Do The Prices Of Destination Wedding Packages For Riviera Maya Include A Photographer?

There are lots of great reasons to get married in Mexico all-inclusive style, but a big one is because it’s EASY. Am I right? Most of the tedious wedding planning is taken care of for you. I mean, who has the time to hunt down all of their wedding vendors anyways, let alone in another country? As you start researching all-inclusive beach wedding packages for your big day, you’ll want to know what’s included, and what’s not. On that list is figuring out if the prices will include a photographer.

Will the resort provide a wedding photographer in my package?

The answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem. In short, yes, most wedding packages at the best resorts in Riviera Maya will include their own in-house photographer, or the option to add their in-house photographer. But the more important question for you to ask yourself is; Is this a photographer I want to trust with my wedding?

What kind of photographer should I expect my resort will provide?

Wedding photographers in the Riviera Maya fall into two camps: Employees and Artists.

In-house resort photographers are contracted employees, so they don’t have to work hard to set their portfolio apart from the competition. Now, to be clear, I am not suggesting that they all lack the raw talent and creativity of their professional counterparts, but the reality is that those who are great at what they do quickly figure out that they can make more money by breaking out on their own.

And then they will join the ranks of the other camp: The Artists. Successful wedding photography companies in the Riviera Maya are built on the hard work of passionate photographers who have developed a distinct style, and who spend an average of 20-40 hours after your wedding fine-tuning and lovingly editing to deliver the quality of images you swoon over in your Instagram feed.

But an outside wedding photographer costs more!

Consider that choosing your all-inclusive resort’s photographer is a bit like going to a big box superstore to buy an engagement ring. Sure, you’ll save money. But would you expect them to source out the perfect diamond for you and your budget, and craft a unique style that reflects your personality? Would you expect quality customer service and the ability to follow up for maintenance after buying your ring?

Obviously not. And that’s why you buy something as important as an engagement ring from a reputable specialty store without questioning why it costs a little more.

Professional independent photographers are like your specialty stores. We care about your Pinterest board, your style, your vision. You are not just one of the three weddings we have that day. You can come to us and ask for touch ups and edits to your favorite photos.

This is your wedding, and you don’t get a re-do. There are many places you can save money in your wedding budget, photography doesn’t have to be one of them.

Shop and compare photographers

The proof is in the pudding. As The Knot suggests when finding a great photographer, look at recent full wedding albums from your resort’s in-house photographer, and compare them to 4 or 5 photographers you find on a Google search. The quality is indisputably very different. Ultimately, this is why resorts had to start charging outside vendor fees. It is to penalize you for and hopefully deter you from hiring a photographer you actually want. (Learn more about outside vendor fees and what you can do about them)

What can I do with the photographer I am given?

Let’s assume that you want to hire the best photographer in the world, but photography is already included in your destination wedding package prices. It seems an awful waste to not use it for anything, right? There are still loads of ways to make use of this photographer! Instead of wedding day coverage, you can ask them to capture your welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or you and your guests just hanging out by the pool. You can arrange a time for them to shoot group or family photos on the beach, which then has you covered for Xmas cards and gifts this year. Have them meet you for a romantic sunset engagement shoot, or snap some pics at the resort salon of you and your bridesmaids getting hair and makeup done.

What we don’t recommend is using them alongside your favorite photographer for wedding day coverage. There is always a battle over who is in charge, and resentful activity that can ruin great photo ops. You will get more images and coverage in hiring an outside wedding photographer regardless, so don’t bother with having extra bodies around that will only get in the way.

Sure, this means that you are going to be doing a little more research when planning a destination wedding in Mexico than maybe you had hoped for, but we can guarantee that it is a decision you will never regret!

End your hunt for the best Playa del Carmen wedding photographers for your beach wedding by contacting us today! We are Fun In The Sun Weddings, for the best Riviera Maya wedding photography.