UK BASED DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
For me, destination weddings are extra special, the added air of excitement of family and friends all being in an unfamiliar environment and there is always an added sense of adventure that makes a destination wedding exciting.
In many ways, I believe hiring a photographer you trust and whose style you like is even more important when planning a destination wedding than getting married at home.
Family and friends invest in holiday to see you tie the knot in unfamiliar surroundings and everyone back home will want to experience the excitement of your wedding through your photographs.
You’ve put a lot of time and effort into planning your dream destination wedding and when the day comes you will want to be true to yourself and enjoy the day. In order to do that, you need a Destination Wedding Photographer who knows how to capture you at your best and the moments that matter.
The problem is, when you start looking for a Destination Wedding Photographer it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the choices and you don’t want to make a mistake. Many couples planning a destination wedding worry about fake awkward poses, the photography it eating into their day and not to mention the fear of being ripped off.
I understand how much you care about your wedding, which is why 450+ couples in more than 10 countries have trusted me with their wedding photography. Let’s schedule a meeting so we can talk about any hopes or fears you have about booking a Destination Wedding Photographer.
HIRING A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Hiring a destination wedding photographer is one of the most important parts of planning your destination wedding. Your venue, dress, flowers, and cake can all look perfect on the day, but it’s the skilful shooting, expert lighting and thoughtful composition of your wedding photography that will shape the memories of the day as you look back at your wedding pictures for years to come.
Typically hiring unknown photographers from your wedding location or resort cannot only end up more expensive but riskier in terms of receiving the images you want. Past clients have decided against hiring foreign photographers for a couple of reasons…
It is not only harder to coordinate with a photographer abroad about the details of your event prior to the wedding day, (basic things like your style and must have pictures) but if you were to have any questions about your photography, rather than having to deal with a prolonged and inconvenient correspondence, you could simply just call or FaceTime me directly in the UK for assistance.
DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALISTS
The importance of choosing a destination wedding photographer who has experience of traveling abroad with camera equipment and who knows the ins and outs of destination wedding photography is vital.
I have been photographing weddings for the last 13 years and in that time I have photographed many weddings overseas. These include city weddings, beach weddings, religious celebrations and my smallest ever wedding in Cyprus with just the bride, groom and myself in attendance.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, the splendour of Santorini in Greece, the fun of Spain or the beaches of Turkey, you can trust you’ve found a destination wedding photographer with the skills, experience and knowledge to capture the magic of your wedding day.
CHOOSING ME AS YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I come to your wedding with more than 10 years of experience as a destination wedding photographer. When I photograph your wedding, I do so wholeheartedly. I creatively and discreetly capture all details, hugs, smiles and tears and I will show you things that happened you never knew about.
My unique approach to wedding photography as has seen me photograph weddings worldwide, won multiple awards and featured in celebrity magazines such as Vogue and Hello.
THE PROCESS
I make it as easy as possible to book me to be your destination wedding photographer. These are just a few of the steps that make the process simple and pain-free.
1. We would have met or connected via FaceTime prior to the wedding.
2. I usually travel out to your destination a few days prior to the wedding day. I would scout out the best locations and we would have a planning meeting (in the resort) to discuss all the finer details of the event.
3. After the wedding you will receive an online gallery, this will showcase all the images taken and you can easily print, download and share the pictures with family and friends from around the world.
If you choose one of our album collections, once you return home you will be involved in the album design process. This will include a design ‘proof’ before the album is printed, this way you will get to approve all the album pictures before it’s printed.
This means I don’t just turn up on the last day of your holiday with a set of prints, YOU are involved in the process every step of the way which means your album will be perfect.
WHERE HAVE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED DESTINATION WEDDINGS?
I’m a traveller at heart so being a destination wedding photographer is a no brainer. Ever since my first job as a cruise ship photographer 20 years ago based out of the USA which seen me photograph weddings in Mexico, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
A lot of my destinations weddings are in Europe, popular locations include:
CYPRUS – Protaras, Paphos, Larnaca, Ayia Nappa, Nissi Beach.
ITALY – The Amalfi Coast, Positano, Sorrento, Lake Como and Tuscany.
SPAIN – Ibiza and Marbella.
TURKEY –
GREECE to name a few.
Check out my guide to the best wedding destinations in Europe.
“TOP 10 DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE UK”
– ZankYou Weddings
BOOKING A RESORT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
ADVICE
Many destination wedding photographers based in the resort, booked via your destination wedding planner or holiday representatives maybe on a retainer, therefore there are incentives and ‘commission’ to be gained by the planner from ‘recommending’ a certain photographer.
‘The recommended photographer’ may or may not have the experience you require or the skill to capture the moments that truly matter. The photography they produce may not be a perfect fit your lifestyle, taste and budget.
Basically, often the real reason for the recommendation from a wedding planner or holiday rep for a local destination wedding photographer based at your resort may not be down to talent or them being a good fit for your wedding, but due to the commission incentive received.
In addition, I have experienced many couples being sold a destination wedding photographer package that is ‘cleverly’ priced per-hour or it’s a pre-agreed package that falls short of covering important parts of the wedding day.
Then, once you are in the resort and just 24 hours before the wedding you might find out your ‘package’ doesn’t include things like the speeches and sunset pictures are extra! Of course, they tell you that this can be included and added on to your package, but it will double your initial investment.
DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RISK AND COST
Another common scenario with a ‘package deal destination wedding photographer’ is the photographer will ‘upsell’ the photography package the day before you leave, in this, showing you more images and better products than your initial investment covers with the threat of ‘we destroy the images once you leave.’
The problem with these two situations are, they are the only pictures you have and once you see them you will be very tempted to buy them. In hindsight, the budget you end up spending would have been more in line with a photographer that is to your choosing and not the local ‘budget photographer’ who has been able to ‘up-sell’ his products and services due to an opportunity of buyers remorse.
I take on a limited number of weddings per year, if I’m unavailable to be your destination wedding photographer, I would suggest doing your research and touching base with any photographer your wedding planner suggests.
Ask them to send you examples of their work and to include full galleries of weddings from start to finish together with a break down of all costs involved.
See my approach to photographing your wedding and view the destination wedding photography gallery.
HOW LONG ARE YOU AT MY DESTINATION FOR?
I usually fly out to 2/3 days prior to the wedding day (depending on flight availability and cost). This gives you peace of mind that I’m in the resort and me plenty of time to scout your wedding venue.
Being in the resort in plenty of time allows for pre-wedding planning meeting the day before and the opportunity to include pre-wedding photography shoots such as welcome meal photography.
In addition to the above, flying out in plenty of time helps combat any flight delays, provides rest, climate and time adjustments.
As for the departing flight, I typically fly out the day after your last event (or at the best cost-effective flight opportunity) your last event might include a post-wedding location shoot, an after-party or a ‘cherish the dress shoot.’
See a beautiful example of a post-wedding location shoot from Florance.
DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER PACKAGES
I tailor my destination wedding photography packages to your needs and budget but typically, a lot of my destination weddings are between 3 and 7-day events. This can include photographic coverage at a pre-wedding party, BBQ or family meal on arrival, the wedding day itself and a post-wedding shoot.
All options are ‘inclusive’ and you have my undivided care and attention from day one. Your wedding photography starts with a pre-wedding meeting and consultations. This will be in-person / phone / email / skype / coffee… We will get to know each other better and make sure nothing is overlooked in the planning process.
For more information on packages and costs – feel free to contact me or visit the albums and price page.
DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER FAQ’S
DO I NEED TO BOOK A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
I guess it comes down to personal preference and how much you value your wedding photography memories and experience. Most couples book for through recommendation and the fact they like my style and approach to wedding photography.
DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?
Yes, I have both types of professional photography insurance and also I have my basic travel insurance for whilst I’m out of the country.
HOW DO I BOOK YOU FOR MY DESTINATION WEDDING?
Simply use the contact form and we will go from there. I will send you all the information and we will chat via FaceTime. The booking deposit to secure my services is just £500.
WHAT’S THE PRICE OF DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
The destination usually won’t affect the price, however, it’s a ‘bucket list’ location expectations can always be made ;-) For destination weddings, I offer a bespoke service that can be tailored to your needs and budget. Take a look at the album and price page or contact me today and let’s talk about your wedding photography requirements so I can assist you better.
POST WEDDING LOCATION PHOTOSHOOT
Wedding days go by in a blink of an eye, so a post-wedding location photoshoot (especially in a city or beach location) is a great way to extend your wedding celebrations… Not to mention, it’s a fantastic excuse to put on your wedding dress again!
The post-wedding shoot could include a ‘cherish the dress’ or street style photography, whereby we take advantage of nearby famous landmarks and beauty spots creating true works of art.
For the more adventurous bride, a ‘trash the dress’ style shoot at sunset on the beach might be your thing or we could capture the true essence of your destination wedding location and visit a nearby town or head to the city.
Mixing street style photography with wedding photography is one of my favourite things to do. It’s a fantastic way to include some fashion inspired images into your wedding photography. Often, we create works of art which my couples proudly hang on their walls.
Whatever post-wedding photoshoot option you choose, I guarantee a fun time and truly unique set images to add to your wedding collection.
WHAT ABOUT FLIGHTS & ACCOMMODATION
More often than not, the client books the flights and accommodation. This is because you/the client will have knowledge of the location and in addition, you might be able to take advantage of adding me to a block booking for a discount or use your travel miles/rewards.
I just ask that you send me the flight information ahead of time so that we may approve the details (flight times, transfers, layovers, etc.) I am based in the North West of England so available to travel from both Manchester and Liverpool airports.
In terms of accommodation, if it helps to keep the cost down, I don’t need to stay at your 5* hotel or luxury wedding venue. My accommodation just needs to be within close proximity and to include car hire car or pre-arranged transportation if needed.
DO YOU OFFER DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY DISCOUNTS?
Unfortunately, I don’t usually offer discounted packages for my destination wedding photographer services. Because I am away from my office for longer than a UK wedding and unable to carry out any other work whilst out of the country, so the prices would be the same as my regular packages with the additional travel/lodging costs.
However, feel free to check with me, if your wedding is on my bucket list or it’s a favourite destination of mine, exceptions can always be made! The good news is, I don’t charge for travel days or for my time being away from my office either side of the wedding day.
DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER PRICE
My destination wedding photographer price is the same as my regular wedding photography prices Please see albums and prices page. The only additional costs that my clients would be responsible for are as follows:
1) Airfare & Baggage Fees
2) Hotel accommodations (typically 3/5/7 nights, dependent on the length of the event and location).
3) Rental car, transfer or travel arrangements (as required).
4) Vendor meals for the day of the event(s).
5) If not all-inclusive, bed and breakfast or £150 towards additional meals and expenses.
