Would you sneak in a photographer?

Whats the worst that could happen? They call the federal immigration employees and have you escorted off the property as a violation for not having the proper working permits, etc....


Of course, we live in the Riviera Maya and deal with the same issue... resorts here that DO NOT allow outside photographers... yeah, we have been sneaking in some of them but that gets old, after they start to recognize our faces... especially if they show up to expos and see our photos and start to put faces to names... There is one hotel here that actually checks papers to make sure photographers are legal to work.... I have no idea about Jamaica.

What I can tell you is that ALL of these places with the strict "NO OUTSIDE PHOTOGRAPHER" policy do so for a reason. While we HATE HATE HATE it, I understand that at the end of the day, they have a working business relationship with the on-site photographer shop. So, what that means is that there is income being lost when a bride sneaks in a photog.

Just put yourself in the place of that business owner at that local photog shop. Most of these hotels are small, so you can bet your bottom dollar that they are keeping an eye out for every single event and seeing who the photographers are. If it were me owning that hotel photo shop, I'd be PISSED in a big time way... But, its not me, so I guess you have to play your cards with whoever that is and see what happens.

Our policy is this: We ask the bride to speak with the hotel and see if outside photographers are allowed. Often or not, there is a FEE that can be paid to secure this.... hell yeah, what a piece of mind to pay that fee and not stress that what you are doing is 1. illegal because you have no permit to work in the country and 2. the hotel photo shop gets their $$$ dinero...
which, at the end of the day is what this is all about...

IF there is no fee to override this policy, I'm not risking my A$$ to work there... no way jose!

So, you decide (or roll the dice) as they say!

Good luck
MATEO

This was a HUGE concern of mine when we originally booked our DW - my pictures will last forever and it's important to me that that I get what I want - especially for the amount of money that wedding photography costs. Don't get me wrong - a good photographer is worth every cent - I'm just saying it's one of the bigger ticket items when planning a wedding. Anyway....I think I first heard it from TA Jennifer that Sandals/Beaches was changing it's policy so that outside photographers were allowed as long as they booked as a guest with a min 3 night stay. I confirmed this with my TA as well, and I also confirmed it by calling the Beaches Negril resort myself. Even with all that confirmation...I still wanted more, lol. I am following their rules, and I am flying in my own photographer from Chicago, and she will be staying as a guest for 3 - possibly 4 days. But I do NOT want to have any issues on my wedding day, especially when I heard other brides mention that you could have the photographer, but not with all the additional equipment. So I emailed both the resort, as well as my WC, and I have it in writing that there will be no issues. I've already made the reservation for my photographer and her reservation is "flagged" as my photographer, so they know not to give her a hard time.

 

For peace of mind, if I were you I would confirm this with the resort ahead of time, just so you can have it in writing to prevent any problems while you're there....but I think as long as you play by their rules, you'll be fine with using an outside photographer.

Im surprised with the answers Beaches and your WC gave you. Because beaches turks and caicos gave the exact opposite answers. My Wedding Coordinator, Beaches, and the GM of Beaches T&C. I do not understand why they are giving us two totally different answers?! It doesnt make sense. But oh well I guess.

It's crazy that there is so much conflicting information on this subject with Beaches/Sandals. And that's why I wanted to make sure I had it in writing so once we're down there, I have my "proof" that this was all approved ahead of time. And I would definitely recommend the same for any Beaches/Sandals brides.

I feel bad that you didn't get the same answers I did, but if I remember right, you booked a photographer to do pics off-site, right? I still think that will work out great for you - maybe even better, since you'll have some unique pics with different backgrounds, and not everything will be done at the resort itself

I am bringing in my photographer as well. HE is staying for 4 nights and I only have to pay for his flight and accommodation and $200 for his supplies! Are you kidding me? I will definitely not be using the BEaches photographer.

Another bride last month at BEaches negril said that she and her photographer were respectful to them and did buy a few pictures from them afterwards so there was no stress at all.

Good idea...I think if you do a buy a couple then no harm done! But why would I pay $1200 for 35 photos? Totally ridiculous!

Yes def. it is weird to me how conflicting our answers were. I hired them to take us off property because they arent allowed on property. Thats the thing. I would love for them to take us off porperty first and then I would love for them to have been able to take pictures of our ceremony and reception. So thats the bummer. And They never cleared it so I cant and dont have it in writing. Even the GM of the property said no. So it will work out Im sure but would have been nice to have had them there for 4 days of photos and fun!

I did sneak someone in, and glad I did. There are no rules stating that guests cannot take pictures with a certain kind of camera, tripods, flashers, ect. I did buy some of the Beaches photos but they are lacking in color and quality compared to my photographers cd.

Beaches really should change this policy because I think it will chase potential guests away.

Really no need to sneak the photog in- they've loosened the policy and allow photogs to come onboard as long as they stay at the resort! I have permission from the wedding department manager for my brides!