love wedding photos and film ❤️

Wedding photographer Edinburgh - elopement photographer Scotland

You are here: Home / Wedding photography advice blog / Double the magic: the benefits of having two photographers at your wedding

Double the magic: the benefits of having two photographers at your wedding

two photographers at your wedding article, with a couple standing outdoors, the man wearing a kilt and jacket, and the woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet. They are surrounded by greenery, with trees in the background.

For the wedding day, we normally supply two photographers, as our couples highly appreciate the benefits our services can offer to their special day.

Your wedding day is one of the greatest days in your life, filled with hundreds of moments of laughter, happiness, and love.

Those moments need to be captured for all time! Although one photographer can most definitely do the job, having two photographers at your wedding can take your photos to a whole new level.

In this investigation, we go in-depth into the reasons why hiring two photographers offers more advantages than hiring one, and why you should consider adding this to your budget.

Are you looking for one of the most popular wedding photographers in Scotland?

Contact us and see if we have your date available.

Total coverage: recording every moment and viewpoint

Varied viewpoints

Having two photographers at your wedding enables the ability to take a multitude of angles and shots simultaneously.

For example, while one photographer is taking the bride elegantly walking down the aisle during the wedding ceremony, the other can focus on the groom’s emotional response.

This two-way insurance ensures that you capture all those special moments, with you being able to have an overall view of your wedding day.

Picture the vows being exchanged. The first photographer might capture the intimate feelings exchanged between bride and groom, the small rings being given, and the tenderness of their ‘first kiss,’ while the second photographer concentrates on getting the tearful faces of the parents.

Together, they create a full story, capturing the intimate and the overall aspects of your ceremony beautifully.

A single photographer must endure the task of finding the ideal location and the exact time to photograph but is only capable of documenting one moment from one position at a time.

A bride and groom share a kiss during an outdoor wedding ceremony. A scenic body of water and cloudy sky are visible in the background.
Three women in floral robes sitting on a couch, smiling and toasting with glasses of rosé wine.

Full-day documentation

Weddings often consist of a set of events at multiple sites with concurrent times.

Having two photographers at your wedding ensures that all the special moments are captured exhaustively.

While one photographer follows the bride and bridesmaids through their preparations, capturing the nervousness and anticipation that fills the air, the other photographer documents the groom and groomsmen.

While one photographer focuses on the bride’s makeup and hair throughout the morning preparations, the other focuses on the groom, accompanied by his best man and groomsmen.

This ensures that the entire picture is viewed, enhancing the album with content and substance.

One photographer cannot take both of these photographs at the same time.

More creativity and excellence

Diverse styles and creativity

Diverse styles and creativity

Having two photographers at your wedding provides a wonderful combination of artistic styles and visions, enhancing the quality and creativity of your wedding photos.

Such variety can provide a wider and richer collection of photographs.

Each photographer can focus on their strengths, whether candid shots, portraits, or artistic compositions.

While one snaps posed, formal wedding and family portraits, the other can dive into candid, intimate shots—such as the flower girl dancing around the room or reception guests laughing and having fun.

This synergy of styles produces a body of photographs that is both comprehensive and compelling.

One photographer just cannot take your guests along with group and newlywed shots.

Wedding Photographer Edinburgh:: a bride in a fitted white gown joyfully throws her veil into the air in a grand stone corridor, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Caledonian Hall top table toast to the newlyweds

Improved concentration and productivity

Having two photographers at your wedding allows for better time management and a better division of labour.

They can assign duties in a manner that each key moment and aspect is taken care of, all without rushing or neglect.

Such work segregation also guarantees a smooth continuity during the day.

In the reception, a photographer is tasked with taking pictures of the speeches and the toasts, and another is focused on capturing the guests’ reactions.

This ensures that nothing escapes attention.

A single photographer can’t capture the groom raising a toast while photographing the guests raising their glasses.

 

Enhanced guest experience

More personal attention

Having two photographers at your wedding provides a wider scope to extend you and your guests more intimate attention.

They can interact with different groups, ensuring everyone is included and feels special.

A personal touch can create a feeling of relaxation and warmth.

One of the photographers takes individual and group photos of the wedding guests, while the other takes photos of the couple in their honeymoon mood.

This method ensures that the couple and their guests are given sufficient attention, leading to the awe-inspiring well-balanced and harmonious composition of photographs.

If there is only one photographer, a lot of the day’s coverage is about having to make sacrifices, choosing one moment over another.

A wedding group with four women in navy dresses and five men in scottish kilts, with the couple in the middle, standing in front of a building entrance.
A woman wearing a decorative hat with a blue and green plume smiles while conversing with a man in a suit at a social event.

Candid moments

Having two photographers at your wedding almost doubles the chances of catching those real, spontaneous moments.

While one photographer focuses on the major events, the other can roam about freely, recording the reactions, the laughter, and those priceless moments that make your wedding a one-of-a-kind experience.

While the lead photographer is engrossed in capturing the cake-cutting ceremony, the second photographer takes advantage to capture the wonderful moment when the flower girl is cuddled by granny and the merriment of guests cracking jokes and having fun.

These natural shots add personality and character to your photographs.

 

Reliability and backup

Redundancy and backup

The two photographers at your wedding provide a cushion, ensuring protection against technical glitches.

If one photographer’s gear fails, the other will be there to take its place, making sure the moment is preserved.

