Dog lover, world traveler, and wedding photographer. When I'm not taking pictures of my amazing couples or cuddling with my fur babes, I'm probably binging Love is Blind.
Getting married and not sure how to choose a Destination Photographer? This guide is here to help shine some light on things to consider when you decide on who your photographer should be!
The first question you will want to ask yourself is: do you want a local photographer? Or perhaps there is someone you have admired for months that lives out of state and you want them for your day?
There are a lot of different ways you can go about choosing your photographer:
Right off the bat there are some pros to choosing a local photographer:
Now let’s go over some of the key questions:
You will want to be sure and schedule a consultation call with your photographer that is based in the destination location. This will allow you to build a better connection, ensure you are a good fit, and give you the chance to fully explain your vision for the day.
In addition, a resort may charge you an outside vendor fee if you hire someone who is not associated with that venue.
When it comes to choosing a local photographer that is not associated with your venue, key things to consider are: their work, availability, fees if you bring them to the resort, and overall connection and relationship!
Some venues have on-site photographers that they build into your wedding package (meaning you already get one, easy peasy).
However, this may cause some discomfort because you may not like their work! It’s always important to review portfolios whether they are from the venue, local, or coming from out of state/country.
A few questions you may want to ask yourself for packages that include photographers are:
Will you get to meet them?
You may not get the ability to meet your photographer until the day of depending on if the venue allows a meet and greet between you and the photographer.
Will you have communication directly with them?
There may be some barriers between how much communication you have with the on-site photographer, giving you less of a one-on-one experience.
Whether you’re planning a large destination wedding or intimate elopement I am sure that a lot of planning has gone into your vision.
One of these visions is probably your wedding photography.
Let’s say you’ve had your eye on a destination photographer for a while and it’s finally your turn to book. How exciting!
The first thing you will want to do is schedule a consultation call with the photographer. Most photographers don’t have a flat rate for destinations and will need to gather some information from you to create your personalized destination proposal.
A consultation call will also allow you to build a connection, express the vision for your day, and ensure you are a good fit.
A few additional perks to remember are:
Some key things to consider when you hire a photographer for travel:
When it comes to their experience with your destination area this is entirely up to you on if you want someone who has been there before, or perhaps someone who has not but it’s on their bucket list!
Some photographers will have a yearly travel schedule and offer no travel fees if you book a location while they are already there, this is a good way to eliminate travel fees if your dates are flexible!
A few things that your photographer will need to confirm for your destination will be:
However, these are things that they will be responsible for! Just be sure to communicate any and all areas you want to include in your gallery in case there are any permits they need for those specific areas.
When it comes to hiring a destination photographer there will be additional costs to consider such as:
Not every photographer requires all of these and some may require even more, but the most common ones to expect are: base package prices, flights/transportation, and lodging.
As mentioned above, some photographers offer discounts for bucket list destinations and/or waive travel fees if you schedule your event around a time when they will already be at the location.
A Destination wedding or Elopement takes a lot of additional planning, date accommodation, and overall time to schedule.
Not only will you want to consider availability for yourselves and guests but also your vendors.
Depending on your destination event and how many days the celebration will take, it’s common to expect your photographer to arrive a few days early to account for things such as: flight delays, transportation time, changes in schedule, weather, familiarizing themselves with the area, and more.
In addition, some photographers may also join your rehearsal if allowed/applicable.
When deciding the perfect time to book your photographer it is common for destination events to require at least a years notice.
Given that traditional local wedding photography is suggested to be booked a year out, something such as a multi-day destination can require a year or even more to ensure your date is available.
In addition to photography, I wanted to include a section on my personal favorite vendors that can help bring your vision to life!
Videographers:
Planners:
Honeymoon Travel Agents:
Whether you’re leaning towards a local photographer or hiring someone from out of state/country, the most important thing will will be if they are a good fit for you and bring your vision to life.
If you are ready to dive into your epic destination planning and are interested in my services you can inquire here.
For more information on my services, click here for my packages.
Lastly, need help planning your destination wedding or elopement? I have a separate blog just for planning resources! Click here to read more.
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Website: daniellewilliamsphotography.com
Contact: dwp@daniellewilliamsphotography.com
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