Why Bringing Your Own Photographer to Your Destination Wedding Makes For One Hell of a Gallery

You can hire someone local. You can go with whoever the resort recommends (please don’t).

But if you want your gallery for your destination wedding in Mexico (or literally anywhere else for that matter) to emotionally sucker-punch you in the face—with color, with feeling, with you so clearly seen—bring your own photographer. Preferably one who knows your vibe, your Taylor Swift references, and how to shoot the ever-loving hell out of a destination wedding (It’s me. Hi. I’m the photographer, it’s me). 

Hannah and Sky’s weekend wedding in Cancun was a f*cking masterclass in what happens when you bring a traveling wedding photographer who walks in chronically overinvested and creatively charged

Four rolls of film, a Mexican circus, and a catamaran boat ride later, and this was hands down the most color-drenched, cinematically inspired, Swiftie-coded fever dream of a wedding I’ve shot in years.

BYOP (Bring Your Own Photographer), folks. You heard it here first; we’re making it a thing.

And here’s why:

Bring your own photographer to your destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom embrace to a chorus of cheers
Groom looks at bride while she grins at the camera
Gorgeous greenery and small blooms on door at destination wedding in Mexico
Colorful and vibrant destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico
Bride sits in dimly lit room for a quiet moment before her vows
Groom puts his shoes on
Bride wipes the tears from her groom's face
Bride and groom kiss on Cancun cliff overlooking the sea in destination wedding in Mexico
Bride stands washed in receding sunlight at destination wedding in Mexico
Newlyweds walk in the sand on shoreline of Cancun, Mexico destination wedding

Vendors | Planner: Beloved Planners | Venue, Catering, DJ + Cake: Hyatt Ziva Cancun | Rentals: Dezibel Events | Florist: Omar Almeida of Pure Love Weddings & Floral Design | HMU: Zoe Elizabeth Makeup | Her Rings: Genesis Diamonds | His Ring: Ridge Rings | Dress: Madi Lane Bridal from Blush Bridal in Cincinnati | Day Veil: Karla Roble | Night Veil: Madison Chamberlain | Groom’s Suit: Trevor Furbay Bespoke | Bride’s Reception Attire: Abercrombie and Fitch | Content Creator: Gio Weddings | Second Shooter: Weddings By Shawnae

1. Your destination wedding photographer shows up creatively charged.

When you get married in March, April, or even early May there is a very VERY high chance that this is your vendor’s first wedding of the season. And if you’re working with a photographer like me, I am so creatively charged that first wedding back, it is freaking in-saaaaane. 

During the off-season, I do nothing but rest, learn, and get better at my job. And during this particular off-season, shooting on film basically became my entire personality for three months. Like, I became so borderline obsessed that by the time Hannah and Sky flew me to Mexico, my heart was so ready to make art it might’ve exploded.

Four rolls of 35mm came with me, and only 24 of 144 frames didn’t make the ‘holy sh*t’ cut? That’s unhinged. That’s unheard of. That is by far the best roll of film that I’ve ever shot at a wedding (said with ZERO dramatics and full-body chills). 

I mean, the first wedding back just… hits different. 

I’m not necessarily trying to sway you toward having your destination wedding in the spring buuuut…  when creative people have nothing to do but water their brains for three months? Yeah, we’re diving in head first and eyes wide the f*ck open.

35mm of bride and groom exchanging vows overlooking the water at destination wedding in Mexico
Guests mingle outside Mexico destination wedding ceremony
Bride and groom stand hand in hand at destination wedding in Mexico
Groom reads vows during quiet, private moment for the newlyweds
Bride's elation is written all over her face as she is escorted down the aisle by her father
Little girl with pink sunglasses on lays on her mom's lap at destination wedding in Mexico
Cancun, Mexico bride captured by traveling wedding photographer
Flower girl looks at bride's veil
Bride and groom romp and play in the sand at destination wedding in Mexico
Groom twirls bride on catamaran boat ride at destination wedding in Mexico
Bride pours custom bottle of liquor into groom's mouth on boat ride at destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom wearing sailor caps on catamaran boat ride kiss

2. I’m invested in your vision before the plane even takes off.

Hannah and Sky are two of the most genuine human beings that I’ve ever met. We found each other on TikTok, and we were vibing from the jump. She’s a Swiftie. I’m a Swiftie. Do the math.

