Having photographed quite a few weddings over the years I know the benefits in having more than one photographer on your wedding day.
Not so long ago I was photographing a very large wedding that required me to be in two places at once and quite possibly three places at once. There was so much going on that it was impossible for me to capture every moment, Luckily there were two photographers there that day and while I was with the main Wedding party my other photographer was capturing the guests as well as the parents and those spontaneous moments that always seem to happen when your focusing on the important Wedding couple photos and you can see these wonderful photo opportunities happening close by and wishing you had been able to get those as well. When the wedding was over I asked my other photographer “did you see that moment happening close by while the couple were exchanging vows, I wish I could have captured that moment it would have made a beautiful picture and I know the Wedding couple would have loved it ” and he said “yes I saw it also but don’t worry I got the shot”. It is times like that when I truly appreciate working in a team of photographers while at a wedding, no moment is missed and the choice and angle of photo’s you have to pick from after the wedding is huge. I understand with many photographers they prefer to work alone, and I myself have been the sole photographer at a wedding a number of times. But it isn’t easy, and you can become quite exhausted before days end running from one place to another keeping up with it all, on top of carrying all your heavy equipment with you.
Personally the benefits of having extra photographers with you on the wedding day is well worth it from a photographers position, you are more relaxed with time to concentrate on every image you take without worrying about the ones you may have missed. Your probably thinking that with extra photographers that they would get in the way and it seems a bit over the top having so many people taking photos, remember everybody there is taking photos, your guests, close family and a photographer working alone generally has an assistant, sometimes two so having those extra people taking photos seems the logical step.
When I work in a team, one of us is the Main photographer who is out in front working closely with the Bride and Groom while the other photographer is unobtrusive and seamlessly blending into the background without really being noticed. You may think it will cost more for extra photographers; generally this is not the case. When you purchase a Photography Wedding Package it comes all-inclusive so you gain more for your money. It’s also great when discussing ideas with the Bride and Groom to have the extra creative input from another photographer with just as much passion for photography.
What’s important is it is your Wedding day and you have planned this day for some time and you deserve to be the centre of attention, so why wouldn’t you want to feel special with so much extra attention. I have had some couple’s say to me a few days after the wedding had finished that it made them feel like a star with all the extra attention.
So in summary you want to work with a photographer whom you feel comfortable with and listen’s to you.
Has a portfolio or website where you can view his/her work and conducts themselves in a professional manner.
And most importantly a photographer who can be in two places at once so no moment is missed.