What’s the value of a second shooter?
Planning a wedding is STRESSFUL. I say this with first-hand experience. I was recently married on 9/21/24 (super newlywed). When planning, there are so many decisions to make— what’s worth my money? What fits my vision? What do I need? What do I not need?
First, I want to say that a second shooter is not necessary. Your wedding day can effectively be captured without one.
BUT, there are a couple of pros to choosing to add a second.
What is a second shooter?
A second shooter is an additional photographer that represents the lead photographer’s brand. They provide coverage that the lead photographer isn’t able to. The lead photographer is still your main point of contact and will still edit and deliver a full gallery to you.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot going on during a wedding day, and it’s impossible to be in two places at once. As a documentary-style photographer, I find it so valuable to capture ALL the moments, big or small. I define the “big moments” as your first look, the first kiss at the altar, speeches/toasts, your first dance as a married couple, etc. The “small moments” are everything in between. The less “cookie-cutter” moments, the unexpected and unscripted. They’re worth capturing just as much as the big moments. Imagine getting your gallery back and seeing things that you didn’t get to physically witness on your wedding day. How special is that?! Hiring a second shooter will give you more of these in-between moments and ultimately more memories to look back at.
That’s not to say you won’t still get some of those moments when you book just me as your lead photographer— not at all. I rarely but my camera down throughout the day. My head is always on a swivel looking for sweet moments to photograph. But, there's times where I have to be in one spot ready to capture those big moments. That’s where the value of the second shooter comes in. Maybe they capture your grandma’s reaction to you walking down the aisle, or your little cousin cracking up at the speeches. It’s an opportunity for a second perspective.
Not only that, but a second shooter can help to stretch your dollar. If I am shooting a wedding solo, we have to ensure no important moments overlap in the timeline. But, if I’m shooting with a second, I am able to compact the timeline a bit. For example, I’m covering getting-ready photos of the bride and bridesmaids while the second is doing the same for the groom and groomsmen. Similarly, I can take bridal party group photos while the second is taking portraits of the groomsmen. This can save a lot of time, so you may be able to book 8-hours of coverage with a second shooter for $3,000 versus booking 10-hours of coverage with just one photographer for $3,125.
Below I have included a gallery of my favorite moments I captured as a second shooter working for another lead photographer.
Images in this blog post produced for the amazing, Hollie V Photography, https://hollievphotography.com
I hope this was a helpful perspective for you as you plan your wedding. My goal is always to alleviate as much of your stress as I can, because I get it.
I’d love to capture your wedding day, whether you decide to add on a second shooter or not. Click the button below to get the conversation going with me. I can’t wait to hear from you :)
