LI Caribbean Destination Wedding Photographer
This photograph was taken at a destination wedding held at the amazing Majestic Colonial Resort and Hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We flew in on the first day and spent the entire afternoon scouting out all the incredible locations on the resort’s sprawling property. On the second day we hooked up with the bride and groom and did a pre-wedding couture photography session where we took casual, candid pictures of the bride and groom under the palm tree lined walks, on the beautiful white sand beaches, in various amazing architectural areas of the resort (including the 1/4 mile long lagoon swimming pool). We finished this session with a "trash-the-dress" style shoot with the bride and groom diving into the tropical blue green ocean waters. Day three was the actual wedding, an intimate gathering of about 50 close friends and family members that turned this wedding event into an incredible vacation experience as well as a celebration of the couple’s union. We started with traditional preparations shot of the bride and her Maid of Honor getting ready for the big day. Then came the reveal in the magnificent splendor of the resort’s open air lobby where the groom got his first look at the bride in her wedding gown. Formal photographs of the couple, their friends and family followed and finally, with the background of a spectacular Caribbean sunset, came the wedding ceremony on the beach. After the ceremony the guests were directed to their own private section of beach where tables were elegantly set for a candlelight, beachfront wedding reception. My assistant and I spent the next three days doing a little vacationing of our own, thanks to the generosity of our clients. If you are planning a destination wedding be sure to retain the services of a photographer who has experience with this type of event. To some new, inexperienced photographers these events appear to be very glamourous. But they come with their own set of challenges that can turn into a nightmare if your photographer is not experienced. They are a logistical nightmare. All of the expensive camera, lighting and support equipment you are leaving the country with must be registered with US Customs before you leave the our country. There is a well-established "Gray Market" for photographic equipment in The Caribbean so you had better be prepared to show US Customs, upon your return to the US, that all of the appropriate duties had been paid on your gear before you left. Of even greater concern is having the necessary non-resident work permits to perform professional services in many Caribbean Islands. Some locations, such as the Cayman Islands, require you to get a simple work permit for a modest fee. Locations like the Dominican Republic, a very popular destination wedding spot, are much more demanding. Without the proper work permits your photographer can face arrest and their equipment can be confiscated if they attempt to perform professional services without the necessary documentation. Be sure to question any photographer, in depth, about their experience in photographing destination weddings in the Caribbean. In addition to the weddings I have photographed in the tropics, I am also available for travel about the United States for wedding assignments. I have experience shooting weddings outside the Greater New York area in places such as Virginia, Maryland and Florida. If you are planning a destination wedding call me and take advantage of my expertise. I would love to work with you, your friends and family on your dream day in Paradise!