Doesn’t it? Sounds like fun.
Many wedding photographers aspire to be employed to shoot weddings abroad, whether at a beach in the tropical sun or maybe in a romantic historical European town. It’s a great alternative to the monotony of weddings photographed in the same wedding venue in your town.
But, before you sign “yes” to that spectacular fly-away wedding on Tahiti, There are a few practical aspects to consider.
The Location
Do your research about the wedding venue. Find the answer to these concerns:
- How do I reach the destination?
- Do I need to change trains or planes or rent a vehicle?
- Can I stay at the same hotel with the customers, or will I need to be elsewhere?
- If I’m in a different place, how is it, and how far is it from there?
Sunset in the Bahamas on an American Airlines 737
Travel time is often overlooked. Flights can delay or be canceled,, so you should allow enough time to get there even if there are delays. If you’re traveling across time zones, you could be impacted by jet lag, which is why acclimatization before your job is recommended.
Generally, it’s better to arrange all your travel arrangements yourself then bill the cost to the customer. If they are the ones who make the booking but do not takeconsider the abovementioned factors, they are more likely to select the most affordable flight option,, which means you’ll have to travel in unsociable times with a low-cost airline!
For airlines, it is essential to verify their baggage allowances and pricing with care. Every airline is cutting down on their free baggage allowances recently,, and the budget airlines typically are stifling on both hold baggage and carry-on bags. Sometimes, it’s more affordable to purchase an expensive ticket on the significant airlines than on a budget airline and pay for their baggage charges.
If your destination is remote, you might find the last leg takes place on a “puddle-jumper” or light plane. Don’t think the transatlantic allowances for baggage be available for all stages of your travel.
Does it have to be legal?
If you are eager to book an event in a remote destination, don’t believe you can just board a plane to photograph a wedding in a different country. Even if paid by the client in the United States, and the money isn’t changing hands in another country, you might find that it’s not legal to shoot a wedding in the country you’re visiting. Therefore, make sure to check it out. Numerous countries are stepping up their efforts on what they consider illegal foreign workers. The unpleasant “grilling” from immigration officers could be followed by expulsion on the next plane out. And not only that, you may be barred from entering the nation shortly.
Some photographers will claim they think, “it’s OK, I go in as a tourist and never have a problem,” But they may be fortunate. Do some more study on this too.
Example: As a British resident, I can legally work in any other European Union country, such as France, Greece, Italy, Germany, etc. But I’m not allowed to film an event in the USA.
If you need more certainty about the legality of working in a particular country, you should decline the work and recommend it to a photographer in the country. You will not only get some good luck (and possibly a second referral in the future), but also avoid the risk of getting into a large amount of legal trouble and a depressed client.
What equipment do I require?
It’s the same at home, perhaps! However, you should keep backups of just about every piece of equipment. It’s likely that the replacement equipment will only be readily available in a short time at a popular tourist spot.
The main challenge is bringing enough gear to prepare for accidents and keep your luggage to the minimum. It’s my practice to shoot using two cameras, and I recommend a minimum of one extra and, at a minimum, two. I know a photographer who was capturing a wedding in Miami amid a tropical storm and had three cameras go out in succession! If you’re trying to save the space or weight of your camera, consider using an e-bike to serve as your backup.
Prime lenses are typically small and light which is why if you’re usually a zoom lens shooter you might want to consider popping some primes (say 50mm and 85mm or a 24mm when shooting wide) to be prepared in the event of. Zoom lenses have been dropped onto sandy beaches before and it’s incredible how quickly and easily dirt and sand get into the mechanism.
Find out whether you are required be required to register your gear when you leave your country or when you arrive at the destination. In the event that you don’t, you could end up being required to pay import tax or have your equipment taken away. Certain countries, like Mexico are keen to deter people from bringing expensive cameras into their country without paying import duty.
