7 ways to Break into Destination Weddings with Lucy Munoz | Build and Bloom Photography Podcast

In this episode of the Build and Bloom Photography Podcast, I am joined by guest Lucy Munoz. Lucy will walk you through seven steps to break into destination weddings, even if you don't have any spectacular travel plans this year.

Lucy Munoz is a sought-after destination wedding photographer photographing celebrity weddings, editorials, and amazing clients worldwide. She has been featured in Vogue, Brides, The Knot, Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart, S&P, and many more! Lucy is passionate about education and travels the world, teaching other photographers and creative workshops.

Lucy's has something special for the Build and Bloom Photography Podcast listeners. She’s hosting a film photography workshop in Provence, France, this June. If interested, you can use the code Whitaker for $350 off the Provence workshop.

Scroll to the bottom to expand a written transcription of the show.

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Links mentioned:

Lucy’s Provence workshop. Use code WHITAKER for $350 off!

Follow Lucy on Instagram

View Lucy’s website

Honeybook, Photography client management program

Narrative, the best $6 blog tool for photography galleries

Contractista, reliable lawyer-drafted Photography Contract Templates

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• Click here to expand the transcription of the episode

  Lucy Munoz 0:00

  You're going to create travel awareness no matter where you go take images and a lot of have established shoots that up you don't have to. As long as your travel images are putting that up oh, you you want to clap see through your planning see to people who follow you who are watching your Instagram stories or looking at your feed. Oh, there's some beautiful images of Napa bear. You're planting the seeds. Oh, they travel you just never know. So I think it's really important to create the travel awareness. I know I can't afford to go. You know how I talked about this before is you cannot argue for your limitations or you're going to keep them my mentees will tell me what I can afford to do that I won't pay. Where are you traveling anywhere this year? Well, yeah, but it's only like, you know, just to Palm Springs, you know? Well, that's where you're going to be able to it's not just only Palm Springs for creating travel awareness in Palm Springs, is the goal is to just go hey, I travel and here are just some images just start there. Start where you're at.
  
  JESSICA: Lucy Munoz is a sought-after destination wedding photographer photographing celebrity weddings, editorials and amazing clients all over the world. She has been featured in Vogue brides the knot, Inside weddings, Martha Stewart, s&p, and many more Lucy is passionate about education and travels the world teaching workshops to other photographers and creatives. In this episode, Lucy is going to walk you through seven action steps to break into destination weddings even if you don't have any spectacular travel plans in your calendar this year. Lucy's information will be linked in the description of this podcast so you can tap on over because she has something special for my listeners. So Lucy is hosting a film photography workshop in Provence, France this June. It'll be linked down in the show notes. If you're interested, she has given a code to my listeners, you can use the code Whitaker for $350 off the Provence workshop. There's so much we're covering in this episode. So let's get started.

  Hi, Lucy, I am so happy that you are on the building bloom podcast. Thank you so much for being here. And this is going to be such a good episode because it’s a highly requested topic! So Lucy, will you tell us how did you get started in destination weddings?

