5 Things You Need to Know about Destination Wedding Photography and Videography
If you’ve made the decision to tie the knot in the Icelandic fjords or get married on a remote beach with your feet in the water, congratulations! You’ve made a decision that will ensure your wedding does justice to the love you feel for each other. Destination weddings are not just a one-day event, but a journey that you get to travel, hand-in-hand with those you love most. But while you are planning how to get your aunt across the ocean, don’t forget to plan one crucial element—a destination wedding photographer and videographer that will document your experience every step of the way.
Here are 5 things you need to know about destination wedding photography and videography that will ensure that your magical wedding getaway lasts long after you board the flight home.
1. They will save you the hassle of finding services in a place you don’t know.
If you are sitting on the fence about whether you should hire a destination wedding photographer or videographer or try to find someone locally, here is the best piece of advice you’ll get all day—take someone with you. The task of finding someone in a place that you are not familiar with is more than just a hassle. You simply don’t know what you’re going to get. By hiring someone that you can take with you, you can rest assured that they will be professional, speak your language and understand the requirements of the job.
2. They will become part of the family.
Right. Now that you’ve decided to go with a destination wedding photographer and videographer, the next thing to understand is that the task deviates from the wedding photography norm. You are not simply hiring someone to document a one-day event. You are asking someone to be an integral part of the entire process. Your destination wedding photographer and videographer will eat with you, be accommodated close to you, and probably travel on the same airplane as you. The wonderful thing about this is that they will be able to capture priceless moments that exist on either side of the ceremony. You will come home with footage of your grandfather joking with your niece at dinner the night before. You will hold onto the memories of the best man walking the gardens with the groom the night before the wedding. Your videographer and photographer will be immersed in your journey and, who knows, may even turn into a lifelong friend of the family.
3. You want to choose someone you like.
It’s not hard to see that this means that you should choose someone you really get along with. When you decide on a destination wedding photographer and videographer, it is not just their skills with a camera you are looking for. You want someone who is easy to be around and will slot seamlessly into the journey you are on. (And if they have a sense of humour — even better!) Choose wisely.
4. The cost of their travel expenses is worth every cent.
Yes, you will have to pay for their accommodation and travel. At first, this may seem like an expense that you are not sure whether you would like to take on. Of course, this is a concern. Destination weddings can get quite expensive and you may not be too enamoured with the idea of increasing the bottom line of your budget. The reality is you will regret it if you do not have documentation of your big day that you feel fully captures the experience. If you choose the right photographer and videographer, every cent that you spend on their travel will come back to you in the quality of their footage. It’s worth it.
5. This is what you should budget.
Obviously, costs will vary depending on factors such as where you have decided to hold your ceremony, how far it is from your home and which professional you hire to do the job. The services of a professional photographer cost up of $1200, reaching about $4500 on the high end. You will then need to budget travel, accommodation and living expenses into this sum. And be sure to budget your time well too. Start shopping around for your photographer and videographer about a year before your wedding.
A destination wedding will truly make your event unique. You will be given the opportunity to spend time celebrating with your loved ones without the every day pressures of life. What’s more is your photographs and video will be magnificent—if you put in the energy to find the perfect professional to document your journey.
