Destination wedding photography

Each year many Bride & Groom's are attracted by the idea of a destination wedding. Whether on the beach in a hot & exotic country or a stunning hotel set in beautiful countryside it can be for a variety of reasons. It might be for personal or family reasons, the thought of the mammoth organisational task ahead or simply the lure of guaranteed sunshine.

Years ago 'running away' abroad to get married was frowned upon but more and more people are discovering the appeal of a destination wedding. There are a number of companies out there offering either hassle-free 'packages' including the basics like the venue, flowers, photography, transport etc or a totally bespoke service where couples can tailor a beautiful, lavish wedding to their individual requirements with all the gorgeous details and thought that would go into any English wedding.

A few times a year I'm lucky enough to be asked to photograph one of these gorgeous destination weddings and have been to France, Spain, Italy, Greece, South Cyprus, North Cyprus and am currently talking to a couple about their wedding in the Maldives. Location weddings tend to be quite intimate affairs and it's always a great honour to be asked to accompany the wedding party as a destination wedding photographer.

Although I have known some brides fly out their own hairdresser most of the other 'suppliers' like florists etc, tend to be local. However, for many, photography is a different 'ball-game' and something they place far too much importance on to be left to someone else to choose and organise and I think there are many reasons for this.

Firstly, style and service. The majority of local photographers have a very formal style focusing heavily on set up shots of individuals and groups and not really much in the way of reportage style photography. However, many clients are looking for more than this and a mixture of photography; informal, candid shots, pictures capturing the details of the day such as flowers, the wedding dress etc, a few groups & some beautiful, semi-directed portraits of the two of them.

Also there is the level and breadth of service. On a recent trip to Cyprus the wedding coordinator was amazed at the coverage provided on the day and the planning and detail that went into the photography. Her local photographers tend to meet the couple on the day and simply cover the ceremony and an hour afterwards. She was amazed to hear about pre-wedding meetings, location visits the day before and the fact we were shooting from the bridal preparations right through to the fireworks capturing the story of the day and the essence of the location.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, as a wedding photographer I invest a lot of time building up relationships with my clients and I always tell people to choose their wedding photographer not only because of the beautiful pictures they take in the style they like but also because they like and feel comfortable with that person. If your using an overseas supplier you might not get to do that or even meet them before the day.

Lastly and very basically, distance and language. The actual photography on the day is only a relatively small part of the whole process and once the photographs have been processed then comes the fun part of choosing & producing albums, DVD, frames etc. The process tends to work over the Internet and by e-mail when using a local photographer but many couples prefer a face to face meeting to view their photographs and choose which ones are beautifully presented in the products of their choice.

It sounds like a perfect option but surely it's too expensive and only for the rich & famous?! Actually, no. If possible I combine my destination wedding photography with a holiday & therefore you do not pay the full travel cost. It obviously works out slightly more expensive than a English wedding but many couples feel that the benefits and the standard of photography that they get makes this a worthwhile investment.

To view my full portfolio of destination wedding photography, discuss your requirements and for a quotation please do not hesitate to contact me. It is within your reach.

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