For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the idea of capturing love stories in breathtaking locations around the world. Don’t get my wrong, I do love taking local weddings. But lately, I’ve found myself, time and time again, dreaming of documenting the romance and ethereal anticipation of a destination wedding. There’s something magical about photographing a couple as they say “I do” with the ocean behind them, the mountains towering over them, or the charm of an old European city surrounding them. There is so much of the world to see. So many different cultures, traditions, landscapes, and people. And I want to see and photograph as much of it as I can.That’s why I’ve made the decision to transition into destination wedding photography—to document love in the most stunning and meaningful places.

But transitioning from a local wedding photographer to a destination wedding photographer doesn’t happen overnight. It takes strategy, intentionality, and a willingness to step outside of my comfort zone. In this post, I want to share the four key steps I’m taking to make this shift—so if you’re also dreaming of moving into destination weddings, you can take notes from my journey!

motion blur bride and groom walking in circle

1. Optimizing My SEO for Destination Wedding Photography

One of the first and most important steps in my transition is adjusting my SEO strategy to attract engaged couples searching for a destination wedding photographer. I know that if I want to book more destination weddings, I need my website to show up on Google when couples search for photographers in their dream locations. Easier said than done, right?!

Here’s what I’ve been working on to make that happen:

Updating my website copy to include keywords like “destination wedding photography,” “destination wedding photographer,” and “wedding photographer for international & U.S. destinations.”
Writing blog posts that are location-based, such as “Why a Destination Wedding is the Ultimate Experience for Couples” or “Top 10 Destination Wedding Locations I’d Love to Photograph.”
Optimizing image alt text to include descriptions like “bride and groom in European castle – destination wedding photography.”
Getting backlinks from wedding vendors, blogs, and planners in the destination wedding industry to boost my site’s credibility.

SEO takes time, but the more I optimize my website and publish valuable content, the more I’ll attract couples planning a destination wedding.

2. Traveling and Setting Up My Own Styled Shoots

This is something that I’ve heard a lot of other destination photographers say, but didn’t truly understand until I started making the shift myself. Scheduling and planning trips yourself, with the intention to set up styled shoots in those locations is a great way to start showing your audience that you travel, while also getting content in those locations.

This can get expensive. However, there are ways to alleviate the costs. To pick the location to travel to: go to Google Flights, don’t enter specific dates or locations, and click search. You can find pretty affordable tickets, you just have to be flexible with dates/locations. Once you find your flights, start reaching out to local vendors in that area to see if they would like to collaborate with you on a shoot. A collaboration can be many things. Often times, other wedding professionals need professional photos of their work and are willing to collaborate with you by giving you their services in exchange for access to your gallery to market themselves with.

I am doing this for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. My husband and I are going to visit and I decided to set up 3 different shoots while we are there. The first shoot, I did not have to pay for anything. I was able to connect with models who are wanting to get into wedding modeling and have their own wedding attire. We found a public location to shoot at and and everything was free for me. For the two other shoots, I set a budget and worked within it. I splurged on details that I absolutely wanted: venues, dresses, rentals. And then I collaborated with my other vendors: florals, stationary, make up & hair artist, etc.

These shoots are so important for my transition to destination wedding photography. They show my audience that I am traveling and that I have experience in shooting in new locations.

Here’s why traveling and setting up styled shoots has been important to my transition:

It shows your audience that you are willing to travel and helps your credibility—the specific location doesn’t matter, as long as you are traveling.
It builds my destination wedding portfolio, which helps me attract my ideal clients.
It allows me to make connection with wedding professionals in different locations, who may refer clients to me in the future.

Taking the initiative, traveling, and setting up styled shoots shows my audience that I am willing to invest in my own business, while making connections, and building my portfolio.

close up of groom about to kiss bride's neck

3. Second Shooting Destination Weddings for Experience & Connections

Another key step in my transition is second shooting for other photographers who already specialize in destination wedding photography. Not only does this give me real-world experience in photographing weddings outside of my local market, but it also helps me build connections with industry professionals.

Every time I second shoot, I learn something new—whether it’s how to adapt to different lighting conditions, how to work in fast-paced environments while traveling, or how to handle the logistics of photographing a wedding in a new location.

Here’s why second shooting has been invaluable to my journey:

It helps me gain experience in different environments—whether that’s a beach in Hawaii, a vineyard in California, or a mountaintop in Colorado.
It allows me to build relationships with experienced destination wedding photographers, who may refer clients to me in the future.
It adds more destination wedding content to my portfolio, which helps attract my ideal clients.

By immersing myself in real destination weddings, I’m not only building my skills but also proving to future clients that I can confidently capture their wedding—no matter the location.

bride sitting between groom's legs and groom kissing her neck

4. Connecting with Brides in Destination Wedding Facebook Groups

I’ve also been focusing on engaging with brides in destination wedding Facebook groups. These groups are filled with couples actively planning their weddings in dream locations, and many of them are searching for recommendations—including photographers.

Instead of simply promoting myself, I focus on giving helpful advice and answering questions about planning a destination wedding. This builds trust and naturally leads to brides reaching out to me when they need a photographer.

Some of the things I do in these groups include:

Answering questions about wedding timelines, venues, and photography tips for destination weddings.
Providing guidance on how to choose a photographer for their specific location.
Responding to posts where brides ask for destination wedding photographers (if their wedding fits my travel schedule!).

By being a helpful and active participant, I’m positioning myself as an expert in destination wedding photography—and that’s exactly how I want potential clients to see me.

bride leading on groom's shoulder and looking at camera

Looking Ahead: My Goals for Destination Wedding Photography

This transition is an ongoing journey, but every step I take brings me closer to my goal of becoming a full-time destination wedding photographer.

In the coming months, I plan to:

Continue optimizing my SEO and creating blog content that attracts my dream clients.
Expand my portfolio by booking more second-shooting opportunities and my own destination weddings.
Network with wedding planners and vendors who specialize in destination weddings.
Travel more and document weddings in different locations, so I can showcase my ability to photograph anywhere in the world.

Becoming a destination wedding photographer isn’t just about traveling—it’s about capturing love stories in the places that mean the most to my couples. And I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.

If you’re a bride planning a destination wedding, I’d love to chat about capturing your special day! Inquire here to learn more about my destination wedding photography services.

Transitioning to destination wedding photography takes time, but it’s 100% possible with intentional strategy, persistence, and passion. If you’re also working toward this goal, I hope my journey helps give you some ideas!