Most people learn the hard way that traveling with friends or family can be stressful, depending on the people. Same goes for photographers; if you hire a person to spend 3-4 days with you, you better like each other.

If you are deciding to begin your search for a photogra-friend, you may wonder what are the benefits of bringing someone with you. Essentially you have four options: 1) Resort photographer, 2) Local photographer, 3) Bring your photographer, or 4) your uncle Ronny.

Time and time again I have heard a maternity clients say their resort photographer did a ‘good enough’ job…’good enough for a resort photographer’. I think it is rare to get a great resort photographer and they undoubtedly do not put the same passion, energy and care that a selected and hired photographer would. My personal opinion is that you go to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a wedding; you want the details, the moments and experience to be captured, to be timeless and give that investment a proper record. Of course that is only one opinion.

At our last wedding in the Dominican the resort photographer used a low end camera, built in camera flash, and provided 36 images. She also didn’t meet the couple before hand, and had a serious language barrier. We watched multiple weddings during the week to prepare for the lighting conditions. As I watched I realized the personal touch was what our bride paid for. We really cared, really wanted to make amazing art, and create a relationship with the group which will no doubt be a lasting friendships. On the beach the resort photographers couldn’t wait to get out of there…when we left at midnight we were all hugs and smiles–we were a team. We really missed our Punta Cana family. Meeting before the wedding, having engagement pictures and seeing the quality of images before hand; also getting to know the couple was the defining difference from hiring a photographer on the phone or risking it with a resort photographer you can’t choose.

If you bring your photographer you have less risk of getting a bad photographer. I won’t even get started with the horror stories of hiring local photographers. I am sure it is rare–but if you bring someone I am sure you are less likely to have trouble getting your pictures communicating with your photographer who is in a different country…

In the end the couple got 800 photos, full coverage, a day after session, an engagement session, our travel, slide show, and more–they would have paid 1500.00 for 36 pictures from the resort photographer.

To me it’s a no brainer! Wherever you live and where you are starting from check out your options, and do some research. You may find a great local or a resort with a photographer you love…if not you may want to find yourself a photogra-friend with all the benefits:)

Here are some shots from the Dominican wedding…