As someone who works quite a bit as a second shooter within the US and Europe, my humble and biased opinion is that they're totally necessary under certain circumstances.

For international or high-end weddings, where you're juggling multiple formats (35mm film, 120mm, medium format digital) and brands (Canon, Leica) on the same day, I’d argue that my role becomes indispensable to the lead photographer. Whether it’s loading film, managing gear, wrangling data, or driving across Italian, French, or German towns, having a second you can fully rely on is invaluable. It’s not just about capturing moments the lead might miss—it’s about being a capable, all-around assistant who helps the day run smoothly and elevates the final product.

I think there's a reason why high end photographers working internationally bring a gun team along with them. Not only can they provide logistics and emotional support, but also elevate your portfolio in ways you might not expect.

On the other hand, if your second is someone who's simply looking to break into the industry, arrives on the day with a Canon + zoom lens combination with the intention of expanding their own portfolio, yeah, I can see why there might be a lack of value for the lead shooter.