How did you book your photographer/videographer?

We are sort of doing a combination of the options you mentioned. We chose Elizabeth Medina Elizabeth Medina Photography, Mexico Destination Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photojournalism throughout the Riviera Maya, Yucatan and Mexico as our photographer (after a LOT of thinking and searching!). She lives in Mexico but on the opposite coast from our destination. That said, we are paying for her and her assistant to fly from the Yucatan to PV as well as paying for their lodging + purchasing a package.

We considered bringing someone from our home state (TX), and although he was much less expensive he is also a lot less experienced with destination weddings.

I would like to add that it is possible to make a connection with your photographer via the internet! Heck, just look around this forum. Several of us have formed very close friendships with others on the boards and if we're lucky we get to meet some of them! I "speak" with my photographer at least once a week (probably bug her a lot - sorry Elizabeth! ). I have complete confidence in her ability to shoot well in a location that she's never been to before. Again, we researched our choices a lot before making this decision because meeting up at the ceremony site was just not an option for us. That said, I'm sure we will share many conversations between now and our wedding regarding photo ideas, etc.

I think the best piece of advice I can give you is to go with someone who is experienced with DWs or weddings in general, and stalk their blogs/websites for awhile (hahaha!) to see if they are consistently producing good results.

Hope that helps! Good luck!!!

We did option 3. I found him on this forum. He is not from my hometown actually I live in NJ and he lives in TN. So you can keep your options open. We did everything by email.

We are flying someone in from Austin. She gave us an AMAZING deal because she is really good friends with my best friend. In reality, she isn't making much off us after she pays for her and her second shooter to stay in Mexico.

Good to have connections!

Oh and she does amazing work also!

I booked a local photographer. I am on a tight budget but I loved her style. We will have her the entire wedding day and then then next day for a TTD session. She is staying with us at the resort.

I am probably going to just use the resorts videographer. I haven't really looked into that.

Hey morgan... here's the blog to stalk:

Kaylee Eylander Photography

Hee hee... I was going to use her up here (in Seattle pre-DW days) and she was so quick to respond to me and so willing to chat about doing a DW... so far, I have nothing but good things to say about her.

Now...just need to get the date actually booked at the resort... then officially book Kaylee and we are good to go!

PS... what drove me to her the most was something she wrote... "who says you have to stand up straight?"

... and that's when I was like... Sweet. I found the person I want to capture my wedding!

We're flying our photographer (and her assistant) from CA to Cabo. They asked us to only only pay for half their flight and hotel fair. They thought that would be fairer since they're going to make a vacation out of it by staying a few extra days anyway (we don't have to pay for the extra days). And she offered to take pics for us at our WD, group activities, and to do a day-after shoot as part of our package.

We are doing #4 based on photos a friend had sent us from someone she had flown in. Most Photographers that do DW have a base rate/package for DW's. We have to pay this plus room/air. Our's is definitely worth it as I have not seen a portfolio yet like theirs for those based in our location. Not to mention she is only an hour form us so I can go meet with them and view their past albums and portfolios/get to know them in person versus email.

Tara, who are you using here in CA?