Do I Really Need a Second Shooter? | Kingsbridge Brides

“Do I really need a second shooter?” I hear this question A LOT! And I get it! When you are planning a wedding, you have to look for ways to save money. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, weddings are EXPENSIVE, no matter how you look at it. I planned a simple (or so I thought), small wedding, had lots of friends pitch in to help, and I was still shocked at the pricetag at the end of it all. I know that most brides will want to opt out of the second photographer to save some money. But before you do that, let me tell you what you will be missing if you choose to have only one shooter at your wedding!

the many benefits of a second shooter…

1. Capturing moments in two places at once

At my wedding, there were SO many things that I simply did not get to see. I didn’t get to see my bridal party walk down the aisle or my guests interacting before the ceremony. I didn’t get to see many decorations that were put out because I was too busy talking to people! While those things were going on, there were a lot of things happening where I was too! There were so many sweet moments with my friends and family that my photographer captured in the room where I was. BUT, since I had a second shooter, I was also able to see moments that I wasn’t a part of later! So much goes on at a wedding. I had so much peace of mind because I knew if I was missing something, my second shooter would capture it!

2. Multiple angles during the ceremony

This one is easy! Several moments happen at once during a ceremony. The biggest moments are the bride’s entrance and the groom’s face when he first sees her! It is impossible to capture these moments at the same time without a second shooter. When I shoot solo, I capture the bride first entering, I turn around quickly and snap the groom’s face a few times, then I focus back on the bride! With a second shooter, all attention is on each moment separately!

I am always very concerned about not disturbing the guests’ experience of the ceremony. I try not to move around a lot! When I shoot alone, I get what I need up close first, and then I move to the back and stay there until the end of the ceremony. With a second shooter, one photographer is always getting close shots while another gets wider shots. All your bases are covered!

My second shooter was able to get this stunning image of the bride hugging her dad! I could never have captured this from my angle because I was shooting from the audience!

3. More Creative Angles during portrait sessions

As the main photographer, I generally focus on getting the “must have” shots at a wedding before I move on to more creative shots. The reality is that wedding timelines move fast and often we don’t have a lot of time for portraits. Sometimes we run out of time for the more creative shots! With a second shooter, my clients can rest assured knowing that they will have ample “must have” shots AND creative shots! We also have the added benefit of a second set of eyes. I’m still a human, and I can’t always see EVERYTHING. Having a second shooter ensures that every detail is captured!

One of my favorite images from my second shooter at Sam and Susie’s wedding!

4. Save Time and Shoot Multiple Things Simultaneously

With a second shooter, we are able to shoot things simultaneously! I can photograph the girls getting ready while my second shooter photographs the guys getting ready. I can photograph the bridesmaid portraits while my second shooter photographs the groomsmen. My second shooter can focus on photographing people while I’m doing the detail shots! Without a second shooter, our timelines simply have to be longer to fit in everything!

5. More Photos

This is another no-brainer. Clients often tell me that they loved having the photos of their guests interacting! They love that I deliver so many photos back to them! With a second shooter, you are simply able to have more complete coverage of your day and capture more moments! Which means you will receive more photos with a second shooter! You will never say, “man, I wish I had gotten fewer photos from my wedding.” But without a second shooter it’s very likely that you might say, “I just wish there had been more photos!” Don’t let that be you.

I love this image my second shooter got of this couple’s first look! I was shooting from behind the bride to capture the groom’s expression when he turned around! Because this bride had two photographers, she has both versions of the image!

I strongly suggest that all my brides hire a second shooter! If it simply isn’t in the budget, I get that! If that’s the case, I always urge them to at least hire one for the ceremony to capture those ever-fleeting moments. I hope this was helpful and let you see more of the value in having a second shooter!

Come back next week and I’ll be sharing some more of my favorite images from my second shooters that highlight why they are so valuable!

Happy Planning,

– Christi

Share This Episode

  1. […] possibly capture all of it.  My friend Christi at Kingsbridge Photography  wrote an awesome blog post about all of the benefits of having a second shooter.  I think engagement photos and second […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

FAVORITE POSTS

Networking Tips & Community Building as a Business Owner is written in purple text on a tan background. There is a photo of Kevin Dennis smiling at the camera

If you’ve ever wondered how to actually build strong connections in the wedding industry—or felt unsure about where to start with networking—this episode is for you. I sat down with Kevin Dennis, owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services and editor of WeddingIQ, to talk all things community, connection, and (you guessed it) networking tips. Kevin’s […]

Listen Now

Delegating for Balance in Business and Life is written in purple text on a tan background. There is an image of Anna smiling at the camera.

Welcome back, friend! This episode meant a lot to me. We talked about delegating, hustle culture, burnout, hiring your first team member, and what it really takes to delegate well (hint: it’s not just sending a Loom and hoping for the best). Whether you’re a solopreneur or ready to grow your team, I think you’ll […]

Listen Now

Organic Marketing Strategies Without the Burnout with Craig Peterman is written in purple text on a tan background. There is a photo of Craig holding a camera and smiling

In the latest episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I sat down with photographer and videographer Craig Peterman to talk about something every creative entrepreneur grapples with—how to market your business without burning out. With over 500 weddings under his belt, Craig has built a sustainable business by rejecting cookie-cutter strategies and leaning into what […]

Listen Now

How to use AI in Your Small Business to Think Bigger & Do More is written in purple text on a tan background with a photo of Kate looking at the camera holding a laptop

How to Use AI in Your Small Business to Think Bigger and Do More with Kate Hejde from Dear Kate Brand Strategy If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the endless to-do list that comes with running a creative business, you’re not alone. Content creation, client communication, admin tasks, and marketing can easily consume every […]

Listen Now

Scale Your Business Without Burning Out is written in purple text on a tan background. There is a photo of Emily sitting on a counter holding a cup of coffee.

How Emily Reno Scaled Her Wedding Business Without Burning Out If you’ve ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I sat down with Emily Reno—founder of Elopement Las Vegas and The Vegas Planners—to talk about what it […]

Listen Now

6 steps to create more time energy and mental clarity in your life & business is written in purple text on a tan background with a photo of josie journaling

Burnout. Overwhelm. That “Groundhog Day” feeling where every day looks the same. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this really it?”—you’re not alone. In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I’m joined by Josie Anderson, a soul purpose coach and the author of Awakened to the Divine Self, a guided journal that helps […]

Listen Now

GET YOUR 

FREEBIES!

VISION CASTING ULTIMATE WORKBOOK

Struggling to figure out what success looks like to you or want to write a vision and mission statement? Check out this guide!

GET THE GUIDE

THE DREAM BIZ ROADMAP


Overwhelmed with all the steps it takes to start a business? Download the Dream Biz Roadmap! 

DOWNLOAD NOW

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO A HIGH-CONVERTING WEBSITE

Ready to make sure your website is set up to convert? Download the Ultimate Guide to a High Converting Website! 

GET THE GUIDE