And whereas most couples opt for a 3–4 color wedding palette, Han + Sky really said, “We’ll take ROYGBIV, thanks.” 

Seriously: the vibiest of VIBING. 

Han had their entire Taylor-themed Cancun wedding visualized from start to finish. I feel like I can say this because I am a Swiftie to the nth degree, but the line between being tastefully Taylor-coded and full cringe is razor-thin. 

Han nailed it. Little callbacks in her vows. Layered references tucked into the reception and dinner decor. 

Wall of maracas at Cancun, Mexico destination wedding
Taylor Swift inspired sign on dinner tables
Personalized friendship bracelets mark each spot at dinner table at destination wedding in Mexico
Reception space at Cancun, Mexico destination wedding
Bride sits with curlers in her hair while Taylor Swift Eras Tour plays in the background
Bride wearing custom made, colorful veil walks down the hall of the Hyatt Ziva Cancun

Sky, not to be outdone, met her vision with the most organized 150+ wedding I’ve ever been to (did I mention this is in freaking Mexico!?) and the most THEM. 

A really brilliant woman once said: “The rest of the world was black and white — we were in screaming color.” THAT’S H + S. Two people who embrace emotions of every hue and shade, loving each other and others relentlessly and without limitations.

And that shaped their entire (absolutely STUNNING) wedding gallery. 

The fact that they chose the entire rainbow to paint their wedding weekend and ME to do the honors meant I was already seeing it in full color before we ever even left the DMs. And by day one in Mexico, I was ready to shoot with my whole chest.

Vibrant bride holds colorful bouquet in front of orange wall
Colorful, tropical bridal bouquet sits in windowsill
Bride shrieks with glee as she greets her guests at destination wedding reception in Mexico
Bride doubles over with laughter in the foreground while groom holds her flowers in the background
Bride's joyful expression at destination wedding in Mexico
Groom makes his way down the aisle with a backdrop of sheer blue sky and water at destination wedding in Mexico
Groom takes in his bride during first look at Hyatt Ziva Cancun destination wedding in Mexico
Flower girls and ring bearers sprinkle colorful flower petals down the aisle of destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico
Wedding guest wearing a lime green dress and sunglasses wipes a tear at destination wedding in Cancun
Hyatt Ziva Cancun as captured by traveling wedding photographer
Bride looks out at sea of wedding guests who travelled in for her destination wedding in Mexico with utter admiration
Wedding guests watch the ceremony in adoration

3. You don’t get a roster of vendors. You get a kickass team that’s emotionally invested.

Hannah and Sky built a team who wanted to be there and they wanted there in turn.

I say this with zero shade to anyone who sticks to the venue’s default vendor list because pulling off a destination wedding is no joke. (Especially in Mexico, where logistics don’t always love you back.) But Sky and Han’s wedding is such a good testament to how important it is to choose wedding vendors who share your vision and heart… not just your zip code.

While Sky’s Canva skills are now the stuff of legend, a plan is only as good as the people running it, and their entire wedding planning team was rock f*cking solid. Lily Cruz and Jennifer Reyes from Beloved Planners, the on-site coordinator Pamela— not one person was phoning it in. Omar Almeida’s flowers were jaw-dropping. My second shooter Shawnae was a rock star. 

And then there’s Zoe Elizabeth

She’s the first makeup artist I’ve worked with who stayed the entire day. Through the ceremony, through portraits, right up until before dinner, Zoe was with us, quietly catching the things I don’t always clock in real time.

