One or two photographers for the wedding? That’s the dilemma…
Either for the economic question or for the fear that there is a presence too intrusive by the photographers (see the advice no. 3 in this article), couples who turn to me, many times they are a little hesitant about choosing to hire two photographers instead of just one.
But the question remains: are two photographers really necessary to photograph your wedding?
LET’S START FROM FEARS
As I said, there are essentially two fears about the presence of two photographers.
I’m afraid that two photographers turn out to be too intrusive
Rightly, the fear that two professionals who buzz around spouses and guests may annoy, is well founded.
I could tell you about photographers/ animators of the village, colleagues more interested in the invited than not to do their job or, again, of photographers who, with the excuse of being two and to be company to each other, sit and chat half the time.
What can I say, all true.
But it is also true that those who are directly concerned, I can assure you that they would behave in the same way on their own.
For me, for example, discretion and invisibility is a fundamental characteristic in doing my job: I do not attend a wedding to celebrate and dance, but to tell who does.
This is why, at a time when I need a colleague to support me, I choose someone who has this in mind.
Simply put, a wedding photographer who bases his modus operandi on discretion, choose colleagues and collaborators who are on the same line and has all the interests (having to pay them) that this line is respected
The second photographer costs me too much
Often the hiring of two photographers for a wedding becomes an economic problem.
The price difference and sometimes even the fact of having to feed an extra person can prove to be an obstacle.
But why?! Has anyone ever made you feel that you have to provide for the sustenance “mangereccio”? Yes, once a groom, to my proposal of a second photographer told me “yes but then I must also feed him”.
Therefore, we assume that the difference between hiring one or two photographers for the wedding affects about 15% of the total service (approximately 200/300€).
This figure can be high or can be low, everything depends.
I cannot deny that, when I am faced with weddings with a budget of fifty thousand Euro, to feel myself getting fleas on the two hundred, a little m makes me hives.
But I do not like neither the ostentation nor. the exodus, therefore I always consider that each has its own priorities and needs.
But it is difficult to understand whether it is worth it or not to spend a certain amount without considering the benefits that that expense can bring.
Let us then move on to the next point.
THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS
The reasons to rely on the eye of two professionals instead of those of only one, are basically two.
A matter of safety
A photographer can guarantee you anything. He can promise you that he will take exactly that picture that you like so much and that you won’t have to think about anything.
But if he assures you that nothing can happen to him, that he can’t break the car, that he can’t be surprised by an attack of cagottibus velociraptus between 38 o’clock in the summer and the air conditioning of the location or that he can’t trip and break an arm, Well, then run for the hills.
Eeeeeeh but what a tragic thing you are – you’ll think – then if you think like that to a person anything can happen every single day.
Yes, of course, but that is not every holy day, that is your holy day. And if I’m covered by a colleague in case of any unforeseen plausibility, I’m happier.
And I assure you, you would be, too.
A matter of narrative
I admit, it may seem like a photographer’s mind wank, who cares about storytelling.
Many will tell you about this storytelling without explaining to you precisely what implication it can have in telling your marriage, as if it were something very abstract.
And instead, with a few practical examples, I’m going to explain how it doesn’t.
Imagine yourself on your sofa, ready to enjoy on an album or on your large eighty-inch screen the photographic story of your wedding. Here it is, the moment when she is entering, beautiful, with shiny eyes and a poorly concealed tremor. And there he is, staring at her like she’s the most beautiful thing… Ah, no, that part isn’t there. The photographer couldn’t get two cameras pointing in two different directions.
But wait there is that toast between the newlyweds and meanwhile that hilarious scene of grandpa Gianni running playing in the meadow followed by little Dav… Ah no. Not even that, it was happening at the same time.
But there is the launch of the bouquet, when Valentina took the bouquet and meanwhile Paolo runs awa… No. Nono, not even that.
In conclusion: one or two photographers for the wedding?
Seriously, I can’t tell you that the second photographer is always necessary. Nor tell you that the expense is always worth the surrender. That would be a lie.
There are for example very small weddings with about thirty guests, perhaps in a very small location, where a second would in fact be quite redundant.
However – in case your wedding is on average populated and happens in a medium size location – I urge you to consider that expense of two or three hundred Euros that could make you not stay with the bitter taste in your mouth, for an unexpected event or simply for a moment that you wanted to have with you forever and that instead will be lost.
For the rest, the choice is yours!