Do we really need two Wedding Videographers?
Right off the bat, no, you don’t necessarily need two videographers for your wedding. However, I firmly believe that every wedding videographer striving to perfect their craft should consider having a second videographer. Surprised? Let me explain. Having shot countless weddings solo at various locations across Canada and now working in the GTA, I’ve found that the best results almost always come from having two videographers. While technically I can cover the entire day on my own and deliver something special and unique, I’m not Superman. I can’t be in two places at once, no matter how much I might wish to be. This is where a second videographer becomes invaluable. Let’s discuss a couple of reasons why having one is not only recommended but essential.
Reason No. 1
First, and perhaps most critical, is the aforementioned ability to be in two places at once. Let me give you an example: It’s ceremony time and the bride is starting her walk down the aisle. If I am shooting by myself on that day, my usual setup will be two stationary cameras and one roving camera. My main camera will likely be set up at the front of the aisle, closer to the groom, capturing everyone as they walk down the aisle. The second stationary camera will usually be pointing in the general direction of where I think the groom’s face will be to capture his reaction to the bride walking down the aisle. The third stationary camera will be a very wide safety shot of the whole ceremony. This way, even if I lose coverage for a few seconds on my other two cameras, I can always switch back to my safety camera. Now imagine if I had the luxury of having a second videographer with me. While I’m up at the front getting shots of everyone walking down the aisle, the second videographer can be following the bride down the aisle at the opposite end. Since I know that he will have coverage of the bride, I have a little bit more freedom, and if, for example, I notice that the bride’s mom is getting particularly emotional…BOOM…I can aim my camera at her and capture that shot as well. That very special moment has now been captured forever. If I had just been by myself, I unfortunately may have missed it. This, of course, is just an example, but this would apply over the entirety of the day. Having two videographers allows for different angles of the same subject, the ability to focus on other occurring events, and capturing the smaller, more easily missed moments. These are moments the couple themselves are likely not to notice on the day but will love that they have been captured forever.
Reason No. 2
The second reason is also obvious in its benefits. It is more tempting to play it a little bit safer when you are by yourself shooting a wedding out of fear of missing important moments. However, when you have a second shooter, it’s possible to be open to a little bit more experimentation and risk-taking, which can lead to more dynamic and unique shots. Typically, when there are two videographers involved, there will be a wide-angle lens on my camera for those beautiful cinematic shots, and the second videographer will have a tighter lens on their camera to capture all the subtle facial expressions and the more intimate moments between a couple. Combining these two allows for the best of both worlds – you can have those beautiful, sweeping, cinematic shots (usually on a gimbal stabilizer) and those smaller, intimate moments. When adding these together, they make for a more visually striking wedding film.
The point of this article was to be very transparent. I offer only packages with two videographers for a reason: I want to deliver the best possible results. This day is too important and deserves the utmost care and attention. My goal here was to highlight the advantages of having a second videographer. Being in more places at once increases the chances of capturing those crucial moments, and having two shooters can lead to more dynamic and visually striking cinematic shots. Let me give your wedding day the meticulous attention it deserves, ensuring every precious moment is beautifully captured.
Photo by Brooklyn Leitch via Brooklyn Leitch Photography