Groom getting ready at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com

5 reasons you need a 2nd photographer for your wedding

As if choosing the perfect wedding photographer wasn’t too much work! Now your photographer is asking if you’d like to add on a 2nd shooter! You’re probably thinking  -  I just spent all this time finding someone with the style I like, is a good personality match and fits my budget! Why on earth would I need a 2nd photographer?

Here are 5 reasons why!

  1. Believe it or not, not even your perfect photographer can be in two places at once! If you’ve ever been checking out a wedding gallery and thought - wow I love all the photos of the bride and groom getting ready - you need a 2nd shooter! 
bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Groom getting ready for wedding at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com


  1. During the ceremony, the primary photographer is focused on capturing the bride as she comes up the aisle. Which means that they don’t get a chance to capture the emotion in the groom’s face! They also can’t get wide shots from the back or get shots of the audience as their focus is on the bride and groom. A second photographer allows the primary photographer to focus on the ceremony, the vows etc. while they capture the groom, the ambiance and audience reactions.
Wedding ceremony at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Bride and groom laughing during ceremony at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com


  1. If you’ve ever been to someone else’s wedding, you’ve probably seen how hectic it can get. There’s a strict timeline, people get lost trying to get to and from each location and one of the cousins is drunk and making a scene! Having a 2nd photographer means that everything runs nice and smoothly. They can assist the primary photographer by helping them with setting up lights, directing subjects and calling out names to get everyone organized for the formals!
Family formal at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Bride looking at groom at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Groom helping bride up the stairs at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com


  1. Even photographers have to eat! After shooting the bride and groom getting ready, the ceremony, then the formals and finally the start of the reception - your photographer is probably ready to feint! This is usually the time that your photographer takes a short break to rest and have something to eat before the first dance. What this means is that while the primary photographer is eating, he is missing out on capturing the MCs, the food, the bride and groom visiting each table and catching up with friends and family! With a 2nd shooter, your photographers can switch off for their dinner break so their are no gaps in coverage and missed moments.
Bride and groom laughing at reception at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Wedding reception dinner at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Mother speaking at reception dinner at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com


  1. The first dance is always the last big moment of a wedding and your photographer knows they only have a couple minutes to capture it. This means that your primary photographer will put all of their focus on the couple - they have to capture all those dance moves you practiced - right! Having a 2nd photographer means you’ll get some wider shots, audience reactions and different angles.
Bride and groom first dance at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com
Dance floor at Hatley Castle Victoria BC bride holding dress, taken by Marlboro Wang Photo for Focal bookfocal.com

While not every couple absolutely needs a 2nd shooter, it is probably the most overlooked part of comparing wedding packages.  Some photographers include them in their packages while others offer it as an add-on. So next time you’re comparing photographers wedding packages, be sure to take a look at whether a 2nd shooter is included or not - it could make a huge impact on your wedding photography experience. 

If you’re looking for the perfect wedding photographer, Focal can help! Browse our diverse selection of verified photographers in Victoria BC and compare styles, packages and prices in a convenient and transparent way. You also might get lucky as many of our amazing photographers tend to 2nd shoot for each other, which means you’re getting 2 fantastic vetted and verified photographers!

Browse Wedding Photographers

More from

Focal UniversityFocal Blog

July 16, 2021

Top 10 Wedding Photography Packages in Vancouver, BC

It’s time to find the perfect photographer for your wedding day. You want a photographer who you can trust, and who will capture all the special moments on your special day. To make things easy for you, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 wedding photography packages in Vancouver, BC. Here are the top 10 wedding packages in Vancouver, BC.
READ MORE
April 2, 2021

The top 10 wedding packages in Victoria, BC

Are you in search of the perfect photographer to capture your special day? Do you have absolutely no idea where to start looking for a wedding photographer in Victoria, BC, and no idea how to book their packages? Focal has you covered!
READ MORE
June 10, 2020

How to choose the perfect wedding photographer

With so many wedding photographers out there, each with their own plethora of packages and options to choose from, it can often be daunting to tell the difference. Thankfully, Focal is here to help!
READ MORE
Success! Thank you for subscribing.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Browse and Book a Photographer on the Focal Marketplace

Browse Styles, Compare Packages and Find The Perfect Photographer
BROWSE