find a wedding photography duo charging the same amount a single shooter.

In the past we have trained with lone photographers who charge double or triple our rates. This is because of their location or their demand raised by a mass of social media followers. Or, (more recently) a particular trend they are currently riding high upon before it fades.

Wedding days are busy, many things occur simultaneously at different locations. These are all important parts of the story of your big day.

A single shooter cannot be in two places at once.

Bride and Groom preparation coverage is a great example included in our wedding photography services. Both sides of the wedding story often take place in two different venues.

Hiring a wedding photography duo means that we can capture all the details, people, emotions and scenery at the same time throughout the day.

Don’t forget to scroll down for a secret other wedding photographers will not tell you!