Are you on the hunt for the best Playa del Carmen wedding photographer to capture your destination wedding?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the huge pool of talented artists you have found online or through social media?
As you narrow down your search for the best wedding photographers in the Riviera Maya and start making contact with them, what questions should you ask to make sure they are a good fit for your wedding?
And more importantly, how do you avoid running into unhappy surprises down the line?
We are destination wedding photographers in Playa del Carmen and have watched many companies come and go over the years. We know what makes some companies here a great choice for wedding photography and why you should steer clear of others.
So read on…
Here are 7 questions you should ask a Playa del Carmen wedding photographer before booking them.
(See more from Alex & Dylan’s Tulum wedding)
1. Have you shot at my wedding venue before?
In a regular job interview, you would expect to be asked about your specific, relevant job experience before being hired, wouldn’t you?
Booking a wedding photographer shouldn’t be any different.
A wedding photographer who is familiar with a property is one who will be able to suggest interesting locations for photos besides just the beach.
Why is this important?
Because beach weddings in Mexico have their own unique set of challenges. You might find it unbearably hot in the sand wrapped up in your beach wedding dress, needing another location to shoot. You might get a rainy wedding day, sending you searching for cover and enough light for photos.
Weddings are dynamic events, with loads of uncontrollable elements. Trust that you are in good hands with a wedding photographer who won’t be scrambling in an unfamiliar environment if things go south.
(See more from Rocio & Marshall’s Riviera Maya wedding)
2. Can I see real weddings you have photographed?
In keeping with our interview example from above, would you expect that an employer would scan your resume and decide they had all the information needed?
Not likely.
You would expect that employer to do their due diligence with some fact-checking, to make sure you are who you seem to be, wouldn’t you?
Again, hiring a wedding photographer shouldn’t be any different.
Surprise, surprise, as wedding photographers we ALL post our best photos across countless weddings on our website. Our portfolios are our resumes, and how you get a quick idea of whether or not you like our style.
But if you want reality, you need to ask for more.
Why is this important?
Even an average photographer will get one winning shot from a wedding, but how are you going to know what your wedding package will actually look like unless you dig deeper?
We are not suggesting that you ask a wedding photographer to see a full wedding gallery, because in most cases that involve hundreds of images, but a sneak peek of images (30-40) from a few weddings should tell you what you need to know about their style and quality.
(See more from Nadine & Ryan’s Tulum wedding)
3. Can we book a call to get to know each other better?
It’s a bit weird planning a destination wedding because you often don’t meet your vendors until the Big Day, am I right?
If you don’t plan to come to Mexico to meet your vendors or do a site inspection beforehand, then a great alternative is jumping on a call or Skype to get to know each other.
Why is this important?
We spend an average of six hours with our couples and their loved ones on the wedding day. This is always SO much more fun when our personalities click!
Do you really want to wait until your wedding day to find out you hired a boring, lifeless photographer? Or learn that they don’t speak English as well as you thought via email?
No, of course you don’t. So before you book, take the time to get to know each other first and see if the vibe is right. (Check out what The Knot has to say about personalities clicking)
(See more from Kim & Lev’s Tulum wedding)
Download Our FREE Ultimate Guide To Getting Married In The Riviera Maya!
4. Will you help with my resort vendor fee?
Are you getting married at an all-inclusive resort and feeling a bit of extorted by their outside vendor fee?
I have strong opinions about resort vendor fees but will leave those to my other articles on the subject.
You might notice some photography companies offer you a discount up front to help offset your vendor fee. They scream it from the rooftops, adding banners to their website or telling from your first communication that they will lower their price for you.
In my opinion, this is just bad business. Whatever happened to the art of negotiation?
Why is this important?
Newsflash: The best wedding photographers in Playa del Carmen are not the cheapest ones.
Ask yourself why anybody would reduce their prices before even speaking to you.
As you shop around for Playa del Carmen wedding photographers, just know that ALL of us despise resort vendor fees and many will help if we feel like you are a good fit. Start by making a connection first, and then you just need to ask!
Of course, not everyone will negotiate, as there is a cost of doing business. But if you could save even a few bucks on a wedding photographer you love, it really wouldn’t hurt to ask if they can help with your vendor fee, right?
(See more from Iona & Travis’ Cancun wedding)
5. What if I want to change my wedding photography package?
Do you already have all of your wedding details sorted?
Of course not. You’re still trying to find your photographer!
So many things are bound to change in the coming months of your wedding adventure. It’s good to know ahead of time how flexible your wedding photographer will be if you need to make adjustments to your package.
Why is this important?
Pricing structures differ between wedding photographers, and you may find that some will incentivize bigger bookings from the beginning, and frown upon downgrading later on. While some make it easy and practical to increase your hours or added details as needed – like us!
When deciding how many hours you should hire a Riviera Maya wedding photographer for our suggestion is to secure your date with the minimum amount of time you think you will need, then add on additional hours if needed as the Big Day approaches.
Make sure you ask before you book so that you can get everything you want without paying for something you do not need.
(See more from Jessica & Micahel’s Playa del Carmen wedding)
6. Can I see a copy of your contract?
Have you narrowed down your options and are feeling ready to book your Playa del Carmen wedding photographer?
Ask to see the wedding contract or Terms of Agreement you will be required to sign, and actually read it!
Why is this important?
This document should contain clear, legal answers to the most commonly asked questions:
- How does payment work?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Who legally owns my wedding photos?
- Can I print my own wedding photos?
- Will you deliver RAW (unedited) images?
- Will you share my wedding photos on your website or in social media?
- How long will it take for me to get my wedding photos back?
As a Lawyer’s daughter, I just can’t stress this enough; the time to address any concerns with the agreement is before you sign on the dotted line.
Enough said.
(See more from Jessica & Harry’s Playa del Carmen wedding)
7. Are you legally allowed to work in Mexico?
Do you assume that all of the wedding photographers in Playa del Carmen you are considering actually hold a legal status to work in the country?
Believe it or not, unless they are Mexican, the chances are pretty slim.
Securing a Permiso a Trabajar is a gigantic, expensive, confusing, time-consuming, frustrating pain in the butt! So it’s understandable why most photographers don’t bother and just roll the dice.
Why is this important?
Well, worst-case scenario, what happens if your photographer doesn’t show up for your wedding because they have been deported?
Along the booming tourist coastline of the Mayan Riviera, new photography companies are popping up daily. People in search of the dream. Officials are forced to pay attention now more than they ever were before.
Why risk it?
Stick with the established photography companies who have taken the time to jump through the legal hoops.
(See more from Christine & Kam’s Playa del Carmen wedding)
There you have it! The 7 questions you need to ask your Playa del Carmen wedding photographer before booking.
So, let’s hear it. Were there any surprises or questions you would never have thought of asking?
Share them with me below.
Finally, for the best Playa del Carmen wedding photographers, look no further! Contact us here now! We are Fun In The Sun Weddings, for the best wedding photography in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
- Go to our Playa del Carmen Wedding Photography Services Page.
