This is yet other questions I often hear from couples at our initial meeting. There are many schools of thought on this and I am sure if you ask ten different photographers, you may get ten different answers, so I will give you the “official” position of our studio.
The general rule of thumb would depend on the number of guests at ending your wedding and more importantly them kind of shots you as the couple would like.
Many studios incorporate an assistant with tier package however, that does not ensure a professional will be getting additional shots or angles for you.
Traditionally, the assist once carried lenses, film and additional camera equipment for the photographer however, with the development of digital photography the assistant role has become more of an apprenticeship.
Our studio offers a second photographer for a half day or a full day. This is something we recommend to our couples who have larger bridal parties and larger guest lists, so that we can capture everything without feeling rushed.
Most of our couples however, choose to work with a single photographer. The primary reason is the photographer’s ability to move around and get the shots required, even if it’s a different angle, without incurring the additional expense.
This is a bit more challenging with video as the video camera is focused on the couple, say, during the exchange of vows. The camera is locked on the couple and there may be a need for a second camera to catch the reaction of mom and dad.
With photography the different angles are much easier to obtain, since the camera is not taking continues shots, and the photographer can move around to get the different angles.
Think about how you would like to have your wedding captured, express that to your potential photographer and see what they suggest, and more importantly, why?