Quite a few people who I have spoken to over the years have all had the same idea of what resort photography was about, and unfortunately, they were all quite far off. The common conception is that you just sit around waiting for someone to come in and ask for photos, this could not be further from the truth. If this was what you thought, or you are thinking about starting a career as a resort photographer this will be an eye-opener for you.

So, what do resort photographers do? Mostly, your focus is roving. You move around the hotel looking for people and situations to photograph. Most resorts will have lots of lush foliage and scenic locations that lend themselves easily to photography. So normally you would just walk around and people’s photographs in whatever they have on, beachwear, casual wear, etc. Quite often people are just going about their normal day and you need to convince them photos would be fun; however, some people actively search out photographers to capture fun memories and they make your job a little easier. You would also need to capture some candid shots as well. Some persons usually preferred these shots, but you have to know your people, as they are some persons who do not like having their photos taken (with or without their knowledge).

You might be inclined to wonder at this point, ‘What happens if they don’t want photos?’ As part of the job of a photographer, you must cajole persons into wanting photos, so in that sense, you are somewhat of a salesperson. Mostly, however, when a person does not want photos, they just do not want them and you should know when to stop, as you are still part of the resort experience and part of what you do, is to make the guests comfortable (a might feel like a bit of a conflict, so you must learn to balance the two objectives).

Another part of the job is event coverage. To keep guests entertained and to avoid the monotony of repetition (eat, sleep, pool, repeat) Resorts will hold events to keep guests entertained and encourage mingling, these events include beach parties, pool parties, and other social events. These events can be a perfect time to catch people in a great mood and capture photos of their activities and group photos of new friendships blossoming, these are memory-making moments that photographers are expected to capture, so all photographers should be aware of: where these events are, when they start, and what is supposed to happen so that they can position themselves accordingly. In some cases, photographers will be assigned to certain events and in some cases, it is a free for all, this is largely dependant on the event size and what else might be happening simultaneously.

Photographers also cover the restaurant(s) usually during dinner times as this is the most popular time to get all dressed up in your fanciest vacation wear, and in some cases the only time some guests will stop to pose for photos. What some photographers will do also is stand in a strategic place to capture guests as they go to the restaurant(s), instead of catching them when they are already seated.

One of the biggest parts of being a photographer in a resort is the photo sessions, if you are lucky guests will come asking about your photo sessions, but for the most part, you will have to go out and convince guests that this is something worth doing. This will give the guests a chance to decide not only what kind of shoot they want, but also how to dress. Most photographers prefer the option of doing photo sessions as these are almost guaranteed to translate to revenue. Random roving shots will sell from time to time but sometimes people just take the photos to be polite and because they were not dressed or makeup or hair was not done, will sometimes not want to see a record of that. However, photo sessions are an investment of time, which usually converts to purchases. If someone decides to take time to dress, sort their hair and makeup, sometimes bring friends along, and put their trust in you to get them at their best, rest assured they are looking to take back memories.

Weddings, the event to end all events, a once in a lifetime thing (hopefully) that will be engraved in their minds forever, and it is up to the photographer to get them at their absolute best. There is greater pressure here, as you have to anticipate certain moments, looks, touches, smiles and be in the perfect position to capture it as it happens. If you miss a moment it’s gone, and yes you can pose it later, but the emotion is going to be different and the surprise will be gone as they would be aware you placed them to take that photo, contrasted with capturing them when they are focused on each other and their vows. Of course, you will be doing posed shots after the ceremony, and at that time it’s all about your creativity and showing the couple at their best, but I love those unguarded moments where emotion is free-flowing and my presence is a distant, bearly noticeable, thought. It is the time truth is laid bare for the world to see and the connection between Bride and Groom is most dominant. As a photographer, you have to capture that emotion in a two dimensional light painting and turn it into something the viewer can feel. Did I mention I love weddings?

With all of that said, it boils down to a numbers game, you have to get as many people to take as many shots as possible and hopefully, it will turn into cash. Your target is going to be somewhere between 300 and 500 photos per day (not as impossible as it sounds), rest assured though, you will be exhausted at the end of your day. As for the salary, I think you would have to look at it as an encouragement to ensure your photos make enough revenue that your 2.75% - 25% (depending on your contract) commission makes your salary bearable.