How Many Photographers? ?

Question

How many photographers do you really need to have at your wedding. Most wedding photographers offer packages with one or two people. I'll probably be having 150 guests. My bridal party will have about 4-5 girls in it. He'll have about the same for groomsmen. Ceremony at a Catholic Church with an evening reception at a traditional venue.

Do we go for one photographer or two? I want pictures of us getting ready, at the church, with out families, bridal party, candids, etc. Plus, I want pictures at the reception for at least 1/2 the time. So, I want the intros, dances, speech, dinner, cake cutting, garter, bouquet toss and some of the dancing.

Answer 1

We had one and got some good shots but if your budget can afford it I would say splurge for two. One for the more traditional photos then another more towards guests and decorations. That way you won't miss a thing.  

Answer 2

For all you want, you might need to go for two. That way each one can focus on a certain thing.

Answer 3

Check with the priest where they let photographers stand at that church and how many are allowed. If he says that you can only have one, then there's no point in having the second one, at least not until the reception.

2 is a good idea, it lets one get some candid shots of people milling around (say while waiting for when they're supposed to pose with the couple) while more formal shots are being taken.

Answer 4

Most photographers you talk to will recommend you let them bring a second person for something that size.  If you look around enough some photographers have "interns" just as talented but just there trying to get their experience to find paid work.  They may allow you to use this second person without costing extra.

FOr the reception. my recommendation.  Get a c**p load of disposable cameras, stick one or 2 on each table and let people take the pics they want.  You'll get tons of great candid photos this way.  Most people do this now a-days and it's always a ton of fun.  You can even find cameras with wedding designs on them now. Check out www.theknot.com I know they have a bunch in their store with wedding designs, and I believe I recall seeing them at Walmart even.

Answer 5

Usually the second photographer is like "in training" and is more of an assistant that also does some shooting.  Their job is to get candid shots and shots of details (place settings with favours, bouquet close-ups, etc.).  If you give your photographer a list of "must get" shots, they will be sure to do it, a second photographer is just a bonus, and some photographers always have an assistant that shoots, they don't charge extra for it.

As far as having them stay for your reception, that is an expense that you will have to work out with each photographer you see.  This can be a very costly addition, since most packages include the pre-ceremony, ceremony and portraits afterwards.  You then have to add additional hours, which can be $100s of dollars per hour (depending on the photog).  Many will include the first dance if you do it right at the beginning of the reception (when you enter) and then stage the cake cutting right before they leave (so they only stay like 30 minutes of the reception).

My sister just got married on Thursday and they hired a photographer (just 1) for the day to do formal pictures at a historic castle and the ceremony.  Their reception was on Saturday and they didn't hire another photographer.  But so many people brought good digital cameras and they put disposable ones on each table; they got sooo many great pictures (pretty good quality ones from the digital cameras too, that they wouldn't have needed to spend the money on a professional for the reception.  Plus, other than the posed portraits of your bridal party, how many candid shots at your reception do you really need?  They will go in one album and are fun to look at once, but it's the professional ones of the ceremony and formal ones that you have framed and send to people anyway.

Answer 6

I might be a bit biased, but for full coverage it is best to have two.  Reasons being is that you have all your angles covered.  One photographer can be in the back with a telephoto and take general photos.    Also sometimes people might be moving too quickly and a photo might be blurry. Such as the kiss, it's a split second that a photo needs to be taken (focus and all).  A second photographer is nice to make sure that if one doesn't get it, another can.  

It's also nice to have one concentrated on a photojournalist style, while another obtains a more traditional style.  It's nice to have photojournalism, but many of the parents want the traditional style.  Which is why I urge people not to go with a person that only lies in one style.  Recently a photographer wouldn't take a photograph that a bride wanted, because it wasn't in the realm of photojournalism.

Also, as you mentioned you want pictures of you getting ready.  If you want your future husband as well, the photographer can't be in two places at one time.  Also it is nice to have the second photographer as an assistant for things like posing etc. while the main photographer sets up the camera.  

So yes, if you can afford go for two.  I realize catholic weddings are often longer, which means you might have to pay more.  Looking back at it years from now you'll wish you had.

This by no means says that one photographer can't do the job alone.  There are many that can, but for my personal preference it is always nicer to have two.