One of the most common questions I get is “Should we add a second photographer to our wedding package?”
The honest answer? It depends.
It depends on your timeline, your venue layout, your guest count, and how much coverage you truly want throughout the day.
In this post, I’m breaking down the real pros and cons of hiring a second photographer, sharing insights from real weddings I’ve photographed, and helping you decide whether a second shooter is something worth budgeting for.
What Is a Second Photographer?
A second photographer (sometimes called a second shooter) is an experienced professional hired to work alongside your lead photographer. They capture your wedding from different perspectives, help cover multiple locations at once, and allow for a more complete story of your day.
This isn’t just someone tagging along. A good second shooter is trained, experienced, and essential in certain wedding day situations. The second photographers I work with all have their own businesses (so know the ins and outs of running a wedding day) and have all been extensively vetted by me (and are all my dear friends and folks I consider wonderful and talented people).
The Pros of Having a Second Photographer
More Coverage and More Moments
With two photographers on your wedding day, you simply get more photos — and more variety. During getting ready, one photographer can be in one getting ready suite and the second photographer can be in the other. While one photographer captures your walk down the aisle, the other can focus on your partner’s reaction. During portraits, one might focus on candid moments while the other shoots wider scenes. You get more of the full picture, quite literally.
Some areas of the day I rely heavily on a second photographer are:
- Getting ready (especially if you’re getting ready at two different locations or have a short amount of getting ready coverage)
- First looks and walking down the aisle (no tear or glance is missed from you or your partner)
- Cocktail hour (usually when I’m photographing family photos)
- Reception details (usually when I’m photographing wedding party and/or couples photos)
Getting Ready Coverage in Two Locations
If you and your partner are getting ready in two separate places, a second photographer ensures both of your mornings are documented — no rushing back and forth or missing special moments like letters, champagne toasts, or that final moment before you step into your dress or suit.
Candid Moments You Might Not See
While the main photographer is shooting family formals, the second shooter can be roaming cocktail hour, grabbing guest reactions, table details, or candid hugs and laughter that you’d never know happened otherwise. One of my favorite things for second photographers to capture is family reactions during ceremony, these candids can be hard for me to capture if I’m focused on you and your partner. But these in-between moments often become couples’ favorite photos in their final gallery.
Multiple Angles During Key Events
First look, ceremony, first dance — having two photographers means you’ll get both close-ups and wide shots of the same moment. One can focus on the emotion, the other on the atmosphere. It adds a lot more storytelling depth to your images.
More Variety During Portrait Sessions
One thing I pride myself on is making portrait sessions fun and fast. I don’t want your wedding day to feel like a photoshoot. I don’t want to take up an hour of your wedding day taking photos while you hear your family and friends laughing and having fun. One way to ensure you get a huge variety of photos while still keeping the portrait session short and sweet, is having a second. They will get different and unique angles so you get double the photos in half the time.
Simultaneous Events Captured
On a wedding day, we might have multiple important things happening at once– getting ready at two locations, family photos as cocktail hour begins, couples photos while the reception space is empty before guests enter, without a second it can be physically impossible for me to photograph every event. So if cocktail hour or reception details are important– consider a second!
Smoother Timeline on Busy Days
On wedding days with full schedules and multiple locations, a second photographer helps keep things moving. While the main photographer handles couple portraits, the second can photograph the reception space before guests arrive, or capture moments with the wedding party. You’ll get more done in less time without sacrificing quality.
A Built-In Backup
Though it’s rare, things happen — camera gear fails, people get sick, timelines shift. A second photographer gives you peace of mind that someone else is there, ready to step in and capture anything that might be missed.
The Cons of Having a Second Photographer
Added Cost
Hiring a second shooter is an additional investment. It usually adds anywhere from $400 to $1,200 to your photography package, depending on hours of coverage and the experience level of the photographer. All my second photographers can be added on hourly, with a minimum of 4 hours (to ensure a fair price for them to block off a full wedding day).
A Slightly Bigger Vendor Footprint
Some couples want a very small, intimate feel to their day. Adding a second photographer means there’s one more person moving around during emotional or quiet moments. It’s something to consider if you’re planning an elopement or very small ceremony.
When Should You Consider a Second Photographer?
Here are a few scenarios where adding a second shooter really makes sense:
- You’re expecting 100+ guests
- You and your partner are getting ready separately
- Your ceremony and reception are at different locations
- You value detail photos (reception space empty, ceremony details, etc.)
- Your ceremony has a short aisle or tight on space
- You want cocktail hour photographed
- Your timeline is tight and doesn’t allow for much downtime
- You want more candid, documentary-style coverage
- You value a storytelling-style gallery with a variety of angles
If any of these apply to you, a second photographer is likely worth the extra investment.
Final Thoughts
For most traditional weddings, yes — adding a second photographer is absolutely worth it. It adds value, peace of mind, and gives you a much fuller documentation of your day. While it might not be necessary for a small elopement or an ultra-simple celebration, it’s one of the best ways to elevate your wedding coverage without doubling your entire photography budget.
When you look back on your wedding photos years from now, it’s often the unexpected, unscripted moments that mean the most. A second photographer helps make sure you don’t miss them.
Planning your Colorado wedding and wondering if a second shooter is right for you?
I’m happy to talk through your vision, timeline, and venue layout to help you decide what makes the most sense for your day. Reach out anytime and let’s make sure your memories are documented in a way that truly reflects it all.
I hope this post on second photographers gave you more clarity! Here are some other resources that you might find helpful:
Why you should do a day after session
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