1 vs 2 photographers

Would the first one be willing to add a second shooter onto the package as an additional cost (if it's in budget)?

View Quoted Comment They have a package that includes a second shooter, but it’s an additional 2k :/ and we’re already maxed out on our budget. That’s why I’m so torn!!!

I'd personally go for the one with the second shooter

A second shooter is usually recommended unless you have a tiny wedding (my photog says with less than 40 guests, you could maybe get away with just one).

We only had one photographer and the only things that really got missed were people mingling during cocktail hour.

View Quoted Comment Yeah, we’re planning on having over 100 people.

For me personally, photography style is really important, so if it were me, I would probably be going with photographer 1 because I would much rather breath-taking photos I can't fault than have a broader selection of photos which are nice but don't hit the mark for me.

Is the first photographer at all able to hire a second photographer for a few hours only so as to only add maybe a few hundred $ to the total fee instead of the $2,000 for (assumedly) the whole day?

Photos are the only thing you have after the wedding day is over besides your new spouse and memories that will fade over time. That’s why so many people say to spend as much as you are able to get the best quality and cut out anything unnecessary to afford it.


A second shooter will get angles and shots that the solo photographer can’t. You mentioned that you prefer the coloring style of the solo photographer better. In my mind that would be a no brained to work the budget around to afford a second shooter. Another option is to ask them to create a custom group of services for you within a budget you can work with, which is very common. A photographer can have all the awards and get spots in all the magazines but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t like their style.

View Quoted Comment

Yes! I agree, that's why I'm torn. Because we originally wanted to only spend maybe 3k on photos. However, I was not blown away by anything that I was seeing. So we bumped it up to $8500 which is our absolute max, and cannot go higher. Both I think are amazing and I think I would be pretty happy with either, but I'm just trying to decide which is more important I guess. More angles in a very pretty style, or a style that is exactly what I was looking for, but less coverage and angles.

Have you looked at photographers in other cities that may be less expensive but still amazing style and considered paying travel expenses for them?

View Quoted Comment

Yes! I've searched high and low, and found a couple that were less expensive, but would practically come out to the same price with travel included, if not more. My dream style happens to be very hard to find in my area for some reason, and in the US in general. They are either upwards of 10k in the US (mostly in the 20ks), or cheaper and more abundant in Europe and the UK.

I know I'll have to sacrifice somewhere, but not sure what I want to sacrifice quite yet... but either way, both produce beautiful photos.

View Quoted Comment I wouldn’t think so, just because the photographer is already having to travel a few hours. So it would assume it would be a whole day thing.

I am finding photographer to be the most difficult decision so far!

I'd probably opt for the one with the second shooter, though it is hard to say without seeing photos from each photographer.

Something that was important for me in choosing my vendors was personality. Of the vendors I was considering, everyone was talented and good at they did, so I chose who I "clicked" with. I suggest doing the same, even if prices are a bit different.