One photographer or two; a question that is brought up a lot when I talk to my photographer friends. They always ask, do you offer two or just you? What should I offer?
My answer is simple. Do what your business model calls for… This leaves them puzzled and wondering what I mean by this. Let me explain further not only for my photographer friends, but for my clients as well. In the end my clients are the ones who are paying for my service, not my friends. But I want to help everyone
If you are a photographer you need to ask yourself a few questions.
1. Can I handle the entire wedding on my own?
2. Does my shooting style require 2 photographers?
3. What will my clients gain by having 2 photographers?
Answer them and be honest. Here are my answers.
1. Yes I can handle shooting an entire wedding on my own. I have done it for years and plan on doing it for another 20-30 years. Unless when I get older my body needs someone to carry my bag for me.Until then I am doing just great on my own.
2. My style is to capture the day as I see it. I can cover the whole day on my own and having someone else there capturing it with me does not always get me what I need or see in my vision of the end product. The only time I feel a second photographer is needed when there are more than 250 guests or the event is held at a location that is open and spread out. Making it physically challenging to be everywhere at every moment. Have I done weddings that were inside and outside and did I do them on my own? Yes I have and it was very tiring. It would have been nice to have someone cover outside while I was inside covering the main events. But I made it work and I bounced between the main events and outdoors where guests would gather to relax and enjoy the view. Would I do this again on my own? Yep, because I know I can handle it and it was fun. Plus it was like going to the gym and running on the treadmill. I got my workout in and got to shoot a fantastic wedding.
3. What do my clients gain when they book me and my 2nd shooter? Honestly, they get the same story captured and told by me. They just get more photos in the end; which at times can be very overwhelming to the client. Now it does make my job easier because I can cover one side while my assistant covers the other side to get what we need. A lot more planning between myself and my assistant needs to be done beforehand to make this work the way we need it to. One thing that is nice with having 2 photographers there is for the reception. Almost always for the getting ready, church and formals; my assistant and I will work together to get multiple angles of the day as it unfolds. At the reception is where it might make a difference. I can concentrate on the first dance and my assistant can grab a photo of a guest or family member doing something else or reacting to that I am photographing. Can’t I just do that on my own? Yes I sure can but this is where it makes it easier as my assistant is the eyes in the back of my head and again just makes my job easier.
Am I against having 2 photographers shooting my clients weddings? No not at all! If anything, I would love to do all of my weddings with you booking my 2nd shooter. I get someone to talk to and interact with as the story unfolds. I offer 4 packages; two with 2 photographers and 2 without. It just depends on what the bride is comfortable with and feels she needs. Either way, we will do a great job and capture the whole day with 1 or two photographers
I hope you find this information helpful while looking for a photographer. If you are a photographer, I hope this helps you as well in evaluating how you cover the wedding day.
Thanks for reading and have a great day.
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