Do you really need a second shooter?

As you shop around for your perfect wedding/elopement photographer, you’ll start to notice that many of them include, “second shooters,” or offer them as an add on. Second shooters are a great resource for many reasons, so let’s break down what they do and reasons you may or may not want one on your wedding day.

What exactly does a second shooter do? 

Second shooters are perfect for capturing moments when your lead photographer can’t be in two places at once. You can usually find them photographing one half of the wedding party while the lead photographer is photographing the other half, capturing cocktail hour while your lead photographer is working through family photos or whisking you away for couples portraits. Second shooters also serve as an assistant for your lead photographer, whether that means capturing a variety of angles while your lead photographer is taking photos of you, your ceremony or any other traditions, or helping them with gear, lighting set-up, etc. Most importantly, they also offer an extra back up of back ups. What the heck does that mean? Well, photographer’s are human and technology sometimes fails. Second shooters provide a little bit of insurance that all of your favorite memories from your big day will be captured in case your lead photographer misses something, or their gear fails for whatever reason. All of these things are perfect for ensuring your wedding day runs smoothly.

Are second shooters really necessary for elopements and microweddings? 

So if you’re here, you know I primarily photograph microweddings and elopements. They’re intimate affairs that truly allow newlyweds to soak up every moment of their day without experiencing that wedding day black out of having to be pulled in every which direction. So are second shooters really necessary for those, “smaller,” events? I’d say it really depends. Some factors that might make having a second shooter valuable to you is if you and your partner are getting ready in separate locations, your timeline is fast paced and you want to get couples photos in while also getting photo coverage of your cocktail hour. If you’re doing a first look or saying private vows, or if you’re wanting a variety of angles than what one photographer can get, this is another great reason why second shooters can be valuable. 

All that being said, if you are getting ready together or getting ready in the same location but maybe just have separate rooms, and your timeline doesn’t require multiple things to overlap, you may not need a second shooter. 

Do second shooters usually stay for the entire day? 

It depends. Some photographers will ask that you pay for a specific number of hours you want your second shooter to cover. Others, like me, will include them in their packages or have a flat rate to cover second shooters as an add on then choose how long they need them. Usually if that’s the case, the lead photographer will have them stay for bigger/overlapping events then send them home for the night.

So do you really need one?

Second shooters are a luxury, and by no means a requirement. While I offer them in a couple of my packages, you’ll still get plenty of coverage by just hiring a solo lead photographer. I hope this helps you narrow down the decision to hire or not to hire a second shooter for your big day.

Thanks again for joining me on The Wild Side,

Wildy with love,

Chey