5 Reasons to Bring a Local Photographer to Your Destination Wedding

1. Booking a resort photographer is likely going to be MORE expensive than bringing a local photographer.

Destination photographers will likely cost around $3,000 and usually won’t include everything that you’re used to receiving (high-resolution image files, an online gallery, backups, etc). While many local professional photographers may be around the same price point, they will often provide a custom destination rate based on your wedding – intimate or small ceremony, a bucket list place, travel opportunity, etc. By bringing a photographer that you know and trust, you’re guaranteed they are hired ONLY for you.

2. There are NO hidden sales with local photographers.

Tourism capitalizes on weddings and will make the most they can from your celebration…I mean who doesn’t enjoy fun surprises like only receiving low-res watermarked .jpgs and 10 printed images with their package? The fine print with resort photographers is a crucial part of your long-term happiness and can be extremely disappointing if you aren’t paying close attention. Bringing your own photographer will ensure you’re getting the services and products you want at a price you agree with beforehand. Having a slower conversation rather than an impulsive decision will save you time and money in the end.

3. Destination Photographers aren’t guaranteed to save your images.

I know of a couple who booked a resort photographer only to carry home a corrupt disc. When they called the resort, their images were already deleted and had no backups…leaving them with nothing else but their own memories to remember their wedding by. Because a resort photographer is contracted through the resort, their images will likely be stored as low-res files that aren’t saved for long (days/weeks). It’s a safe and standard practice for local professional photographers to have a long-term storage plan (1+ years) for your convenience and protection.

4. You often won’t know who you hired until your wedding day.

You could be assigned to a food photographer, an amateur, or one that would rather be anywhere else, and unfortunately, you can’t do much about it if they’re pushy or unprofessional. By bringing someone you’ve spent time with versus a complete stranger is the difference between capturing your personalities and checking off all the cheesy, bizarre poses (cue the weird head tilts and awkward kissing dips, just for starters). A local photographer WILL understand how you interact best as a couple — especially during your engagement session. They will undoubtedly be there every moment to make sure they create your absolute favorite images.

5. Couples get FREE rooms for bringing people to resorts. (note: If you’re not getting one, there’s a pretty good chance your travel agent is taking it.)

If you need any more convincing to hire a local photographer, this one will save you a ton of money. When securing your stay for you and your guests, most resorts will include complimentary rooms and discounted rates for group bookings. So, to eliminate your photographer’s accommodation cost, simply assign one of those free rooms to them! Not only will you be making their travel easy — but their availability will literally be right down the hall!

Final Thoughts

Having had the honor of traveling to Germany, St. Thomas Virgin Island, and many US States, I really want to use my destination wedding experience as knowledge for future couples. So, I hope this helps in many ways as you plan your destination wedding!

If you need a photographer and are curious about my discounted destination rates, shoot me an email! I’d love to share my availability with you. 🙂

Did you find this helpful? Let me know! Leave a comment if you want more content like this!