Love the idea of shooting destination weddings? Sunshine and sangria and everyone in a good mood? Here’s how to book destination weddings – and why you probably don’t want to.
You’ve just received a wedding enquiry and it’s for Croatia!!! You’re so excited you could puke. Do you offer to pay your own travel? Do you offer to shoot it for free? How do you let this couple know how desperate you are for them to book you?
Well… this post is here to show you the reality of travel weddings, and why you should probably just shoot local and go on holiday instead…
FIRST, THE GOOD
Different light, different backdrops, an excuse to drink sangria while you shoot. The prestige among fellow photographers.
The chance to explore countries or cities you never would have otherwise. If the couple is paying for your flight, it can also be a way to travel to somewhere you’ve always wanted to go but could never afford, if you extend the trip.
I’ve done plenty of destination weddings, and while they’ve been mostly awesome – I’ve learned a lot.
THE BAD
Loss of income
You can’t take bookings either side of the date so you may lose out on loads of extra income. Plus there are the costs you didn’t think of. Food while you’re away, food on the plane, car hire, getting to the airport, taxis, airport parking, petrol, accommodation, taxes, mobile roaming fees – I could go on. Did you charge your couple all these costs? It’s likely you’ll have to suck them up and end up not earning a great deal from this booking. So many photographers shoot destinations at a discount too so you might even end up paying for it.
The stress is immense
Packing, getting to the airport, organising car hire, working out where the venue is, driving on the other side of the road, not understanding road signs, not knowing where you can buy food. Spanish siesta hours that mean nothing is open when you need it to be. Not being able to use your phone abroad. Having to exchange currency or work out what the exchange is at the atm while trying to work out which buttons to press. Visas. There’s a lot to think about compared with the usual “look at Google Maps the night before”.
Backing up photos isn’t as easy
It’s harder to back up your photos the next day, unless you have your laptop and a hard drive with you, which makes your luggage heavier – and you risk having it thrown in the hold and getting broken, or getting damp in your accommodation.
No freedom to travel
Unless the wedding is on the first day you’re there, and you’ve booked several weeks to travel around, then you’re stuck exploring places near the wedding venue. Maybe you always wanted to go to the north of Croatia but the wedding is in the south and you only have a few days. You’re better off just going there on holiday, using the money you made shooting a local wedding.
It’s boring for others
If you bring your partner, they will have to hang around for an entire day without you. And the next morning you’ll be knackered, so not up for any excursions anyway.
Everything runs late
Often, destination weddings are at exotic resorts that run on “local time” – just like being on holiday. Which is great when you’re on holiday, as you have control over what you do. At a wedding abroad, you won’t be eating at a normal dinner time. Hangry plus sweaty, hot and sunburned = a grumpy wedding photographer. First dance won’t be on time – so you’ll get back to your hotel much later than at home. The ceremony probably won’t be on time – and you’ll spend the whole time worrying about missing golden hour as a result.
You have to pack small
You also have to pack the bare bones camera kit – especially if you’re shooting in a country you’re not legally allowed to work in.
You’re taking work away from someone
A “destination” is someone else’s local area. You’re taking work away from a local – not to mention adding to carbon emissions. We often get irritated when other photographers travel miles to shoot on our patch (imagine a photographer coming from Australia/USA/etc to shoot in your tiny home village) – and it must be even worse for struggling photographers in beautiful areas that photographers trip over themselves to shoot. Their income is likely much lower too, so you’re taking a lot away from them.
It’s often illegal
English people aren’t allowed to shoot weddings in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and probably other countries too. The same goes the other way around. If you get caught at the airport they WILL turn you around and send you home. I’m not kidding, they actually will. Don’t say you’re there to shoot a wedding, you’re just travelling and you like to have your kit because you’re a photographer. Delete all emails from the couple, don’t post anything about it on social media. They check! It’s fucking nerve-wracking walking through customs knowing you could get caught.
You may not have a choice in where you stay
The couple will often choose your accommodation, or kindly let you stay with them. Plus, you may be staying somewhere you’d never choose for a holiday, so it’s not really the working holiday a lot of photographers imagine. Party town when you’re a country bumpkin? Middle of nowhere when you’re used to relying on shops? It also means that you’re at the beck and call of your couple and their friends, and you can’t completely relax in the days you’re spending around the wedding.
