Planning a Wedding in the Bahamas? Below are some helpful tips for a successful Destination Event.
I generally advise brides to do preparation photos. It could be full coverage of the preparations i.e. from putting on make up to getting dressed. Or partial coverage i.e. a few nice portraits of the bride after she’s is already dressed. This is recommend because you never know what the weather will be like on any particular day. And you look your best just before you leave the room. For in room photos, it is helpful to have all details (jewelry, shoes, dress etc) handy, and ready to be photographed before I arrive. It’s also great to consider how many people you want in the preparation room. The amount of people greatly affect the atmosphere, mood and kind of photos produced.
For outdoor ceremonies the main consideration from a photography standpoint is time of day. Generally the best time from a comfort and lighting stand point is about 2 hours before sunset. For an elopement 1 hour before sunset is good. The middle part of the day can be very hot and humid. Especially for Spring and Summer events. For outdoor events consideration should be given to the length of the ceremony if it is in direct sunlight. going beyond about 20 - 25 minutes in direct sunlight will have everyone sweaty and hot. Not the best look for photos. Another factor that is important is venue location. Weather and outdoor activity can play a role in how the ceremony flows, if the ceremony is at venue that has other activities going on. Be mindful of activities that may be adjacent to your venue. For Decor think about how the event will flow once people are in the venue. There should a clear view of the couple during the ceremony so good photos of them can be captured.
I generally photograph formals (group shots) directly after the ceremony. I usually shoot large group photos first then wine down until it’s just the bride and groom. Having a basic idea which group shots you want greatly helps the formal photo process along. A shot list can help provided it’s not so long it makes the process less efficient. A group photo of all guests (depending on size), immediate family then parents are common group photos in addition to the bridal party. Smaller groupings can always be photographed at the reception. The main consideration especially for late afternoon and outdoor weddings is having good sunlight available for photos of the bride and groom. So it's important to organize photos in a manner that will allow that to happen, if the wedding is near sunset time. Formal photos can take anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes depending on group size.
By the time the reception rolls around. Everyone tends to be relaxed and festive. I find receptions great opportunities for fun candid photos. I’m always on the look out for something good. From a coverage standpoint it’s helpful to consider which elements you want photographed. For example dances, speeches and cake cutting. Often times these can be arranged within the program so that you don’t have to have the photographer there for several hours to get that ‘one’ photo. From a lighting stand point adding additional venue lights are great for creating mood. Covered locations tend to work a bit better for lighting than open air locations.
The main things to consider for outdoor portraits in the Bahamas are lighting and time. I can shoot at any time of day. However the best lighting for portraits happens in a 2 hour window before sunset or just after sunrise. The sun is much less intense during these times and the lighting is softer, so it’s much easier to work with. The time of day and weather will primarily determine the final look and feel of images. Photos taken in direct sunlight at mid day won't look like photos taken in the shade or late afternoon. So it's very important to take this into consideration when planning an event. I always think in terms of best available light when shooting a couple. The middle part of the day is the least ideal time to shoot portraits as it hot, the sun causes squinting, sweating and the lighting is rather harsh. Mid day is better for scenic photos (wide photos) rather that close ups ( portraits). Another important factor in the creation of great images is time. I need enough time to create great portraits. Ideally 30 to 40 minutes of time with just the couple at a minimum. It's very import that I have enough time to work and allow my creatively to flow. If the scheduled doesn’t allow an adequate amount of time on the day of, a Bridal Shoot following the wedding is a great option. The last thing to remember is to relax and enjoy the moment. Remember this is your big day! I do my best to make the process of taking photos effortless and fun.
