Q: I’m starting to look into photography and have reviewed a few packages so far. I see that some packages say “main photographer and assistant” and some have “two photographers”. Do they mean the same thing? If not, do I absolutely need two photographers?
A: This is a great question that you’ve asked. It is so important to understand exactly what you’re getting with your photography package {or any package for the matter}. Unfortunately, there could be several ways to answer this question because every photography company is different. The best advice is to meet with with companies that interest you to see exactly what they’re offering.
The term “assistant” is tricky because an assistant could possibly be a second shooter, or they could be a person who helps with equipment and making sure the photographer has taken key shots. Whether you need two photographers is soley up to you. It generally costs a little extra to have a second shooter but the benefit is that you have more shots from more angles that may potentially be missed if there was only one photographer. Think about whether you want a photographer to take pictures of your fiance and his groomsmen getting dressed as well. Some people love the aspect of one camera focusing on the main action {i.e. bride and groom}, while the other camera focuses on reactions from guests and other moments.
If these are things that are important to you, then you may want to look into having a second photographer, even if they are only there for part of your event.
| Vanessa |