When I’m in ADHD flow, I’m tracking something different. The way your shoulders finally relax after the ceremony.  The moment your pinkies find each other. The exact second you lose yourself in a shared kiss at sunset.  

I’m locked in on emotion, composition, light. That’s where I live. That’s what I see. But Zoe caught every flyaway before it could sneak past and taunt me in post. And that kind of care protects the photos before they’re even taken.

Trust me: Hire a kick-ass team of vendors who are really good at their jobs. It does not matter if it is our first wedding of the season or a location an ocean away, we are going to do a kickass job every. single. time.

Bride and groom take in their beautiful tablescapes before the rest of the guests arrive to the reception
Colorful wedding reception tablescapes at sunset
Bride and groom share first dance on black and white checkered floor with disco balls and string lights overhead
Circus act pours tequila into bride's mouth
Bride and groom play the bongo drums at destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom drop it low on the dance floor
Bride dances at reception at destination wedding in Mexico

4. Your photographer doesn’t just blend in… she belongs.

Why do a traditional rehearsal dinner when you can book me and my second shooter for a boat party on catamaran instead? (I’ll wait…)

There we were drinks in hand, our gear held close, laughing with people whose names we knew as if we always had. You can’t fake that kind of inclusion. And THAT’S why Hannah and Sky’s gallery hits the way it does. 

I never felt like I was the help. From the very beginning I felt like I was a part of the guest list, a part of the family. That’s equal parts Han and Sky but also just the team that they assembled and the people they surround themselves with.

Groom with a sailor cap and sticker tattoo on his face enjoys boat ride in Cancun
Groom kisses bride's cheek during catamaran boat ride at destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom mimic Titanic pose on Mexican boat ride
Custom liquor bottles for destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom converse on boat ride with Mexican flag in the background
Wedding guests jump into the teal water of Cancun

From start to finish this wedding was a freaking banger, made even more so because they brought me in early, they trusted me fully, and I showed up close to creative combustion in the best possible way.

I genuinely miss H+S and I am eternally thankful we are now in the same orbit (Swifties stick together). 

Bride and groom walk hand in hand down the sandy shoreline of Cancun, Mexico
Bride stands in the golden hour sunlight at destination wedding in Mexico
Bride and groom share joyful kiss at destination wedding in Mexico
Wedding guests at destination wedding in Mexico throw confetti into the air as newlyweds make their way down the aisle together

If you want destination wedding photography that doesn’t just remind you of where you got married but who you were with, how it all felt, and why it still makes you (and me) cry in the best way:

Bring your ride-or-die, creatively-feral, camera-in-hand-and-tears-on-deck traveling wedding photographer. Make the art. Trust the process. 

I’ll see you on the boat.

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If you want your gallery to emotionally sucker-punch you in the face—with color, with feeling, with you so clearly seen—bring your own photographer. Preferably one who knows your vibe, your Taylor Swift references, and how to shoot the ever-loving hell out of a destination wedding (It’s me. Hi. I’m the photographer, it’s me).

I’ve done a LOT of proposal photos. Like—a lot a lot. And every single proposal means something. But does every single one of them have me sobbing my heart out on TikTok? 

Can we talk about why the ‘getting ready’ part of your wedding day is secretly the most underrated? (Good, because I’m going to. Glad we agree on things already.)
(Scratch that, it is, without a doubt, my Roman Empire.)

And that’s exactly why cinematic photography works: when instinct takes the lead, movie magic happens. 

Advance apologies for how much I’m about to rave about this themed Yellowstone wedding in Glacier National Park, but I think it might be my Roman Empire. 

(Scratch that, it is, without a doubt, my Roman Empire.)

Advance apologies for how much I’m about to rave about this themed Yellowstone wedding in Glacier National Park, but I think it might be my Roman Empire. 

(Scratch that, it is, without a doubt, my Roman Empire.)