Chris Baltazar, nationally renowned wedding photographer, shares his destination wedding experiences with couples and photographers to offer insight and tips. Here is the interview below:
Why travel?
People ask me why I like to travel so much. I think I inherited that gene from my mom who travels worldwide in her spare time. Following in her footsteps, I’ve been to more than 100 cities in 12 countries including Peru, Argentina, Korea, the Caribbean islands and the Philippines (where I’m originally from).
When I travel, I’m very similar to Anthony Bourdain, from one of my favorite shows, No Reservations on the Travel Channel, who delves deep into the customs and culinary culture of the places he visits. Doing this adds a lot of depth to my travel experiences and enriches my appreciation of the cultural diversity that is found all over the world.
Another thing I like about traveling is that it takes me out of my comfort zone and in turn, improves my creativity especially when it comes to my photography. There are uncertainties in traveling and shooting in unfamiliar territory with different landscapes and cultures. Not knowing what to expect all at times, forces me to look at life and my environment with a new perspective which helps me stay fresh and innovative.
Why do you shoot destination weddings?
There are really two reasons why I shoot destination weddings (DW):
First and foremost, with my love of travel and adventure, coupled with my passion for photography, photographing DWs is a no brainer.
And second, I wanted to expand my market from the over saturated market of the Washington, DC metropolitan area to the rest of the world. The great thing is that Baltazar Photography is in close proximity to 3 major airports with direct flights to the Caribbean and Mexico.
What is it about destination weddings that you like so much?
Maybe it’s due to the fact that most destination weddings have the breath-taking backdrops of beautiful sunsets, exotic landscapes, aqua blue coasts, white sands and fresh air that attract some of the most laidback and adventurous couples when we shoot these types of weddings. I especially like how our DW couples truly enjoy their weddings, generating happy and spontaneous moments, which are captured into beautiful images of their wedding day.
Another aspect of DWs that I really like is the fact that we get to spend more time with the wedding party. With most DWs spanning several days, we’re usually treated like friends from the time we’re welcomed by our couples to the time we depart. We’re introduced to all of the guests and family members and we end up establishing a rapport and a relationship with them. This especially helps when shooting on the wedding day.
Where have you shot destination weddings?
My very first destination wedding was in May of 2007 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I was very excited to be able to combine travel and work. From there, we’ve shot in Newport, Rhode Island; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Waikiki, Hawai’i; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Indianapolis, Indiana; and most recently, St. Lucia.
Where would you like to shoot?
Surprisingly enough, I’ve never been to Mexico. I’d love to shoot there. Another area of the globe which I haven’t explored at all is Europe. There are still a lot of places for me to visit and I’d love to scratch them off my list while documenting a wedding.
How do you prepare for your destination weddings?
I research the destination through travel websites and books. If the destination is unfamiliar to me, I usually hit the forums on TripAdvisor to learn as much as possible about the locale. In addition, I read travel books to learn a little more on the history and culture. By the end of my research, I feel like I’ve been on a virtual tour of the area.
I travel light and pack smart, bringing only the essential camera equipment. This will help you go through customs easier and attract less attention. I always take my equipment as carry-on luggage and I never check it in to reduce the risk of damage or loss. Get your equipment insured and make sure it covers travel outside the country. I’m also extremely organized with paperwork which consist of flight information, transportation, hotels, contact information, etc.
I also try to blend in as much as possible with the other tourists.
One thing I learned to do is to relax and be patient. I certainly got accustomed to “island time” pretty well. As US citizens, we’ve been spoiled with instant gratification and quick results. Traveling abroad will teach you to be patient and let certain things go.
For example, while en route to a wedding in Ocho Rios, the airline misplaced our luggage and it took them almost two days to get it to us. (This is the reason I always bring my equipment as a carry-on.) At any rate, I easily purchased a new set of clothes while waiting patiently until my luggage made it mere hours before the wedding. As the saying in Jamaica goes: “No problem mon - just a situation.”
Does the couple pay for your travel expenses? How do you book travel? Other expenses?
