Is a Second Shooter (Second Photographer) Necessary?

I am sometimes asked by couples who are getting married whether they need a second shooter/photographer on their wedding day. There is, unfortunately, no standard answer to this question. I typically make recommendations to my clients based on their specific needs. Whatever your case may be, here are some things you may find helpful in deciding whether a second shooter is necessary.

The “second shooter” or “second photographer” is something quite unique to wedding photography. When you look at every other genre of photography, the second shooter doesn’t really apply. Photography is art (right?) and artists typically produce whole works on their own. Of course, there are the occasional collaborative efforts of multiple artists such as the Sistine Chapel, but in general, when you’re looking for art, you’re looking for the work of one individual.

So, why then does a second shooter seem so important for a wedding?

Well, there are several reasons. Actually, the list can be quite long, but let me list the few obvious ones. A second shooter can:

• capture different angles;
• shoot at a different location, such as shooting the groom and his groomsmen while the main photographer is with the bride and her bridesmaids;
• provide up to twice the coverage.

Essentially this adds up to more variety and more photos. But is all of this necessary? The short answer is “no.”

Let me start by saying that I used to be a second shooter (well, technically, I brought my camera to two weddings, got some really good feedback, and then I started second shooting for a while). Just about every new wedding photographer starts out this way; it’s the most natural path to take, since most people don’t want to just do it on their own without seeing how it’s done first. After all, weddings don’t allow much room for error.

The good thing about wedding photography is that anyone can do it. The scary thing about wedding photography is that anyone can do it.

When looking for a wedding photographer, couples will view photographers’ portfolios (websites, blogs, Facebook, etc.). These portfolios should represent the works of the main photographers (i.e., not that of their second shooters). Photographers who use their second shooters’ work to promote themselves are simply misrepresenting themselves. If you’re happy with how a photographer captures a wedding based on what you’ve seen in their portfolio, and their portfolio is a complete and accurate representation of their work, then you can rest assured that they don’t *need* a second photographer to capture your wedding.

When a wedding photographer shows you a sample album, ask who captured all the images you’re looking at.

What about the different angles?

Multiple angles are great, and it [almost always] never hurts to have them. A great photographer, though, will always do his/her best to get the “best” angles.

Here I was shooting with world-renowned photographers Joe Buissink and Yervant. I have no doubt their angles were amazing, and perhaps having a fourth angle might be even better. While more can usually be better, it’s not always necessary.

And of course, expect that the second shooter — and the main photographer — will also appear in some of the photos (hence the “[almost always]” above). As you can see in this case, I got them and they got me.

What about being in two places at once?

Well, this is where wedding planning plays a key role. The thing is, no matter how good the second photographer is, his/her vision will be different from the main photographer’s. And people don’t hire photographers for their second shooter’s vision. Ideally, the main photographer shoots everything, and that’s what I like to do; it’s the best way to achieve one consistent vision to tell the whole story of a wedding. With a well-planned timeline, it’s often very much in the main photographer’s capability to shoot everything.

What about twice the coverage?

I make the final selections for my clients, which means that I’m also editing my second shooter’s images. Color balance and exposures, among other things, will vary between my images and those of my second shooter’s, requiring additional editing to ensure consistency across all images. Consequently, it’s not just a matter of editing twice as many images. When it comes to photography, editing someone else’s work often requires more effort than editing your own.

And, keep in mind that twice as much coverage doesn’t always translate into twice as many photos delivered.

For me, personally, an assistant is more useful than a second photographer, because then I’m not bogged down with carrying unnecessary equipment. The image below shows what it can look like when I don’t have an assistant. And yes, that is not my white clutch. 🙂

Ever since that day, an assistant has been more valuable to me than a second photographer. If a second shooter is at a different spot trying to get a different angle, that means he/she is not assisting me with my gear. When I’m not slowed down by carrying things that I’m not using, I can be more effective at creating images for my clients.

So what exactly is my point to all of this?

You can find many articles and posts about the benefits of second shooters. And I agree with all the ones I’ve seen. Second shooters, while sometimes necessary and always valuable, can come with a price. I always prefer to hire trusted peers (i.e., professional photographers) as second shooters, and they should be paid well, since they are forfeiting possible opportunities of their own to shoot with me instead.

If you’re happy with your photographer’s vision, and if what you’ve seen in his/her body of work is a complete and accurate representation of what you can expect if he/she were to shoot your wedding alone, then don’t sweat it if you don’t have a second shooter.

My favorite thing about having a second shooter is the additional company throughout the day. Do I love working with second shooters? Yes, I do. But are they essential?  Sometimes, but not always.

Aloha,
Kevin

P.S. With all that said, if you’re a photographer and you’re interested in shooting with me, feel free to say “hello.” 😉