Hi, Michelle!
I am also a Sandal Bride (Grande Ocho Rios, in May 2010), and I had the exact same concerns about photography, believe me! The prices are insane and I don't think the quality lives up to the over-the-top charges whatsoever, but they've got us between a rock and a hard place (since their outside photography policy is so strict!)
Here's what I am going to do: we're getting the a la carte (6) 8x10 pics for $150, and the $500 DVD of the ceremony/cocktail reception, plus my future Mother in law just bought a professional-grade Nikon camera, so she will be snapping pics throughout the ceremony as well.
And then, a few hours later, my guests and I are going to be going OFF THE RESORT PROPERTY with Alain Hottat of Brian Nejedly Photography (Brian is an American Photographer that lives in Ocho Rios, so you don't have to pay travel fees -- he's already there and he's been a DREAM to deal with so far! Total professional!) Alain will be taking us to both a beach location and a falls location to do some portrait shots with our guests in my ceremony dress (and then I'll change for a TTD session, just my FI and I) right around sunset. And I think you will be shocked by how reasonable his prices are....check out his site at
Jamaica Wedding Photographer - Brian Nejedly.
And as far as the reception is concerned, as I mentioned, we will be having a short, one hour reception right after ceremony, and then we'll try to go and get a bite somewhere with everyone (if it can be arranged) before we are being picked up around 4:30 or 5 for our photoshoot. I thought this would be a really fun, creative way to get everyone off the resort for a bit, and keep the wedding festivities going without incurring thousands of dollars in additional cost. I think $75/pp for a sit-down dinner is preposterous at an all-inclusive, when everything is included already. Plus, we're planning to have a local, at-home recpetion, so we need to save money for that, as well!
And as far as locations for ceremonies at Boscobel, sorry sister! Hopefully, someone else will be able to help you, and you could always talk to your Sandals WC to see what can be done to accomodate your request.
Good luck, and I hope this helped!