This was my first trip to Playa del Carmen. I’ve been nearly everywhere in Mexico, and until June, the Yucatán and the Frontera, were just about the only places I hadn’t been. I had such a blast in Playa del Carmen, the best decision I made was to stay at the Hostel Playa. I might have been the only American among the forty or so foreigners staying there. Everyone was friendly, I had a great time.
Part of the fun and reward of my job is achieving the best possible photos for my clients. The fun is strategizing and shooting. The reward is pulling it off. Stephanie and I had already talked about the lighting situation at the Royal Playa del Carmen, read not good, and there’s a really interesting article covering it on the BDW forum here if you’re interested.
For all my clients I want you to have something different, and for Stephanie and Michael’s post-ceremony photos we did a little mini-TTD excursion off the resort : )
But where to go? I scouted out the area around the RPDC the morning of and wasn’t impressed with the hyper-tourist mega-complex of Quinta Avenida. I thought to myself, “All we have to do is walk right outside the resort, but how many couples have had their photos taken here? ALL OF THEM.”
Conventional Mexican resort town wisdom told me that if I walk half-a-mile inland there shall be no tourists and much more authentic, fun, and clean looking backdrops. And that’s exactly what I did, and after the ceremony we hopped in a taxi for a two-minute ride, got out at an awesome location I found and started shooting. Now Stephanie and Michael have some original wedding photos : )
Look below for this mini-TTD, there are seven photos including the one up top. And if you thought this mini-TTD idea was rad, wait until you see the actual TTD we did two days later. I used my day off to scout locations and with a rental car and a fun Norwegian girl we took off down the coast before sunrise, to the beach at Tulum and the Mayan ruins of Muyil. All of which will be featured in Stephanie’s actual TTD photos to be posted on Friday ; )
Enjoy!
Below is where we started our mini-trash-the-dress
BEAUTIFUL! I love the 2nd to last one, and the one in front of the rock wall with the arched doorway! I love your work as always!!!
Gorgeous Steph and Nate! Brought tears to my eyes. That one in front of the door and green wall should be in a magazine!!!!!
Looking good! Excited to see how the TTD turned out. Great job Nate, it was a pleasure meeting you!
Thanks Autumn! I agree with both you and the Slopnickle, my two faves are definitely the green wall with white door and the arched door with the stone wall. I can’t wait to go back to Playa again!
Hey Nate – these look gorgeous! So happy to see the work you’ve done at the resort I’ll be getting married at! We may have to take a “two-minute taxi” of our own – those are definitely my faves!
Hey lucky me! Looks like I’ll be headed back to Playa sooner than I thought : ) Yes, a two-minute taxi-ride, mini-trash-the-dress. Henceforth referred to on this blog as the mini-TmTrTTD.