Photography: 39 East Photography
With more and more couples taking flight and tying the knot overseas, there's the question of whether to fly your local photographer over with you, or book one there.
Singaporean photographer, Loh Eng Hong of 39 East Photography says the biggest limitation of shooting overseas is also the biggest advantage; that of being in a foreign land with undiscovered landscapes. "A totally foreign environment means that we may not be able to know what the best locations are, but it also excites the photographer to be extremely creative," he says.
To help with your decision and prepare you for the journey ahead, here are five things you should know first.
1. Check the weather
Plan your wedding in advance and work it around the weather. With summer all year round in sunny Singapore, we tend to forget the harsh weather conditions overseas. There are certain months in Bali where it rains everyday, and certain periods in London where the sun never comes out.
2. Pick someone culturally similar
A Singapore-based or Asian photographer would produce a different viewpoint from a local photographer as well as have a better understanding of Asian customs and traditions, and would be easier to communicate with.
3. Don't fly too far
It may be cheaper to fly a photographer from Singapore to certain cities in Europe like London or Paris. Normally, a regional wedding, which includes the photographer's airfare and accommodation, could only cost just $500 more, than one shot locally. But if you're travelling to Europe, it will typically cost $2,000 more.
4. Have a detailed itinerary
Provide your photographer with details of the wedding venue, schedule of events, and certain customs and practices unique to the place. A series of meetings prior to the trip will help the couple and photographer iron out details. It is also pertinent to discuss if the couple would like to have family portraits done and when to allocate time to do that. Separately, the photographer will conduct research about the place.
5. Hire a second photographer
Shooting a wedding overseas is harder than a pre-wedding album. There's no time for location scouting and planning a storyboard. Everything photographed is in the moment, which does not allow room for errors or double-takes. The photographer requires a lot of concentration and reflex responses, so sometimes having an assistant photographer is essential for a large-scale wedding.
6. Arrive a day earlier
While the bride and groom may arrive a few days prior to the wedding for the necessary preparations, the photographer will typically arrive one day before to sit through the rehearsal and get to know the important people at the event. If there is a need for family portraits, it will usually be conducted a day after the wedding.