This redundancy offers peace of mind, knowing your wedding memories are secure.

In case of an outdoor wedding, if one photographer’s camera is damaged, the other would just continue taking pictures without a hitch, thus making sure that no crucial moments were lost.

A single photographer will at times have moments where they can’t take photos, spending a few minutes shifting to another camera, exchanging lenses, and adjusting to the changing conditions.

A couple stands facing a nighttime sky filled with fireworks. The woman is wearing a tiara.
A bride in a white dress stands in the center, holding hands with bridesmaids dressed in matching green gowns under a decorated tent with a chandelier above.

Consistent quality

Having two photographers at your wedding guarantees a smooth transition of excellent photographs taken during the day.

They can motivate each other, provide helpful criticism, and ensure that the quality of the pictures is always high.

If a photographer is faced with difficult lighting conditions at an indoor reception, the second photographer can smoothly intervene, prepared to offer and install extra lights without interrupting the course of events.

This collaboration guarantees not only the quality of your wedding photography but also the smooth flow of your day.

One photographer is doing all the work by himself on the day, which is great if all goes according to plan; however, when disaster strikes, it takes away the precious time to take pictures.

Making the most of your investment

More coverage = more photos

Hiring two photographers at your wedding typically means not just a plethora of images but also a broader coverage of the events of the day.

This detailed documentation can be of immense value to you as you prepare your wedding album or reminisce with those closest to you.

Two shooters will often provide twice as many photos for less than a 30% boost in price—a bargain.

Instead of getting 500 pictures from one photographer, you could end up with 800 or more from two photographers, covering a broader tapestry of moments, angles, and subtle details.

This expanding portfolio of images provides a multitude of options for creating a beautiful and comprehensive album, all for a cost that is significantly lower than twice the cost of a single photographer.

Having two photographers provides you with more value for your money.

wedding album spread open
Close-up of a table center display featuring a photo of a smiling couple labeled "Edinburgh." The background shows cutlery, plates, and blurred greenery with a white flower in the foreground.

Capturing venue details

Wedding venues tend to have a romantic charm and magical attributes that add beauty to your big day.

You also create custom elements for your event, such as table decorations, signs, and flowers.

Having two photographers at your wedding means that these moments can be caught from all sides, revealing the beauty of the location and the attention you’ve put into your decor, as well as keeping the memories of your guests and family alive forever.

While one photographer focuses their lens on the couple and the guests, the other can capture the fine subtleties of the table decor, the flowers, and the building architecture.

These complex shots add to the main photos, intertwining the entire story of the atmosphere of your wedding.

One photographer cannot record both possibilities simultaneously and therefore a compromise has to be made.

Practical considerations

Flexibility and adaptability

Having two photographers at your wedding gives you greater flexibility and responsiveness to changing circumstances.

They are able to split their work to cover different parts of the day or work together to better manage large group photographs.

If it rains and forces an outside wedding to be held indoors, one photographer can quickly adjust to photograph the new setup, while the other ensures that guests are notified and made comfortable.

This flexibility provides that your day goes smoothly regardless of the sudden changes.

The availability of the photographer is relatively restricted, which automatically results in delays when trying to modify the schedule.

Outdoor Weddings
Gardens - patio group photo

Improved organisation and coordination

Two photographers at your wedding can work together to organise and orchestrate photo shoots more efficiently.

They have the capacity to handle large crowds, coordinate poses, and verify that all people are present during those critical seconds.

One of the photographers stands and coordinates the groups for family shots, while the other records the moments using the camera.

This collaboration speeds up the process, with everyone looking their best.

Alternatively, have the second photographer take photos of your guests and let the first photographer take charge of you and your family.

Flexibility is key here, where a single shooter has fewer options.

Conclusion

The price of two photographers at your wedding is an investment in beautifully telling the entire story of your remarkable day.

For eloping in Scotland or for micro weddings, one photographer is usually adequate for the couple.

The two photographers’ comprehensive coverage, enhanced creativity, and personal attention ensure that every magical moment is documented beautifully.

Whether it’s the rich diversity of viewpoints, the sure stand-in for backup, or the richer experience for visitors, two photographers offer significant benefits that make your wedding memories even more precious.

If financially possible, consider adding extra sparkle to your wedding by hiring the services of two photographers.

This option can change your experience, providing you with a compelling, diverse, and unforgettable set of photos that you will cherish forever.

Our strength is working together, which has allowed us to coordinate at hundreds of weddings. As our couples have observed, we work seamlessly behind the scenes.

Being married helps us work together at your wedding, and years of photographer experience means no stress and no faffing about on your big day!

It should be noted that few photographers have a reliable ‘regular’ second shooter they can rely on.

Make sure you confirm who will be working on your booking. It is common for one photographer to hire a second shooter on an emergency basis, since it can be very hard to find a reliable and skilled assistant who is happy to book well ahead.

Look at it this way: If you’re a good photographer, good enough to shoot weddings on your own, why on earth would you accept making only a few hundred pounds at most for a full day’s work as a second shooter?

You could be working on your own projects and making much more money working for yourself. Not all photographers have the best ability to take pictures alone, so it is important to know with whom you are dealing!

By selecting us to work for you, you will have two photographers at your wedding, and our absolute promise to be there for you on your wedding day!

We are 100% committed from the moment you hire us.

Adrienne and Emily walking holding hands
Enquire here!

Wedding planning advice

icon-angle icon-bars icon-times