Photographer: to bring along or hire local

[balibride]

We have found a local photographer and met him.... I think you have to go on his past pics and your gut instinct. Will let you know how it goes!

[TATrisha]

 Hi Kristin!

 

Yeah, I've been around this forum for a really long time, and in August I'll be going back to the Gran Bahia to photograph another wedding, so I try to be as much of an expert at least on THAT resort as I can!! 

 

I have put together this official thread and it has a bunch of information on Arrecife: Click HERE for that.

 

Basically, I would highly advise against booking this photographer.  But, that's just my honest opinion. 

The size of the photos are 6x8 or 5x7, I believe.  He is with you for the ceremony and then portraits on the beach for about 20 minutes after.  Unless you book him longer, that is. 

 

The photos are VERY edited and technically speaking are pretty bad, but I know a lot of people have also been happy with them. 

 

From the reviews over the past year, most brides spend between $2,000 and $3,000 on their services and receive 150-200 pictures.

That to me, is kind of crazy since I typically get flown in for around $2500-3000 and you get full day wedding coverage, ~800 pictures, and a trash the dress session.  It just seems like a no brainer to me to fly someone in who will give you more bang for your buck, but I'm biased

 

Hope this helps!  Please feel free to PM or email me if you have any questions

Trisha

Originally Posted by claruickie 

Hi Tlseege

You seem a real expert in destination weddings so wonder if you can assist me. We have been to the Bahia Principe chain of hotels for the last 15 years, having been to Mexico 3 times before we have just booked to get married there in June 2013 at Tulum Gazebo. ALthough only just booked Im a control freak and need to be organised, my main concern is the Photographer - read many onflicting reports of  Arrecife Studio . . . .

 

We have booked the Sunshine package but I'm keen to know (like yesterday) whats the story with the photographer and I cant see any details on either their website or FB page of costs or how long do they actually spend with you during the day.  Yes you get 10 photos in the package but what size photo's? whats the cost for additional photos?  How many photos do they take? can you buy the CD of all the photos?  

 

Any information would be greatly apprecaited.

 

Many thanks Kirstin X

 

I apprecaite we have only just booked and the Wedding Co-ordinator will be able to advise but would liek to be ahead of the game

[Oct 2012 Bride]

Originally Posted by balibride 

 

We have found a local photographer and met him.... I think you have to go on his past pics and your gut instinct. Will let you know how it goes!

 

Balibride-

 

Who are you working with? Do they have a website?

[claruickie]

mmm lots of conflicting reports on the hotel photographer, have to say all the photos I have looked at from them are amazing, its the cost for additional photos/cd thats irritating.

Being a photographer yourself have you ever had several brides split the cost of you travelling to cover more than 1 wedding over several days? 

[Oct 2012 Bride]

Originally Posted by claruickie 

 

mmm lots of conflicting reports on the hotel photographer, have to say all the photos I have looked at from them are amazing, its the cost for additional photos/cd thats irritating.

Being a photographer yourself have you ever had several brides split the cost of you travelling to cover more than 1 wedding over several days? 

This is a great question. I eally want to know the answer.

[JayKay]

I think this is really a tough decision.  For us photos were a priority for us, however, we didn't have a large budget for photography.  We debated between bringing a photographer with us and hiring a local photographer from the island.  We looked at a few different photographers to bring with us and all of them were way out of our budget.  It would have been great to be able to bring one with us seeing as you usually get more bang for your buck.  We might have been able to afford to bring a photographer with us if we were able to share with another couple getting married at the same place within a few days, but that was impossible.  We ended up hiring a local Jamaican photographer, Merrick Cousley, and we are so happy we did.  His photos are phenomenal and his price was amazing.  I also feel that because he is used to shooting weddings in a Caribbean location he was familiar with the sun and sky and such that goes along with tropical destinations.  In the end we chose to hire a local photographer rather then bring our own to save us money without having to compromise quality of pictures.

[tmemise]

My sister-in law is flying in a photographer from her hometown Toronto to her wedding at RMB. He just opened his business and she liked his work and price. www.mrrimaging.com. Hope this helps, as I liked the pics he took.
 

[Peach]

Originally Posted by JayKay 

 

I think this is really a tough decision.  For us photos were a priority for us, however, we didn't have a large budget for photography.  We debated between bringing a photographer with us and hiring a local photographer from the island.  We looked at a few different photographers to bring with us and all of them were way out of our budget.  It would have been great to be able to bring one with us seeing as you usually get more bang for your buck.  We might have been able to afford to bring a photographer with us if we were able to share with another couple getting married at the same place within a few days, but that was impossible.  We ended up hiring a local Jamaican photographer, Merrick Cousley, and we are so happy we did.  His photos are phenomenal and his price was amazing.  I also feel that because he is used to shooting weddings in a Caribbean location he was familiar with the sun and sky and such that goes along with tropical destinations.  In the end we chose to hire a local photographer rather then bring our own to save us money without having to compromise quality of pictures.

 

 

 

I think we are in the same situation. The photographer we would be bringing along with us, if we decide to go with that option, has no experience in tropical settings (which is why we would get such an awesome price)... I love her style, but not knowing what we are getting ahead of time makes us nervous. We can get a decent price, and decent pictures, with someone familiar with the area and used to sun, sand, salt, and so on.

I think it is worth it.

And, actually, after pricing it all out, FI and I are in agreement on adding on some of the extras I wanted but wasn't sure were worth it. The more we talked about it, the more we realized that the pictures and video (our photography packages can include videography too) are really our highest priority... well, each other first, then the location, then pictures and video...

 

Now I hope we can book who we are after!

[JayKay]

I hope you are able to book who you want.  Also, the one regret from my wedding is that we didnt hire a videographer to save money.  I really wish we had.

Originally Posted by Peach 

 

I think we are in the same situation. The photographer we would be bringing along with us, if we decide to go with that option, has no experience in tropical settings (which is why we would get such an awesome price)... I love her style, but not knowing what we are getting ahead of time makes us nervous. We can get a decent price, and decent pictures, with someone familiar with the area and used to sun, sand, salt, and so on.

I think it is worth it.

And, actually, after pricing it all out, FI and I are in agreement on adding on some of the extras I wanted but wasn't sure were worth it. The more we talked about it, the more we realized that the pictures and video (our photography packages can include videography too) are really our highest priority... well, each other first, then the location, then pictures and video...

 

Now I hope we can book who we are after!

[TATrisha]

So sorry I didn't see this earlier.  There are DEFINITELY savings if you can get together with another bride and fly in a photographer.  The flight is typically the expensive part, so you definitely will see savings.  For the Gran Bahia thread and the NOW Jade thread, that's why I created a bridal roll call.  You can see who is getting married near your date and hopefully share some expenses

 

And yes, I have had brides split the cost.  I photographed two weddings in Cabo last year via that method.  Both weddings were at Dreams Los Cabos.  Wedding 1 and Wedding 2

 

As for the resort photographer, their prices are crazy ridiculous.  And the photo quality really isn't good.  If you compare them to any photographer that you see on the major wedding blogs (style me pretty, what junebugloves, green wedding shoes, etc), you'll notice a huge difference in the look of the photos.  It's hard for people who aren't photographers to notice the flaws, which is good, because then hopefully you'll be happy with the photos.  I just would hate for you to hate the photos a few years down the line and have regrets.