Which photographer should we go for?

I guess the question is do you want Quality or Quantity? or visa versa. We've got a husband and wife duo doing our wedding, which is considerably smaller than yours (we have 150 including evening, and only 50 during the day) You could always go with the one photographer, and ask all guest's to email you their photo's from the day. You'd get quite a good coverage of the day that way too, not to mention you'll get photo's of things that you didn't even know where happening. We plan to do that as well as have our photographers there.

Good Luck!

You have reservations about the pair of them, reading between the lines and regarding your requirements for the day.

My advice? Find another photographer! You've still got time to find a husband and wife team who understand your needs and will fit in with you and your guests. Where are you based? I can wholeheartedly recommend my photographers (Teri and David @)Murakami Photography. They are travelling for our wedding. Lovely couple, excellent photography and very competitively priced.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

You want 2 photographers but the work isn't as good as the single photographer... I would be looking for another photography team who have the two photographers that you want and have the right style of photography.

I agree with CB and Mrs C, but will just add my own situation in case it helps you... we've got 100 in the day and 200 in the evening, and only 1 photographer. I did wobble slightly when I read about people having two (I genuinely hadn't realised people did wedding photography in pairs) but at the end of the day people will bring their own cameras and it isn't important to me that we get a professional picture of absolutely everyone there... we wouldn't fit them into an album anyway! Mine does beautiful detail shots which impressed me and which I liked as I have spent a lot of time and effort on the details. He also sets up a mini-studio at the reception so we can get some fun shots of people that way.

I think if you feel 2 togs are better then go for #1...but maybe that this hasnt made u decide about #1 u r not too sure about them!? I think if there is not much between there work then just go with who u felt happiest with which is #1 looking at ur post!

Im starting to think i didnt put enough thought into my tog! x

Honestly, the thought of trying to find any more photographers fills me with absolute fear. I've hardly documented the process we've been through over the past 4 months trying to find a photographer, it has been so difficult to get to these final 2. I can't even go into how difficult it has been because if I start I will be here for some time and no one wants to read 4 months worth of my fiancee being picky and me being indifferent.

I did see Murakami on here before, but I think we're a bit too far north for them (in Nottingham). It's a shame because I like their work, no guarantee that my fiancee would though

Hey CC, We have gone much farther than Nottingham, last year I photographed a wedding in the US, and we did one in Cyprus (which is about to be featured in a Destination Wedding magazine) I am in today, but have a wedding tomorrow,, seriously, give me a call! You know you want to LOL

Because of how we work as a team, seperate but with the same goal in mind, I have to second your fiancee's desire to have a team so that she has someone with her for the prep, and then the other can go off with the guys, as well as capture the guests arriving, etc. Also can't vouch for how other teams work, but I like that one of us can be doing the groups, while the other is able to do candids, as well as details of the wedding breakfast room before the guests go in. It works well to be able to get two perspectives. Many single photographers can get someone to shoot with them, but when you have a dedicated team, who knows how the other works, it is much smoother in terms of coverage. Best of luck with the wedding,, it will be fun once you get all the little things worked out

Teri

Go with your gut.

For me it's nice when Laura is working alongside because she can see things I may miss and she can grab shots of people when I'm not nearby. This is also down to the sort of photography we do. Then again it can also be a bind because it's a lot more photos to go through and sort at the end of the day which puts the price up.

Also, it can be a problem because to me when I photograph a wedding I'm an artist with a unique vision. One which Laura may not always share.

Further, the huge amount of duplicate images that are taken with two photographers questions the validity. If 300 images make it to an album only a further 75-100 make it from Laura as there aren't that many places where I'll be away from the action.

If the single photographer has the best images...and that's all you really want to get right...then they are the one to go for.

Alternatively email privately one of the photographers on here for their opinions.

Whether you want 1 photographer or 2 is down to what you are after for a day, Style of images, amount of images.

Photographers also work in the best situation for themselves, I prefer working solo but thats just how I am. Some photographer like working as a duo then some are unable to work on there own.

A photography company is only as strong as there strongest photographer, 2 average photographers doesnt equal 1 fantastic. If you prefer the single photographer then thats the one you should go for.

2 photographers does also add two extra question when booking - what happens if the duo split up, & what happens if 1 of the duo are ill as you will have paid extra for 2 people.

Agreed. There is also the issue of style. Hypothetical example - If I shot a wedding with you, then it is most likley that my approach and your approach will be different at different times of the day. Additionally, I might shoot a sequence with a 85mm prime and you might snipe with a 80 - 300 zoom (or visa versa). With all the will in the world, making the set of shots look at one with themselves will be very hard work

That's why I work with an assistant "who picks up a camera with direction" but more usefully holds things like flashguns and reflectors for me. I would argue (and I am sure most primary photographers would too) that this is the best way to do a wedding. For me, if I was to second shoot a wedding (or have a second shooter), I would be still taking my regular assistant, the one who knows what I need on a shot to shot basis...

Going back a few years, we shot rolls of 36, and before that rolls of 12 and before that a single roll of 12. Quantity isnt everything

Further, when the two photographers on the day are a couple who are together this can mean there's only actually one pro there.

It's a little bit of marketing, something like those who try to bulk up a package by including a free A4 print making the deal seem bigger than it is.

Totally agree with this and other elements of the last five posts...

I remain totally unconvienced by having two photographers.

Its a new phenomomn, if you go a few years back, there was only ever one photographer and they all took beautiful photos.

These days, with all the amateurs being about because of digitial I feel that they often have two photographers just as a gimmick and to shore up their ability to at least have some good photos.

As long as you get a true experienced pro photographer, then I think its much better to have one.

As others have said, quality over quantity. And two photographers have to share the wages, so in effect you'll be getting cheaper people.

and I also have to add that I feel two photographers could be intrustive, much better to have a single discreet, quality photographer.

I've made this point on this forum before about my two friends who ended up with unusably bad wedding photos, well one of them recieved well over a thousand photos, and they are just all awful, unusable, so dark you can hardly see whats going on, backs of peoples heads, out of focus images, just shocking really.

CC - if you feel like a team would be a better option for you, go for that. It makes sense for the photographers who work on their lonesome to promote their way or working, just as it is for those working as a duo to promote theirs.

For us, we love the fact that we will end up with more* quality** images by having two photographers. They work together to capture the best shots for us. I would much rather have an intuitive couple than a single photographer who brings along someone they work with occasionally. Just personal preference. Having seen our guys at work I was stunned at how at ease they made people (incl us) feel and how they knew exactly what the other was trying to achieve.

*simple maths here, folks!

**they don't win awards for nowt!