It’s true. If you book your Destination Wedding at a resort there ARE in-house photographers, but I don’t recommend hiring them…

5 Reasons: You Should Bring Your Own Photographer to Your Destination Wedding

 

1. Peace of Mind

It’s no secret that I’m a firm believer in connecting with your photographer as a person. When selecting your photographer you of course want to love their work, but a personal connection is also crucial! You want to know that they care about you as people, know what you prioritize, and that you’ll be comfortable having them along for the most special moments of your day. If you bring your own photographer, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the person, love the product, and you won’t be leaving your memories up to chance.

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

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2. You know who the photographer is…

This seems like a no-brainer, but let me explain. Resorts will show you a gallery of the best work of their studio, but they don’t indicate which photographer’s work is showcased, or which combination for that matter. Your photographer may have only taken 1 of the images or could even be brand new to the company. You also typically don’t know WHO your photographer is, just that there will be one. That’s risky business, especially when photographs and videos are all you’ll have left when your wedding’s over!

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

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3. Quality Assurance

What kind of gear does your photographer use? Is it the highest quality? Do they have backups if there’s a technical problem? Do they know how to shoot in all lighting conditions? Can they problem solve on the fly? Do they know your personal style and the photos you’ve been dreaming of? If you don’t know WHO your photographer is, these questions go unanswered… YIKES.

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

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4. Cultural Barriers

Unfortunately, sometimes when traveling abroad we run into communication breakdowns. Often resort photographers have great English but they may not understand your expectations for your wedding photos stylistically; that crooked crops, overly saturated edits, selective color, and zero candid moments aren’t quite what you’d describe as your dream wedding photography experience. How do you communicate all of these preferences with an unassigned photographer in a foreign country…?

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

 

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5. Coverage Limitations

Resorts offer packages for photography that include a very slim window of coverage. The truth is that you and your guests have traveled a long way to share in an entire trip. All of those memories should be captured for the sake of everyone’s trip, not just the 5 hours on your wedding day. When you return home, all you’ll have left are your photos. Ask yourself – for a 4 day trip am I ok with only 5 hours being documented?

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

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6. Sneaky Up-charges

(I had to throw in a bonus!) Let me be clear, this is not limited to resort photographers. There are PLENTY of photographers in the States that aren’t entirely forthcoming upon booking. Read the fine print and know what your agreement includes. Often, resorts show you the price of the photography service but it does not always include the editing or the images themselves. In other words, you could pay for the service but without paying an additional amount after the wedding, you don’t receive the actual photos. Not cool!

(To see more of this wedding click here)

 

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The Gist

The point of a destination wedding is to escape the complexity of a wedding at home and to spend time with your favorite people in a beautiful place. These memories deserve to be captured by someone who understands not only the highlights of your wedding day itself, but also the intricacies of your relationships with your friends, families, and all of the special moments that fall between landing in paradise and walking down the aisle. Hiring a skilled photographer whose personality and work you love ensures amazing memories captured and irreplaceable peace of mind.

*** Have more questions about planning the destination Wedding of your dreams? Check out my Bride Guide or shoot me an email at felicia@feliciathephotographer.com . I’m an expert in Destination Wedding Photography and am happy to share all of the do’s and don’t’s I’ve gathered over the years!

 

 

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The Complete Bride Guide

The Bride Guide: 10 Tips to Perfect Wedding Photos 

 

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Image Details

Title Image Venue: Unico 2087 , Coordination: L&S Travel,  //Image 1 Resort: Azul Sensatori, Coordination: L&S Travel  // Image 2 Venue:  // Image 4 Venue: The Mackey House  // Image 5 Venue: The Mackey House  // Image 6 Venue: Kansas City Public Library