How many photographers are required to photograph a wedding? With the advent of digital photography there are an ever increasing number of photographers working with friends, partners, husbands or wives on the basis that two photographers offers couples getting married better coverage of their wedding day.
Would three photographers or more be better; maybe it gives added perceived value. In truth from a guest’s point of view he or she wants to attend a wedding to support the couple getting married and have an enjoyable, relaxing time doing so. Many guests have commented they were pleased that I was the only photographer at many of the weddings I have photographed in recent years as they had been a guest at a wedding and felt that there was a lens pointing at them which meant they did not feel relaxed. People have also said that the other photographer was in some of the photographs.
I hadn’t thought of this reaction to more than one photographer; guests have also told me of photographers that had argued in front of the bride and groom how the dress should be arranged. Then again people have also said they had been to weddings where the photographer had blown a whistle to attract peoples’ attention when taking the group photographs.
I tend to work alone, although I can always arrange for a second Professional photographer to second shoot if the couple choose this option. Please note that this is always a professional wedding photographer and not someone who is an enthusiast; I have spoken with many photographers who use second shooters that are not capable of photographing weddings on their own as they have neither the personality or the nerve to go it alone. This is mainly to ensure that the main photographer doesn’t teach an assistant photographer how to shoot a wedding who then branches out on his/her own and become competition; their words not mine.
When couples look at complete collections of wedding photographs I have taken at different weddings they often comment about the variation of the content i.e shooting styles – relaxed, fun and loose through to dramatic and funky images often in black and white or toned to provider a softer less in your face image.
My personal take is that it all depends on what people want; it’s a bit like the prices photographers charge. Some brides are interested in quantity rather than quality the same way that some are more driven by price than quality. This is all part of the fascination I have of meeting or speaking with couples getting married. It’s their wedding day so it’s entirely up to each couples preference.
The huge number of photographers based in Cornwall plus those that do not live in Cornwall but advertise their services in Cornwall means that couples have huge choice which has to be good. Having said that I do think that the bulk of wedding photographers tend to do the same sort of thing; unposed, natural photographs tend to be the words used to tell prospective couples what they do. Many photographers will shoot with a long lens, almost as if they’re not there, most of the time; to me it’s all about variation and providing coverage that results in photographs that say more than words; photographs that capture the excitement, nerves, personality of the bride and groom, their families and wedding guests along with everything that will make each wedding unique to each bride and groom.
If you are getting married I hope you enjoy your time planning your wedding and finding the right photographer to photograph you and your wedding party.