Destination Wedding Photography - Some considerations

Planning your destination wedding is an absolute dream come true for many couples. To travel somewhere exotic like Costa Rica or somewhere refined like France, Italy or Czech Republic can be a comparable cost with a local wedding, but it adds a sense of adventure and discovery as well.

When planning a destination wedding, many couples opt to use existing vendor services, such as photographers on resort or nearby. Something to consider is that aesthetic sensibilities may not be shared. A local photographer may not shoot the style of photos that you are looking for and you may not know which photographer is shooting your wedding until the day before. The result can be lack lustre at best.

Hiring a local photographer, if possible, is a better bet than resort photographers (typically..that is not to say there aren't some sharp shooters working resorts..but there is some aspect of chance involved). Choosing a local photographer can be one way of being acquainted with a style of photography you like. If you are looking for more than a snapshot on the beach, a good wedding photographer will be able to give you so much more. Many local photographers will know of hidden spots, like a personal guide and it can lend a great deal to your adventure abroad.

Another recommended option is to bring your trusted photographer along with you. Not only does this allow for you to establish a relationship with your photographer and establish a comfort level with them, but you can have piece of mind that you will have a quality result in a style you have envisioned. Given the effort to coordinate and plan you time away - have a wonderful professional photographer that you love along with you can be an amazing way to document your very special wedding day.

If you are bringing your photographer with you for a destination wedding, it is important to know that they are experienced and prepared travelers and traveled photographers. A number of things are a little different when preparing for a trip as a working photographer and there are certain special precautions that must be noted and anticipated to ensure that your photographer is well prepared.

Also speak with your travel agent if you are working with one, you may find that there are promotional deals whereby you can subsidize the cost of having your photographer along with you as a complimentary guest.

As a photographer and a wedding guest at destination weddings, I have seen numerous scenarios for photographer options, and in my opinion, I would always recommend bringing a trusted photographer with you when it is feasible.

Too many times people come back wishing afterward that they had, either through disappointment in the photographs they received on resort or because they relied on their guests for photos. But when people come back from their destination wedding with their memories in hand more beautifully then they imagined, they will always remember the moments of the day...and not regret the moments that were missed.

Enjoy some of these images and videos taken recently destination weddings in the Czech Republic and Caribbean...

Melanie Rebane of M Photography in Ottawa, Ontario is a wedding and lifestyle photographer available internationally. She has traveled for weddings to Italy, France, Czech Republic (Prague), Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Scandinavia (Finland and Sweden).

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