Coming soon…

It’s a question I’ve been asked many times, and I am willing to bet that many couples don’t necessarily ask it, but they wonder about it: Do we really need a second photographer? For 2015, I restructured all Weddings by Powell Woulfe Photography collections to include a second shooter/photographer. Why? Simply, I believe a second photographer helps tell the complete story of your wedding day.

This could be a rather long post, but I promise that it will be worth reading to the end. If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, there are a lot of options for you to consider. You have a variety of vendors to interview and select.  As a wedding photographer, I always want my couples to get the best coverage of their wedding day, and often that includes having a second photographer work alongside of me. But many couples don’t know they why or how of second shooting. Let me explain a little more about the process.

for Jen Harvey Photography

What does a second shooter do?
Second shooters/photographers add another angle or dimension to your wedding day photos. While the primary photographer (me) is capturing the bride and her bridesmaids giggling and gushing over dresses and rings and shoes, the second photographer could be hanging out with the guys snapping away at the laughs and bear hugs and nervous smiles. During a first look, the second photographer is capturing the bride’s reaction while I capture the groom’s face as he sees his new bride in her beautiful gown. While photographing the family and bridal party following the ceremony, the second shooter is a crucial tool to help organize, pose, and keep the timeline moving along. And the reception….well, let’s just say that the second shooter is definitely useful to capture all the fun, candid moments. Two sets of eyes are always better than one!

for Rachel Smith Photography

What happens to the second photographer’s images?
After the wedding, I sort my images and that of my second according to time. I use images from both of us to tell the story of your wedding day, from the preparation, to the ceremony, to the toasts, to the first dance, to the reception. Most of the time, you can’t tell which images belong to the second shooter. All of the images are edited the same way, and designed to flow with your wedding story. I select second photographers who have a style to complement my own, so the presentation is seamless. The majority of a final wedding gallery will be composed of my images, however the second photographer’s images are important to round out the coverage!

for Jen Harvey Photography

Who needs a second shooter? 
There are no hard and fast rules, but I would say 95% of the weddings I have photographed as a primary or secondary photographer would have benefited (or did benefit) from having a team of two photographers. There is no particular guideline on number of guests, locations, etc. An outdoor wedding as small as 40-50 guests would benefit from a second photographer, as would a larger wedding of 300 guests in a large, historic church.  One thing I like to remind my couples: no one has ever regretted having a second photographer accompany me, however there have been regrets when a second was not included. Yes, there have been times when a bride opted to not include a second photographer in her coverage, but the day of  the wedding, we both realized how a second would have been a benefit. I always review my bride’s needs and desires in coverage during the initial consultation to make my best recommendation. If you have an intricate timeline, special ceremonies, a large venue, or time constraints, a second photographer is generally highly recommended!

What does adding a second photographer cost?
I’ve been asked if adding a second photographer doubles the cost of the photography. Short answer: No!!! Yes, I do have to pay a second shooter, and I spend the time editing those extra images, so there is a cost involved, but it is nominal compared to the cost of missing those precious moments on your wedding day!  To make it easier, and because I believe that nearly every wedding day benefits from two photographers who work together as a team, Weddings by Powell Woulfe Photography always include two photographers from now on!

for Rachel Smith Photography

Do you ever second shoot? Where do you find second shooters for PWP?
Yes, I do! And I love it! I have fabulous relationships with several of my photographer friends in this area – weekends when I am available, I will second shoot for them, and vice versa. We work well as a team, and know we can depend on one another to cover events professionally. I love working alongside my peers in the wedding industry, and the opportunity to present their couples with the best coverage of their day. Second shooting for them is a TON of fun. It’s a little like picking your co-workers, then going to a party with them! 😉

So what if I don’t have a second photographer?
Hey, that’s OK! It’s your ultimate decision, but I will do my best to guide you on what I believe will give you the best photographic coverage possible. I completely admit that there were times I wish I could be in two (or three or four) places at once on a wedding day, which is obviously impossible.  I am happy to show you a gallery from a wedding with a second photographer, and a gallery from a wedding without, and talk through your options. It is 100% possible to customize your wedding collection for YOUR needs.

The images you see in this post are from a few of the weddings I have second shot this summer.  I know that I put every ounce of my effort and professionalism into each of my second shooting gigs, as do the seconds that I select to work with me.  Together, we make a wedding day team to ensure that we capture every beautiful moment of the start of your new life as a couple! For more information, get in touch! Email or call: 410-921-9232. I look forward to helping with your wedding day photography planning!