We have a base package that includes travel credits. We book our own airfare, hotel and local transportation directly and factor it in with the base package. We are sensitive to the couple’s budget so we don’t fly first class and we find the most cost-effective travel accommodations available to pass the savings on to our clients.
Are your clients asking you to document the entire wedding weekend?
Yes, which is why we usually arrive two days before the event. We travel into the destination and rest on the first day. On the second day, we typically photograph the rehearsal dinner. This also allows us to spend time with our couples and identify their special relationships with their family and friends. We then document the ceremony and reception on the third day. And we travel back home on the fourth day.
What’s the advantage of hiring a DW photographer?
Sometimes it’s better to hire locally for certain vendors, such as florists, DJs, cake decorators and wedding planners. For photography, we suggest that you BYOP (Bring Your Own Photographer), whether it’s a photographer local to your area that you met with in person, or a recommended photographer with an extensive experience in destination weddings all over the globe. It’s important that couples have great chemistry and rapport with their photographer so you both can create beautiful images together.
Some resorts include photography with their wedding package, but the distance and sometimes language barrier pose a huge challenge for the couple. Also, the standard of quality may not be the same as U.S. based professional photographers.
How advantageous is it for the photographer to have experience at your destination?
It’s nice to have a photographer who is familiar with certain location. However I don’t think it’s necessarily that a photographer is familiar with your specific resort, hotel or wedding site. For example, we’ve shot in Jamaica three times, at three different locations in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. I’m familiar with Jamaica but I was not familiar with any of the sites until I arrived there. The first thing I do if I’m shooting in a new surrounding is to survey and explore the entire facility and select specific spots to feature or highlight the couple and wedding party while shooting portraits and formal shots. This helps me determine walking distances and how much time it will take to travel from one location to another, establishing my shooting flow.
What trends are you seeing in destination wedding photography?
Destination weddings are a growing trend in the wedding industry. Having layovers in Miami, we see more and more brides carrying their dresses through the airport terminals. It’s obvious that more couples are opting for the ease of destination weddings. The hottest spots for brides are still the Caribbean destinations, Mexico and Hawaii.
It is a great time to be a bride today. More resorts are specializing and offering all inclusive wedding packages. Travel agents are also offering turn-key solutions.
Another trend that we’re seeing is that couples who have destination weddings usually go to other exotic locations for their honeymoon. One of our couples who had their wedding in the Caribbean had their honeymoon in Thailand and Maldives.
What tips can you provide to couples considering destination weddings?
Use a travel agent: Although destination weddings are relatively stress-free, don’t forget to plan. Hire a travel agent with expertise in DW such as Elite Travel to help you find the best deals and to make it easier for your guests to make travel arrangements. Usually, they’ll be able to suggest destinations and find deals you normally will not find.
Hire a wedding coordinator: For larger groups, couples should consider hiring a local wedding planner who will be dedicated to your wedding alone. Most resorts do more than one wedding a day, and in the case of RIU in Ocho Rios, they can have more than four weddings a day.
Know the laws: Read about the laws and requirements of getting married. Also, be familiar of customs and visa requirements.
Arrange for transportation: Arrange for all local transportation from the airport to the resort and everything in between. If you plan to have local excursions or if your ceremony is out side the resort, it’s better to arrange for transportation.
Be weather ready: Be aware of the local climates of your destination and don’t underestimate having an outdoor wedding in 90 degree humid weather. Schedule your itinerary accordingly.
Beware of hurricane and severe weather seasons: The Caribbean’s hurricane season is from June to November although the southern islands like St. Lucia are seldomly affected. Typhoon season in Asia is between May and November.
Get to know the staff: Getting to know the resorts staff and making sure they know you is extremely helpful especially in resorts that are known as wedding factories.
Plan for “island time”: Don’t be upset if your needs aren’t met instantaneously. Delays are to be expected.
Relax and have fun!
Any last words?
Yes, Baltazar Photography has been truly blessed to photograph destination weddings in the past two years. True, it’s not for everyone. During August through September just this year (2008), I had back to back destination weddings in Cape Cod, Jamaica and Hawaii. The stress of making travel arrangements and living out of your suitcase can take a toll. But that’s all a part of the experience. I do not consider destination weddings a vacation, but rather an adventure.