THE FLEETING MOMENTS, UNNOTICEABLE TO THE UNTRAINED EYE –

Most of us have terrible memory. We snap away on our phones when the moment presents itself, to freeze something special, a moment in time where life was sweet. Now, multiply one person’s snapshots by the number of guests invited to the wedding. Well, this is the number of possible beautiful moments that could happen between you and every guest attending your celebration. When these moments are documented by a professional, they can be even more meaningful to you and your spouse. 

It can be an impossible task to capture every interaction or fleeting moment on a wedding day. Having a second pair of trained eyes will ensure more moments are captured to perfection. 

HOW WILL EDITING AND PHOTO USAGE WORK?

Marli Koen Photography selects and hires the second shooter (and her equipment) on behalf of the client for the same hourly coverage as stipulated in the package you chose for your wedding. All images become the property of Marli Koen Photography and will be edited in our signature style. 

Second shooters may use their images in their portfolio on the agreement that they publicly state it is from a second shooting assignment after I delivered the final collection to you.

When you start sourcing quotes for your wedding, photographers donʼt all offer the same services. The biggest mistake couples make is that an assistant and a second shooter are the same things. 

ASSISTANT vs the SECOND SHOOTER?

Not all photographers offer a second shooter as an inclusion to their packages, but most do have an assistant with them on the day. Itʼs very important to know the difference to avoid confusion when deciding on a specific photographic coverage for your wedding day.

An assistant is someone in training. Itʼs that simple! They are starting with their wedding photography career and are job shadowing how to become the main shooter. Assistants are not at the level required to be a second shooter yet. Why? Well, a second shooter is your backup photographer, with enough experience to take over from the main photographer if needed and run the wedding like itʼs their own. Donʼt assumes that during an on-the-day emergency if you didnʼt secure a second shooter, that the assistant would be able to fill in as a photographer. 

 I have a handful of second shooters I trust and share a similar work ethic with. Each is a full-time photographer with at least 50+ weddings as the lead photographer under their belt. 

WHAT IS THE ROLE + ADDED BENEFIT OF HAVING A SECOND SHOOTER?

For the best results, allow us to work alongside each other on a wedding day. The reason for this approach is to ensure that the second can fill in moments that I, the lead, might miss. A bonus of securing a second professional is they can step in and alleviate some of the expectations placed on the main photographer.

After a few seasons of working as a team, it has also been possible to provide my couples with different angles of crucial moments, and they have been excited to receive these additional moments of the following aspects of their special day;

• During prep, the second pair of eyes can observe and capture the candid moments, while the other documents details / traditional photographs,
• You’ll receive two angles of you walking down the aisle,
• Two photographers ensure that you’ll receive the perfect unspoiled shot of a once in a lifetime moment – the first kiss,
• I will document and focus on the couple during the ceremony, my second will focus on details and guest reactions,
• Having two photographers minimize movement during the ceremony. The elimination of distractions during your vows is something your guests and the minister will appreciate,
• The second photographer will document canapé hour while I photograph the formal family photos,
• You’ll receive more variety of photographs,
•  We motivate each other’s creativity and challenge each other during every wedding we document together.
• BONUS: we usually drive home together after a wedding. Having company on dark roads ensures the safety of your precious memories and ourselves. 

GREAT BEHIND THE SCENES CONTENT FOR YOU (AND ME)

Let’s debunk the belief that wedding photos should be stiff, posed, highly curated frames. I’m extremely camera shy, so when a second photographer joins me on a wedding day, it’s an added benefit of having someone else document your service providers (that includes me too!) doing their jobs. We love to provide you with little glimpses of us doing our job. 

A MODERN APPROACH TO TELLING A STORY

In modern times, with DSLRs and super talented individuals, why wouldnʼt you want to take advantage of receiving more photographic evidence of your wedding day? Is a second shooter necessary? It depends on your budget and what you envision for your celebration. I am not saying you wonʼt receive beautiful wedding photographs with only a main photographer. Not at all! Youʼll still receives all the must-have moments to remember your day. Having a second person on board is like a safety net documenting every detail perfectly. 

Whatever you decide for your wedding celebration, know that we donʼt take this responsibility lightly. Letʼs adventure together and make some epic memories.