2Nd Photographer or More Hours?

That’s hard. Some of my favorite shots are from the 2nd photographer.
So what’s more important to you, a variety of shots/angles? Or a photographer being there all day? I guess the only thing you’ll miss out on with the shorter time frame is getting ready pictures.

What does your wedding day timeline look like?

We had our main photographer from about 11:30 - 7:30, and a second photographer from about 1 - 5. The second photographer really came in handy for the first look, ceremony, etc. and we got some cool shots because of the two perspectives.

Our main photographer was there just long enough, though I feel like she could've started even earlier (but that's mostly because the morning timeline became a little hectic).

A two photographer team seems to be more common but its totally up to you. Generally when there's two, one goes with the groom's party to take shots while they're getting ready, one will generally stay with the bridal party for some getting ready shots. They'll usually divide up the work too, like if one is doing first look shots, the other might be scoping out spots to take group pictures or even couple's pictures later. Also like PP said, you get more perspective shots which can be that shot you didn't know you wanted and absolutely love.

View Quoted Comment So, our timeline is a little tough. We'll need to hammer it out more with her. Getting married 1/1/22 in New England so, sunset time is stressing me out haha! Below sample timeline is kind of what I have made up in my head
3pm-first look with groom
345-back to groom/bridal party areas to hang/get ready photos/reveal to dad photos5-6pm bridal/groom party full photos
630pm -ceremony7pm-cocktail hour 8pm-dinner9pm to midnight-reception
Like I said I made this up. But I'm thinking of having photographer from 3pm-10pm.

View Quoted Comment

If you don't want any shots of the morning prep, like getting your makeup done or looking at yourself in the mirror for the first time all done up or relaxing with the girls before going to walk down the aisle, then that amount of time would be fine I think if anything "important" at the reception is happening before that hour mark is over like your first dance, father daughter, dance, cutting the cake, etc.

I'd choose the second shooter! Capturing both angles during the first look and ceremony are really important to me, whereas capturing me getting ready is less important.

2 photographers! We had 2 photographers for 5 hours. It was plenty of time and they got so many photos from so many different angles. The stuff that just 1 person couldn’t have captured because she would’ve been at a different angle.

That’s really hard because I think it depends on what kind of shots you want to take in terms of your timeline. Obviously if your timeline is from 3 to 10 it depends on when you want photos to start and end. Because for me personally I didn’t want any photos of me getting ready

Many photographers offer both standard. Take a look at photographers in your area on Instagram too see what they offer.

Get a 2nd shooter!!! Agree with other poster. So happy we had two photographers to get different angles and shots of key moments. Those moments fly by. And you want a different angle or 2nd shooter to capture reaction shots.

That depends on your timeline and the size of your wedding. My photographer considered an 80 person wedding "small" and would have had no problem shooting it on his own. He also said there was no need for him to stay the entire reception, it would just be a bunch of photos of people dancing.

That's tough to say, but I'd probably go with the second photographer over the extra hours. Depending on your timeline, photographers really only need to be there for a little bit after the cake cutting if you want like dance photos, and even then, they can wrap those up within an hour. We have both though, our main photographer is with me for 10 hours throughout the getting ready process and the second shooter is there for 6 hours to cover a few hours before with the guys getting ready, then to get second shots at the ceremony and for some of the reception.