I mean look, you probably aren’t getting married, and have absolutely no need for a wedding photographer, and somehow you found my site, right?

Several times a week I get calls from wedding magazine and website advertising execs who want me to throw down hundreds of dollars a month (thousands $$$ a year) for the unique opportunity of getting my name and images in front of brides.  I’m pretty sure I know 100x more about Search Engine Optomization, Web 2.0, and how to use Google to my advantage, than these monkeys on the phone.  Who uses a phone anymore?  Chat, Twitter, and IM is where it is at!

Besides, when was the last time you picked up a wedding magazine?  In fact, when was the last time you picked up a regular magazine (sitting in your Shrink’s waiting room doesn’t count)?   Print is dying a slow death, and every time I post, I feel like I’m putting a nail in the coffin.  

Darwinisim is what is all about.  Adapt or die.  Only the strong survive.

But one of the reasons I’m a wedding photographer is because I love to travel.  Last year I was in California, Ohio, Louisiana, Italy, and the Bahamas for weddings.  This year, because of the tough economy, I am not going anywhere.  I might have a gig in Corpus, but the majority of my weddings this year are right here in Austin.

So when the moderator of the Best Destination Wedding Forum contacted me and offered me ad space, I took pause.  Should I take the offer?  Break my advertising free streak on the chance that I might get some cool beach weddings?

I’d love to hear your comments and ideas to help me reach this unique market.

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The first is a wedding I was hired to photograph in August in Aruba. I met the bride and groom at a wedding I did in texas, and shortly after they contacted me saying ” we love the wedding pictures and especially the way you acted and related to family and guests at the wedding”.

They were having a destination wedding on a private island at the Renaissance Resort in Aruba , and wanted to know what I would charge to photograph it. I told them the price and they were shocked. Including flight and hotel the cost was less than many non-destination wedding photographers who lived in their hometown of Chicago. Yep, it was also cheaper to fly me in, than have the regular resort photographer photograph their beach wedding.

So I few out for the weekend, met the family and friends, photographed the rehearsal on the beach, the rehearsal dinner, the getting ready shots, and of course took pictures at the sunset ceremony on the beach. Here are some of my favorite moments and details from the amazing Aruba Island wedding.

We had to take a boat to get to the private Island off the Coast of Aruba where the wedding was to be held

Here's the view of the private beach lagoon at the Renaissance Hotel.

Real Pink Flamingos roamed the beach

There is a great salon in the Atrium of the Renaissance that can take care of all your getting ready needs

I saw this little detail of a bride and groom on one of the bags the bride brought with her from the states

Every little detail was thought of - and brought with the bride

Custom wedding flip-flops with the bride's name on the side

The wedding flowers, white and green were provided by the Renaissance hotel in Aruba

The flowers in the bridesmaids hair matched the bouquets.

This groom had no problem with his necktie

Everyone in the bridal party wore flip-flops

Here's the perfect view from my hotel window - And I had one of the bad view rooms.

The most important job of the bridesmaids is to help the bride get ready, and these girls did a great job

I still managed to get all the formals done without disrupting the flow of the day, or getting off schedule

I love window light portraits

Did I mention how beautiful the wedding flowers were - and they were sourced on the Island!

Here is the view of the wedding venue site at the Renaissance Hotel in Aruba

I just love wedding ceremonies

Apparently I'm not the only one who loves weddings

The groom's ring

The bride and groom enter the outdoor beach reception area at the Renaissance Hotel

Here are the table seating cards - I love the way they put them in sand

The couple's first dance

And the night went on... Just look at the decorations - christmas lights on the trees, tiki torches, and votives on each table

And at the end of the night, the couple strolled back to their hotel...

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