watercolor 2Bride and groom on the beach during sunset in Tamarindo Costa Rica. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.watercolor 2

5 Tips to Picking your Destination Wedding Photographer in Costa Rica

Ahhhh you’re engaged! CONGRATS! AND you’ve decided to have a destination wedding in Costa Rica – – heck yea! Even though I’m slightly biased (in the best possible way), Costa Rica is such a beautiful place for a wedding, from the beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. #tropicalparadise To top that off, Costa Rica has some of the best, talented, and authentic wedding vendors that love what they do.Bride and groom on the beach at their beach wedding in Tamarindo Costa Rica at Pangas Beach Club. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.
So now that you’ve decided on getting married in Costa Rica and your wedding planner, it’s time to pick your wedding photographer. With such a talented list of photographers, it may be hard to even know where to begin. I totally understand. Grab a delicious cup of Costa Rican coffee and let’s chat about my five tips to picking your destination wedding photographer in Costa Rica!

  1. Photography Style:
    The first step to selecting the perfect wedding photographer for you is narrowing down the wedding photography style you are drawn to. Take a quick through the wedding photographer vendor packet your wedding planner sent you, or take a quick at the images on the homepage of each recommended photographer. Are there any images that you love or ones that really speak to you? Is there an image where you could picture yourself and your fiancé? From those images, make a photographer list of 1) Love, and 2) Like.
    Beach wedding in Tamarindo Costa Rica at Pangas Beach Club. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.
  2. Budget:
    Ahhh, yes the budget! From your love and like list of photographer options, take note of each photographer’s pricing and how it fits in with your wedding budget. If the photographer is not in your budget range, don’t immediately cross him/her off (especially if they are on your ‘Love’ list) as your Costa Rica wedding planner may be able to help with the budget in other areas!Bride and groom walking on the beach after their ceremony of tropical wedding at Pangas Beach Club in Tamarindo Costa Rica. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.
  3. Photographer’s Website + Social Media:
    From your list of “Love and Like”, it’s time to check out each photographer’s website and social media accounts. By browsing through the websites and social media accounts, you can learn a lot about the photographer’s personality, as well as check out their most recent work. Really take a look through each photographer’s website, from the home page, about page, portfolio page, and definitely the blog posts of their most recent work. Next, head over to their social media accounts (especially Instagram and Facebook page). You may just find out that you have something common with a photographer, or better yet, the photographer feels like a long-lost friend! It’s super important that you not only like your wedding photographer’s photography style, but also the photographer’s personality. There’s nothing like spending a whole day with someone that isn’t your cup of tea – – especially when that day is your wedding day!!!

    Tropical wedding at Pangas Beach Club in Tamarindo Costa Rica. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.

  4. Full Wedding Album Example:
    Now that you done some research, ask your planner if she has full album examples for the photographers you really like (or ask the photographer for a full wedding example). By browsing through the full day wedding albums, you will be able to see all the images the photographers delivered to their clients – – not just the highlights of the wedding day posted on a blog or social media. This is a very important step as wedding day photos are an investment – – you should have a really good idea of what type of images you will receive from your wedding photographer.
    Beach wedding in Tamarindo Costa Rica. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.
  5. Reach Out to Top Choices:
    Now that you’ve narrowed down your top choices, I encourage you to reach out to those photographers. Ask to talk to them on the phone, or better yet, FaceTime or Skype. If that’s not an option, start an email conversation with them. Remember, your wedding photographer will be with you practically your whole wedding day, so it’s super important that you actually like your photographer!

    Caballero and his horse photobombing a boho beach elopement in Costa Rica. Photographed by Kristen M. Brown, Samba to the Sea Photography.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me below! AND congrats again! 🙂

Pura Vida,
Kristen

P.S. Thinking of a getting married on the beach in Costa Rica? Check out my Insiders’ Costa Rica Wedding Guide!
P.P.S. You’re ready to chat? YESSSS!!! – – I’m so stoked 😁😎🙌🏻!! Fill out the form below & my assistant Gidget the Chihuahua will let me know it’s time to catch a wave in from surfing!watercolor 2

(I'm based in Tamarindo in the Guanacaste region.)

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