With each of my wedding collections I offer the option to add a second photographer (second shooter), and most of the time people aren't sure if they want or need a second shooter on their wedding day. A second shooter might not work for everyone, but there are certainly times when I would recommend adding one! Here are some reasons you might want to think about adding a second photographer to your package.
1. Will the groom and bride be getting ready at different locations (or in different rooms), and do you want a photographer at both locations? If you don't have a lot of time for "getting ready" pictures before the ceremony, but you want pictures of both the bride and groom as they are getting ready, a second shooter can come in handy. I will stay with the bride and her girls while they get ready, and my second photographer will go take pictures of the groom and his groomsmen!
2. When the bride is walking down the aisle, do you want pictures from both the front and back? With two photographers you get two different viewpoints, and the second photographer will focus on getting pictures of the groom as he sees his bride in her dress for the first time and watches her walk down the aisle.
3. Are you limited on time for family and bridal pictures? Whether it's after the ceremony or after the temple, if there are two photographers there, the family and bridal pictures can get done in less time, because we split up groups between the two of us. We also both shoot the bride and groom's pictures at the same time, allowing two different angles/views/crops of the same photo - once again ensuring you will get a larger variety of pictures from your wedding day.
4. Are there a lot of events that will be happening at the reception? If there will be multiple things going on at once, it would be helpful to have two photographers so that nothing gets missed.
When you are booking your Utah wedding photographer and trying to decide if you should add a second shooter to your package, it boils down to the type of ceremony, the amount of pictures, and the time that you have for pictures. If you want to get more pictures and more viewpoints from your wedding day, hire a second shooter. If you want different angles as you walk down the aisle, hire a second shooter. And if you are limited on time for pictures on your wedding day and want to get the most for your money, hire a second shooter. If you have any more questions about adding a second shooter to your package, please contact me!
Heather Ellis is a Utah wedding photographer and Utah family photographer based out of Lehi. She has been one of the best Utah photographers for the past 8 years and has 10 years of experience doing wedding and family photography.
