In the time I have been working as a Documentary Wedding Photographer, I have worked with a second photographer only on one occasion. And in this instance the client wanted that second not just to cover one half of the client preparations, but for the full day.
I explained that they really didn’t require a second. They were eager for a second and so I sourced one for them.
On the day, this couple pushed the boat out. A wedding is quite often a one-off experience and celebration. I guess they were in it for the complete experience. And then some. They were coming for the US and were very excited. Regardless, I didn’t feel that a second was necessary on this occasion. The wedding, from prep until dancing, was being held on one location. And my philosophy has always been that less is more. And yet with that approach I will always be comprehensive.
Experience brings that.
There will be a situation where the couple are a fair bit apart on the wedding morning. Though rare enough. And this may be call for a second. If a second is required at all. Most often I will start a bit earlier to cover this part of the day.
I will start with one client. Whatever stage they are at works for me. At the end of the day, it is all about story telling. And the story will build from there until it culminates in late evening fun. It will ebb and flow.
And I did once have a question that went “what about other angles?”
If this potential client didn’t grasp the dynamic of the work I have available, both online and in my portfolio, then that to me would be an issue. How many angles do you want? How many angles do you need?
This perhaps feeds into the how many pictures is enough pictures?
In my time working as a Cork wedding photographer, I have done so in a dynamic manner. With a no set up approach, I will hit it as I see. This is the very beauty of the way I prefer to work. In that reportage way. To work with a second changes that. There may be a level of choreography. I can only imagine that we might stumble over each other at certain moments, at the very least.
So, do you need a second photographer for your wedding? I have been asked only a few times. And yet this has been happened on only one occasion.
In recent times I tend to photograph a good number of smaller, more intimate affairs. And at intimate Cork Wedding venues. Such as Barnabrow or Dunowen House, or wedding photography at Jacobs on the Mall. My of working as a documentary wedding photographer is ideal for that kind of day.