THE UGLY
Sunburn is hard to edit (and not good for you either)
Good luck editing all those English faces red raw from the sun (I have a special preset for this, if you’d like it just email me, and I’ll tell you how to make it!). You’ll also be out shooting in that sun, so you’ll need to keep on topping up the sun lotion which equals greasy skin and greasy cameras.
Harsh sun is a bitch to shoot in
Travel weddings are generally held outdoors in very bright sun. Unless they have a sunset ceremony, in which case all your photos thereafter will be in the dark, negating the best reason for shooting destination weddings. I once did this, and had to convince them to have the entire reception before the ceremony.
Humidity will kill your camera
One of my cameras fully died from humidity at a wedding in Corfu this year, on the morning of the wedding. I had to shoot the whole thing on one camera, switching lenses all day. And not being at home I couldn’t just call on one of my photography mates to help me out.
No emergency backup abroad
If you’re sick, hurt yourself, drop your camera etc, you can’t just post in an emergency photographers group and have 10 people rushing to help you. You’re on your own, buddy! Forgot your battery charger? You’re screwed! Bringing a second shooter is well worth it. Plus, travel buddy!
Drunk people are hard to work with
For some reason when we’re on holiday we think we can handle our booze better. Couple that with not eating enough (destination weddings are known for food coming out super late), stronger than at home drinks, and the hot sun – and you have a recipe for drunk guests who can’t stand up for family formals.
Food poisoning happens
This one got me at a destination wedding in Croatia. The venue chef was high as a kite and made everyone incredibly sick, ruining the last day of everyone’s holiday. It’s something that can happen at home too, but at least at home you have your own bed and know where the nearest pharmacy is.
STILL WANNA HOP ON A PLANE? HERE ARE A FEW TIPS:
Say what you want
Say it loud and clear on your website that you travel. Not like “I love travelling please take me with you I’ll pay for myself and you can have free photography and everything” because that sends alarm bells to the couple. But just say on your info page that you travel, and love shooting weddings abroad.
Here’s an enquiry I had for a destination wedding – even though I’ve blogged numerous destination weddings, they still didn’t get the hint that I travel!
“Hi Anna! We are getting married in Slano in Croatia up in the hills at a beautiful Croatian home overlooking the most stunning sea views! Mountains behind us and the water below, what more could you want!! We are reeeally hoping you travel? If you’ve never been to Croatia you will bloody love it.
Ooooh so many questions. Main one being do you travel? Let’s hope this is a yes!”
I have loads of travel weddings on my site. You really have to ram it down their throats!
Create dedicated useful info posts about each destination
Couples don’t search for “destination wedding photographer” or “travel wedding photographer” or “wedding photographer abroad”. Research suggests only photographers actually search these terms. Try “spain wedding photographer” or “how to plan a wedding in France from the UK” etc instead, and write informative posts.
A bucketlist can be useful for travel weddings
Create a page on your site and list places you want to go. Write about those places, mention your keywords several times. You don’t have to link that page anywhere, just let Google do its work. It’s a shot in the dark, but can work if you’re strapped for time. You can go one step further and create a page for each destination you’d like to shoot in, which makes it easier for Google, as it likes to rank for only one major search term per page.
Blog your travels
It’s interesting for couples to get to know you and your travel hobbies, as well as suggesting that you travel for weddings, and shows how well you take photos of different landscapes and scenes.
Set up a styled shoot abroad
And blog the shit out of it.
Work on referrals
Most of my destination weddings have come via referrals from past couples – couples who got married here in the UK but their friends are getting married abroad, so nurture your referrals! One found me on Rock n Roll Bride (several years ago so things may have changed). Another couple planned a wedding in the UK but decided to elope to Vegas in the end, taking me with them.
Booking destination weddings
When they book, charge them your normal day rate, plus flights and 2 nights’ accommodation at the very least. Charge car hire too if you can. I’ve learned over the years that these things really add up. And my couples are always happy to pay for all these things – they expect it. It can often be cheaper than them booking a local photographer, especially in places like Vegas where they charge you for each photo on top of the coverage (nb read above for why this isn’t a great thing, morally). Also, book your own accommodation rather than leaving the couple to choose a place for you, or if you’re sociable, stay with the guests. If your couple are unsure about booking, tell them it’s perfect because you’ll “get” them and their quirky ways better than a local Spaniard for example, plus you speak their language!
I hope this helps you either feel better about not shooting destination weddings, or helps you get those travel wedding bookings if you want them!
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