PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERT AISLE TO ISLE | 113 An exclusive Q&A with St. Maarten An exclusive Q&A with St. Maarten-based based wedding photographer, Alexandra “Alex” Schaede. wedding photographer, Alexandra “Alex” Schaede. Welcome, Alex! And thank you for being a part of Aisle to Isle, Volume 2. We’re grateful to be sitting down with you and gaining some of your valuable insight into the world of wedding photography. Before we really get into things, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you entered the wedding photography scene? So, I started photography eight years ago and was shooting more lifestyle and documentary-based imagery. As more people saw my work, I started being asked for portraits and family photos, which I eventually carried into the wedding scene. Once I got started, I found that documenting someone's special day made me so excited, and I grew my photography business from there. Now, I work mainly on elopements and weddings throughout the Caribbean. Now, let’s dive in! How important are lighting and time of day when it comes to a wedding photoshoot? Can you paint a picture of your ideal photoshoot conditions? When it comes to Caribbean weddings, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you never know if it’s going to be overcast or be a sunny and beautiful day with an incredible sunset. Overcast weather can give amazing shots just like blue skies will, and even if it rains my top priority is to keep everyone calm and provide a sense of relief that we will still get great photos. For most weddings, I will recommend having a backup location so you can move the party if it does rain! Beyond that, I try to work alongside the wedding planner as much as possible before the wedding, so that I can share ideal times to shoot certain photos. Overall, the Caribbean weather is unpredictable, so I can’t say what an ideal shoot would look like. But I will always make the best out of any situation I’m given. The Caribbean is a magical place to say “I do,” but when it comes to destination weddings, there’s always a level of travel preparedness involved. What are a few essentials you recommend couples and wedding parties bring along and carry with them throughout their wedding day, as they move from one photoshoot location to another? Definitely sunscreen! Especially when most of the bridal party isn’t used to the sun and Caribbean heat. I always recommend a sheer application for the women, plus a handy spray can with water, to give them a refreshed, dewey glow. Deodorant for sweat, wet towels for under eye touch ups, a hairbrush to tame windswept or frizzy hair, and also water to keep hydrated. These are always on my list of bridal party essentials. What is one task you give your couples pre-wedding day in order to ensure things run smoothly the day of? I always ask for a family-oriented shot list. I’ll have them give me a list of combinations like mother- daughter, father-son, couple with the bride's side of the family, and so on. Not only does this give me a list I can check off during the shoot to make sure we get everything, but it gives the bride and groom one less thing to think about on their big day! What is one piece of advice you would give couples who are feeling a bit camera shy? One of the first things I communicate to my couples is that the people they see on my website and Instagram feed aren’t models! Knowing they aren’t the only ones who might have been feeling this way really helps them let their guard down more, so I can capture them in a way that is more natural and organic as opposed to posey. During the shoots, I’ll also encourage them to have a conversation with each other or I will ask them if they have a playlist to keep things light, fun, and comfortable. What are your thoughts on having a first look? I love a first look! It’s a bit non-traditional, but post- pandemic everything is a little less traditional these days. Ultimately, the first look is just a really sweet moment for the bride and groom to share together, just the two of them. A A A A A Q Q Q Q Q Q A
