October and early fall – the perfect time to visit Italy and its Amalfi Coast or elope for your dream destination wedding in Tuscany. However, whether it will be just the two of you or 200 of your closest friends and family in attendance, you’ll want to capture those special moments against the stunning backdrop of an azure sea, golden Tuscan sunset or ancient Roman ruin. So, should you bring along a photographer from Osh Kosh? Probably not the best choice.
I happened upon Rochelle Cheever’s photography while searching for Italy based wedding photographers on Facebook. She’s an Italian-American girl with the passionate heart of a Roman coupled with all-American know-how. Her style is at once romantic and classical and she offers her top 5 suggestions for making the most of your backdrop while in Italy.
1. Local photographers are best – they know the landscape quite literally. “They know the area, the best locations for photographs as backdrops, the light, the colors & also the culture,” Rochelle says. “Look through their websites and blogs and see if you like their style and personality. You want to look for a cohesive look and make sure they have photographed at least 10 full weddings in that destination.”
2. Communication is key – “The photographer has to be an extension of the couple. So make sure to express what you ideally want from your wedding photographs. Some couples prefer less posing while others like to be guided.” She suggests having a face-to-face with the photographer as soon as you arrive at the destination to go over all of the details you want and he/she can offer.
3. Don’t go in blind – Ask to see samples of the photographer’s work, their portfolio. What are their credentials? You don’t want someone whose portfolio is full of ads or landscapes experimenting with your wedding. Some photographers will also gladly connect you to past clients for references and recommendations.
4. Get a contract – This agreement should make it very clear what is expected from each side such as: how many photographs will be taken; when will they be available to you for viewing; how will they be delivered to you; what formats will be provided (i.e. – portrait prints, jpg files and/or albums). The couple and photographer should both sign the contract and a deposit, typically of 20-40%, will be required to save the date. Remember, you leave the country after your honeymoon and you don’t want to return just to track down your photos.
5. Antiquity yields modern headaches – Understandably, Italy, Greece, Malta and other countries with ancient sites do not want people traipsing through ancient monuments for wedding photos. Therefore, make sure your photographer knows the local laws and customs. Many sites require permits to shoot inside but an experienced photographer will know how to make you the focus of a shot with antiquity as an accent and perhaps shoot from outside the permit zone.
Remember, Wanderlust Weddings can help make your Italy destination wedding a dream come true working with our local network of English speaking planners, photographers and vendors. Contact us today at info@wanderlustwomentravel.com
If a dream Amalfi Coast Honeymoon is also on the horizon, let us help you plan a journey to start your lifetime together.
