the things you might have missed…this is so important…so please, keep reading 🙂
okay…the title sounds a little…strange. trust me, there will be things you miss on your wedding day. guess what? it is okay. you hired a professional to capture the day, and i will do just that! i have backup gear in case of an equipment malfunction, etc. but you know what? i am one person…that can be in one place, at one time. so you guessed it…this post is about second shooters 🙂

so let’s get down to it…a second shooter. do you need one? what is their role throughout the day? is it worth it?

1} do you need a second shooter?

i think second shooters are wonderful. there are some wedding photographers that refuse to work without one, especially when they have found their second shooter 🙂 they’re a team. i have brides ask me all the time… “do i need one?” and my answer is simple…

“if you would feel better about having a second shooter there, by all means, add a second! but do not think that because your best friend had 3 wedding photographers, means that you have to have more than one.”

i have captured wedding days alone…it’s hard, but it is do-able. 95% of my weddings on my blog are done by just me. i work good alone. i work good with a second, but sometimes it is hard to find a second shooter that is in sync with me!

2} what is the second shooters role throughout the wedding day?

when i shoot with a second shooter they serve two main roles throughout the day…

role 1: assistant – this is usually during family formals. there is no need for side angles of all of the family formals. my second will help me corral family members and make sure we go by the formal portrait list.

role 2: photographer – this is the role they fill 80% of the day. i never place full responsibility on a second shooter. my brides booked me because they met with me and liked my style. i would never give them anything else than what they originally chose. my second is responsible for candid shots, additional angles and extra creative shots.

3} is it worth it to have a second shooter?

yes! i think a second shooter is priceless…like i said, i can only be in one place at one time. there are moments that you will miss as a bride…and guess what…there are moments i will miss because i am only one person. so if you’re worried about missing something – please, add a second shooter on to your packages!

bonus} with a second shooter, i typically have an additional 200-300 shots to add to the gallery 🙂 just a little something to think about!