Destination Wedding Photographer: Resort, Local, or Bring Your Own?

As a destination wedding photographer, I've photographed weddings in Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and I have two more on the calendar for 2027.

Couples choose destination weddings because they want an experience. Maybe it's getting married on a beach, spending a week at an all-inclusive with your favourite people, or turning your wedding into a vacation everyone will remember.

And if you're going to go all that way to celebrate with the people you love, you're probably going to want that experience documented, not just the ceremony and a few nice portraits, but the people, the little moments and everything that made the trip yours.

So... what do you do for photography?

Do you use the resort photographer? Find someone local to where you're getting married? Or bring a photographer with you from home?

All three are perfectly valid options, but they come with some differences when it comes to cost, convenience, style and the overall experience. If you're planning a destination wedding and aren't sure which route to take, let's break down the pros and cons of each.

Option One: The Resort Photographer

Most resort brands will have onsite media teams that are either included in your wedding package or added on.

The advantages

Resort photographers are convenient, require less to planning for you, they know the resort already and of course no vendor fee.

For some couples, that's exactly what they're looking for. If you're having a simple destination wedding, a vow renewal or a smaller celebration and mainly want photographs of the ceremony, family and a few portraits together, the resort photographer may be a practical option.

However, there are some significant cons that come with this option.

• You may not know who your photographer will be until the wedding day. The images on the resort's website may represent the work of multiple photographers and may not necessarily be representative of the photographer who will be assigned to you. Or even if they have any real training. You won’t have a rapport built with them prior which is important to feel relaxed and get better photos.

• You may have limited control over the experience and most likely be non-collaborative. Resort photography teams often have a set way of working and a formula that works efficiently across many weddings. You're essentially hiring the resort's photography service rather than someone there for you.

• Packages may have a set number of images included. You may have a set number of hours, images or products included, with additional coverage or images available at an extra cost.

• Editing style may be standardized. There likely won’t be many options with different styles of photography.

• You probably will not have the whole day documented, they will not be invested in your personal story. Resort photography packages are often built around the key parts of the wedding, ceremony, family photos, couple portraits.

Option Two: Hire a Photographer Who Lives at the Destination

The second option is to hire a photographer who actually lives and works in the country where you're getting married. The local market is worth a look at when starting your photographer search.

The advantages

• They know the area. If something unexpected comes up, a local photographer may be able to pivot more easily because they understand the area and how things work locally. If language is a barrier, being fluent in the local language can also make communication with vendors and resort staff easier.

• They are more knowledgeable for off resort weddings. This is one of the bigger advantages, because local photographers will defiantly know the off resort venues and surrounding area. They will know the best locations for portraits, where the light is best and when to schedule photos. They may also know some hidden gems.

• They may know the resort. If they've photographed there repeatedly, they may already know the property, ceremony locations, portrait spots, restrictions and how the wedding department operates. Possibly sweet talk themselves out of vendor fees or even be on their preferred vendor list.

• There are no international travel costs or logistics. Your photographer isn't flying internationally to get to your wedding, so you don't have to factor in flights or accommodation, and there are fewer travel variables to worry about.

• They may have local vendor connections. A photographer who regularly works in the area may have a list of other vendors they can recommend, from hair and makeup artists to florists, planners and other wedding professionals. If you're planning your wedding from another country, having someone who can point you toward reliable local vendors can be helpful.

But there are some things to consider

Hiring local doesn't automatically mean you've found the right photographer.

• The selection may be smaller. Depending on your destination, you may have fewer photographers to choose from than you would at home, particularly if you have a very specific style in mind.

• You still need to do your homework. Don't assume that someone is a good fit simply because they're local. Look at complete wedding galleries, not just the best images on Instagram, and make sure their work is consistent with what you're looking for.

• You may not have much of a relationship with them beforehand. You can absolutely meet over Zoom and get to know each other before the wedding, but you may not have the same opportunity to meet in person beforehand or do engagement photos with them.

• You may need to pay an outside vendor fee. Resorts are notorious for charging vendor fees for anyone that does not work for them.

