Destinations weddings - am I the only one that hates doing those?

[SMP_Homer]

maybe hate is a strong word...

The 1st time I was asked to do one, I was ecstatic...

On to my 4th, just 6 weeks away... all my work visas, insurance, backup planning, etc... is in place, just need to get on the plane...

1st time I went on one of those, it was mostly fly with the wedding party, stay at the same resort they do, and 75% of the time, I wasn't doing anything with them (I did shoot the couple the odd time, hung out some other times, etc, but I was really on vacation all by myself)
I'm usually the adventurous guy when on holidays... never spend much time at the resort, rent some wheels and go venture off somewhere, climb stuff, hike, eat anything and try everything...
and those weddings, they usually happen closer to the end of the week, so there's lots of time to do what I usually prefer to do... but because i have to be in tip-top shape, have to make sure I go easy on the food, be careful with sun activities as to not get a bad sunburn, worry about gear being damaged or stolen more than you would if you're home, etc...
so those holidays by myself just really turn out to be all you can eat solitary confinement

I always do look forward to seeing a new resort and experience new things, but it will really be just me lounging around, doing lots of reading, waiting for that one day (plus the odd shoots during the week) and missing the family...

[cory1848]

how many days are you gone for? I have done a few and its 2-3 days max. I get in the day before, work the day of, and leave the next morning after a good nights rest. You make it sound like your gone a week at a time? Is that the case and if so why?

[S.Horton]

Take someone else with you to pass the time with.

;}

[sfaust]

Not that much different from commercial work. Fly in, hang around, shoot, hang around, then head home. I'd rather do local work so I can still partake in my hobbies, family life, friends, etc.

[dugcross]

My wedding was a destination wedding but our photographer was located at the destination so...no problem.

[SMP_Homer]

Take someone else with you to pass the time with.

;}

And that someone else will also want to get out of the resort and do stuff... I doubt someone else will want to pay to come out and not do anything once they get there!
My wife has suggested she could come, but then that just adds to my stress ;-)

[SMP_Homer]

how many days are you gone for? I have done a few and its 2-3 days max. I get in the day before, work the day of, and leave the next morning after a good nights rest. You make it sound like your gone a week at a time? Is that the case and if so why?

Not every destination is easy to get to...
Antigua for example. There's a regular flight out of Toronto every Saturdays. Nothing else during the week. I could fly to Philly or Dallas and get a connecting flight to ANU in the middle of the week, but that too is a pain.
ANU to Toronto is only on Saturdays as well (but it looks like Air Canada has added Sundays now too).

And most of those flights are 'attached' to your resort/stay for the week. A direct flight to Antigua w/o a resort attached is almost as much as a 1-week resort stay!

And if your final destination is another smaller island where the big jet can't land (aka Montserrat) and you need to take one of those small puddle jumpers, more planning and preparations are needed if I'm not going with the group.
I'd prefer let the group handle the needed preparations and tag along. If they don't make it to where they need to go, neither do I, and that's the best scenario...

[SMP_Homer]

My wedding was a destination wedding but our photographer was located at the destination so...no problem.

My last one (Curacao) also had a resort-supplied shooter. The couple was told he was included in their package, the free part really ending at him being there with his camera and shooting away. Any pics he took the couple had to buy if they wanted. He and I talked a little before the shooting, just to make neither of us would be in the other's way. I think we both tried to not duplicate our shots (I guess he knew he'd have a hard time selling the shots I was already paid to take).
At the end of the ceremony, I took the couple away for some beach shots, and then let him take them too if the couple was ok with it.
He told me he didn't think he'd make any kind of a sale on this wedding, because he had never had a sale when the couple brings in their own shooter. The bride's father was too curious and made a deal with the resort shooter, bought the shots on the spot, w/o seeing any of them. He was delivered a CD the next morning, and I never seen any of the shots or heard about whether they were liked or not.
The shooter was a very nice guy. Very accommodating and polite. I didn't have any issues with him, and didn't hear anyone else complaining about him.

[cory1848]

Not every destination is easy to get to...
Antigua for example. There's a regular flight out of Toronto every Saturdays. Nothing else during the week. I could fly to Philly or Dallas and get a connecting flight to ANU in the middle of the week, but that too is a pain.
ANU to Toronto is only on Saturdays as well (but it looks like Air Canada has added Sundays now too).

And most of those flights are 'attached' to your resort/stay for the week. A direct flight to Antigua w/o a resort attached is almost as much as a 1-week resort stay!

And if your final destination is another smaller island where the big jet can't land (aka Montserrat) and you need to take one of those small puddle jumpers, more planning and preparations are needed if I'm not going with the group.
I'd prefer let the group handle the needed preparations and tag along. If they don't make it to where they need to go, neither do I, and that's the best scenario...

Gotcha, just realized your location. A little easier for me already being in Florida...

[tsw910]

not to sound like a jerk, but you're really "hate" to be trapped in paradise ?! i would assume you shoot weddings because you actually like taking photos, so now you're doing what you love to do and to top it off, you're at some "mandatory paid vacation" and you're hating it? there are very few photogs that gets to travel to shoot destination weddings and its a blessing ..

[Tom Reichner]

not to sound like a jerk, but you're really "hate" to be trapped in paradise ?! i would assume you shoot weddings because you actually like taking photos, so now you're doing what you love to do and to top it off, you're at some "mandatory paid vacation" and you're hating it? there are very few photogs that gets to travel to shoot destination weddings and its a blessing ..

I kind of agree. Having to just hang loose for a couple days, reading or whatever, doesn't sound too bad. And you're actually earning money on the trip.

I travel all over the place to photograph wildlife. And being completely freelance, I really have no idea if I'll ever make a single dollar from anything I shoot on any particular trip. I seldom have enough $ for a motel, and there are often no campgrounds open where I go, so I usually have to sleep in my car - a tiny little Toyota Corolla. Once the sun sets and it's too dark to shoot, I long for an indoor place where I could read a book and perhaps even sip a mug of coffee. But unfortunately, its usually just me and my car - with a dome light for some reading and cold snacks for dinner. But I'm doing what I love - photography! So it's all completely worthwhile - and I don't hate it one bit!

The waiting period/down time you speak of actually sounds quite cushy and pampered.

[Zansho]

I did a couple of destination weddings in Hawaii - and it was pretty neat. I spelled out everything in the contract with the B and G about and put down the specific dates of when they need me and the time frame - I was not always with them 24/7 photographing everything they did, but I was there for their wedding, reception, and a few fun shots when they were traipsing the island.

In turn, they paid for my fee, flight, hotel, and I stayed 3 extra days by myself (on my dime for room/board etc), and it was really nice. I actually managed to get things done in a much more efficient way because I was in a relaxed environment.

Maybe it's not for everyone. But I certainly do enjoy my trips out of state.

[Karl Johnston]

Sounds like its not for you, you sound really depressed doing it. Try focusing on different types of shooting jobs, instead.

What's the typical return on a destination wedding (ROI?) Is it a lot of money and thus, is that why you do them? I'm trying to understand why you stick with it if you're not happy doing it.

I'd love to be good enough to do something like that...well next month I actually have the opportunity to, and being a solitary kind of guy and a Taoist that practices the law of attachments daily, I can't wait!