Working as a destination wedding photographer always provides me with a variety of challenges. I have to pack all of the photo gear I need, plus 3-4 days worth of personal supplies. The problem is I REFUSE to check bags so I always have to leave stuff behind. I was raised by a Boy Scout whose admonitions to "be prepared" have turned me into a photo gear hoarder; making packing all the more difficult.

Case in point: I photographed Colleen and Ryan's destination wedding in Sayulita, Mexico. The flight leaving Seattle was full and they wouldn't let us on unless we checked one bag each. I begrudgingly gave up my personal suitcase and clung to my camera bag. When we changed planes in LA my husband and I watched them load my luggage into the wrong plane. We tried to tell the flight attendant but she said, "it will meet you at your final destination." She was right. It did; 48 hours after we got there. I may not have had underwear, but I had my 200mm F2.8 Nikkor lens so I knew everything was gonna be okay.

I tell you this story because I think being forced to limit my photo gear is actually a great exercise for improving my wedding photography style. With only two camera bodies and 3 lenses (I normally show up with 8 lenses to photograph a Seattle wedding), I had to make deliberate choices about how I shot over the three days.

Here's What I Packed and Why

1. I knew I needed a wide-angle lens to get shots of the whole ceremony on the beach and the amazing views from our resort, Las Hamacas.

2. I wanted some off-camera flash equipment in case the lighting needed a little punch or evening out. I was so glad I did! During the reception, the two Profoto A1's saved the day! 

3. I wanted a telephoto to get candid shots with the amazing compression that comes from longer lenses.

4. I chose zoom lenses instead of primes because I could use a variety of focal lengths with these two lenses.

5. I brought a 35mm lens and the Nikon Z7 for my husband to shoot with. Caleb is NOT a photographer by trade but the Z7 is idiot-proof and the 35mm is a great overall lens so I knew he could do good things with it. He actually caught a dog peeing in the middle of the ceremony. (Photo below).

Our Destination Wedding Multi-Day Shoot

My style is very "life as it happens". And this was easy to do in Sayulita. Even on overcast days, the light was bright and beautiful both inside and out. Whenever possible I like using natural light and shooting on overcast days. It's easy to capture the action while blending into the background so as not to disturb. I did my best during the ceremony and reception to document all of the love in a photojournalistic style. Before the wedding Colleen and Ryan let me do some getting ready photos of them. I was able to shoot Colleen's dress hanging in the spiral stairway and her ring on her amazing bouquet before she got ready. These still life shots pull in a more editorial style that I really love.

For their portraits we split it between two days, doing some before the ceremony and then a Day-After Shoot to show off the colors of the city. These images are definitely in the lifestyle category since they show a sense of place while telling a story. My favorite image from the whole trip is of Colleen on the rocks with her veil blowing in the wind. I edited it to have a lot of drama because I really wanted to get the message across that this is a strong, fierce, beautiful lady!