Option Three: Bring Your Own Photographer

The advantages

• You get to choose exactly who you want.
  You can find someone whose photography style genuinely matches what you're looking for.

• You can get to know your photographer before the wedding.
  You've had conversations, you've discussed what matters to you, and you've had a chance to figure out whether you actually like each other. You're not meeting your photographer for the first time on the beach an hour before your ceremony.

• You can do an engagement session beforehand.
  If your photographer offers engagement sessions, you've already had a chance to work together before the wedding. You learn how they direct you, they learn how you interact in front of the camera, and you get a feel for the whole process.

• Your engagement and wedding photographs can have the same visual style.
  If you care about having a cohesive body of photographs, working with the same photographer for both means your engagement photos and wedding photographs are created with the same approach, editing and aesthetic.

• You can communicate in the way you're accustomed to.
  When someone is directing you through portraits, giving instructions and coordinating family photographs, being able to communicate easily and naturally can make a huge difference, especially if English isn't the primary language spoken at the destination.

• They arrive with fresh eyes.
  A photographer who hasn't photographed your resort 50 times isn't necessarily a disadvantage. Most photographers get inspired and do their most creative and exciting work in new places.

• They can become part of the group.
  When your photographer is there for more than just the ceremony and portraits, they have time to get to know you and your guests. People become more comfortable around them, which can make the photographs feel more natural and less like everyone is being photographed by a stranger.

• You can potentially have more of the experience documented. You're not just having a wedding, you may be spending several days with your favourite people. If you want photographs of welcome drinks, excursions, pool days, dinners or other events, a photographer you've brought with you may be able to build that into your coverage

There are some downsides

• It can cost more. You're potentially paying for flights and accommodation in addition to the photography itself. Depending on the photographer, some or all of those costs may be built into their destination package. (like mine!)

• You need to check the resort's outside-vendor policy. Some resorts charge outside-vendor fees. In some cases, having your photographer stay at the resort as a guest can affect those fees, but you'll want to confirm the policy with your specific resort. Usually, most of the hotels required a minimum reservation for 3 nights in order to waive the vendor fee.

• Travel introduces variables. Flights get delayed. Luggage gets lost. Things happen. A professional travelling photographer should have contingency plans, but it's still a consideration.

• You need to make sure they actually know how to handle destination weddings. Someone can be a fantastic local wedding photographer and still have very little experience with international travel and destination weddings. You want someone who has thought through the logistics before they get on the plane.

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Thinking about bringing your photographer from home?
[See my destination wedding photography package →]

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TRADE FOR TRAVEL

If you're considering a photographer who is offering to photograph your wedding in exchange for travel and accommodation, ask yourself: why is this such a good deal?

It may be because they're building their destination portfolio, looking to create social media content, gaining experience or simply want the opportunity to travel. None of those things are necessarily a problem. But it's worth knowing what you're getting and making sure their experience matches what you're looking for.

A professional wedding photographer should be able to walk into an unfamiliar venue, assess the light, find good locations, adapt to weather and timeline changes, and figure things out on the fly. That's the job.

So ask yourself:

What kind of photography experience do I want?

There isn't one right answer when it comes to choosing a destination wedding photographer. The best option for you depends on what matters most to you and what you want your photography experience to look like.

• Do you want the convenience of having everything arranged through your resort?

• Would you prefer someone who lives at the destination, knows the area and may already have experience working at your resort?

• Or have you already fallen in love with a photographer's work and want that person to come with you?

You're choosing the person who will be there with you while you're getting ready, meeting your family and friends, photographing the ceremony, pulling you away for portraits, hanging around during dinner and probably witnessing some questionable dance moves later that night.

Choose someone whose work you love, whose approach feels right for you, and whose experience matches the kind of wedding you want documented.

Here are a few destination weddings I've photographed:

EXCELLENCE CORAL PLAYA MUJERES WEDDING, MEXICO | EMILY+CHRIS

RIU PALACE AQUARELLE WEDDING, JAMAICA | MIKALA + KARLO

GRANDE PALLADIUM WEDDING, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | MARILEE + BEN

Getting married in Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic or somewhere else in the Caribbean? See what's included when you bring me along.