Start with the overlap
Write down what each of you wants photographed before the ceremony, and where you will be. If both preparations finish at 1 pm in different houses, one photographer needs a staggered plan and enough travel time. Two photographers can cover each location at the same time.
Do the same for the reception. While one photographer is with you for portraits, a second can photograph guests at canapés. Decide whether those overlapping moments are important to you before choosing a package.
When one can work well
- You are getting ready in the same place, or can stagger the photographs at separate addresses.
- The ceremony and reception are close together, with a realistic travel allowance.
- You are happy to prioritise one viewpoint at a time during fast-moving moments.
- Your family-photo list is manageable and a helper can gather people.
One photographer still moves through the day, photographs reactions and covers different angles when the timing allows. The limitation is being in one place at a time.
What a second adds
| Moment | What to plan |
|---|---|
| Separate preparations | Agree who covers each person and when the photographers will arrive at the ceremony. |
| Ceremony and aisle | Plan complementary positions with your celebrant and venue, keeping sightlines clear. |
| Family photographs | One photographer can organise the agreed groups while the other photographs nearby guests or details. |
| Portraits and canapés | One stays with you; the other can stay with guests. Share the reception schedule with both. |
Two photographers need a shared plan. A second person does not remove travel time, make a long family list instant, or guarantee every reaction. Ask how the team will divide the day and how the photographs will be edited together.
Compare the collections
My 2027 Silver collection includes six hours with one photographer for NZ$4,050 including GST. Gold covers 11 am until late with one photographer for NZ$5,450 including GST. Platinum covers 11 am until late with two photographers for NZ$7,450 including GST.
Gold and Platinum include travel. Platinum also includes three A3 or A4 prints, so the NZ$2,000 difference covers more than the second photographer alone. See the current photography collections and inclusions.
If you only need a second photographer for part of the day, send your locations and the times that overlap. I can quote that separately. The coverage planner helps compare the published collections.
Photography and film
A second photographer has a photography role. If you want a dedicated wedding film as well, we need separate photography and filming roles and a quote for that team.
The behind-the-scenes reel included in my photography collections is a different keepsake from the full-day documentary wedding film. Tell me which moments you want in photographs and which you want to hear and watch again.
Bring these three details
- The getting-ready, ceremony and reception addresses.
- The times each of you needs to leave and when the ceremony starts.
- Your priorities when two things happen at once.
Then we can make the decision around your actual day. Use the sample wedding timeline and family-photo list to spot where the time goes.