  Lucy Munoz 3:45

  Well, to be honest, I was shooting weddings, just local. And I knew at one point that I would I mean, obviously your old destination weddings. That sounds amazing, right? And I knew that I wanted to do that eventually. However, having small kids, I knew that that was I wasn't able to do that because it felt too stressful for me at that time. However, I wanted that to be my progression where I where I was going to journey. And that was part of one of my stops in my journey is like hey, how do I make this happen? So I got started in destination weddings. And I have to say though, you can't just you know it has to be to be in order for it to be successful. You do have to have a kind of a plan in place, obviously, because that just doesn't come out of the blue from nowhere. I'm in a certain percentage of people that might get lucky but that's just not the norm. So I didn't have the space for destination weddings because I didn't have like someone to take care of my kids drive me or do it. Like I didn't have a plan in place. So I didn't have the space for it and that you know, you have to create that space. So I knew that maybe when they were 10 That was my plan like hey, the Pretty self sufficient, like they can, you know, get snacks homework, pretty much they can start, you know, doing that kind of stuff on their own, you kind of give them more independence as they get older. So I knew I was able to kind of free myself from the tire the pool that wasn't allowing for those things to happen. Also, I taught theater, I was so busy on weekends, throughout the weekdays. So I needed to say no to the things I didn't want to do, that were tying me anchoring me down, as I call it, and not allowing for that space to be created. And so I had a family meeting. I said, Are you guys okay with me not doing theater, they love the theater. They love going watch. They were very involved. The kids were even in at one point, because I even put on the homeless, what was the Disney doing the beasts and my son was the little teacup. So they were they're invested. They enjoyed this. So and they said, you have to do what makes you happy? And I felt like oh, okay, because the Go ahead, everyone's okay with this. They're okay, they're on board with the joy of what is going to be bringing enjoy. Also, I always said, hey, when I get these weddings, I'll let you know I have the vision for it. I'll let you guys know which weddings I get and where you guys want to come to? Because I wasn't going to be like, Why I'm going to France, you know? Like, I was not gonna make them feel right. So. So they were like, Okay, we're on board, you have a plan. This is great. And so I started with destination weddings. Because I felt like I kept How am I going to book a wedding, I have not, I don't have travel. In my portfolio, I'm not showing any of that you don't work typically what you don't show. So when I started, I just started small. What I mean by that is, if we went on a family trip to California, let's just say to Napa, I would go and shoot travel pictures, I will let them know, Hey, I'm on Tuesday, well, you know what you guys are going to down to the pool, I'm going to go out and kind of explore and shoot travel pictures that way. And then I started to show, you know, you know, wherever I went and travel on vacation with my family. And it was you know, Palm Springs, it was local things that I was shooting. And so then I started to show a little bit of that. Just travel pictures. And people go when you travel again, they don't know what you what you don't show. Oh, yes, I do travel as a matter of fact, Oh, can you come shoot this family session in Napa that started happening, or in Palm Springs, or wherever I was traveling with in California. And the progression was slow, because that was my plan, start off small, and then kind of build from there. And that's how I kind of I started with kind of showing my portfolio that showed travel pictures, which allowed people to go Oh, you travel? I needed the interest to be there to see like, Hey, you do this? Oh, well, I have XYZ going on over here. Would you? Would you be available for that? Would you be interested in traveling there and about help with the progression? And it was like things like that Napa? Palm Springs Joshua Tree. And you know, then kind of branch out a little bit from there a little bit. And it was like Colorado went to go shoot engagement session, which really is a big deal, right. I'm out of California. Oh my gosh. And that's, that's how the progression kind of started from there.

  Jessica Whitaker 8:30

  What was the timeline from that first Napa trip to when you got booked in Colorado?

  Lucy Munoz 8:35

  that was a year of me doing small trips, I didn't have the entire support system in place. Like if you're single, this, okay, everyone's home is gonna be a little bit different. If you're single, it's might be easier, but I had to put a plan in place because I had small kids, like, who's gonna, like my husband is working, who's taking them to, you know, school, who's gonna be here, when they come there to a little bit can be on their own. So it was like, I had to build a support system. So I had somebody you know, that was gonna be able to pick them up from school, we have a support system. By that. I mean, like, Hey, I had friends that I you know, say, Hey, I'm gonna take them one week, you take them another week, hey, I'm gonna be gone this weekend. So there was a sort of a mother would come sometimes you have to have a support system, a lot of people are not close to their family. So you have to go in, you know, to your community, and that kind of stuff. Because if you honestly don't have, like a plan in place, it will create, you know, stress or fear, and you won't have the space to do those kinds of things that you want. You have to have, like, how can I actually do this? What would be my support system, you list them out? You know, how are these things going to happen on a day to day that I do what I'm out of the equation? Who will do those things? So that when you are shooting and doing things outside? You are not stressed out? If you don't have anything like that happening? No support system? No. When you take yourself out, as I call it, the monopoly piece, who's who's going to be you? So who does those things? You might have to hire somebody. You can go into your car Usually your friends, you know that carpool buddies and that kind of stuff, things that you normally do, who's doing those things so that when you go, you actually are shooting with joy. And you're doing a great job versus the other way around, which is very stressful. So it's from Colorado to actually like from from Napa, the car was a year because I had to put that plan in place. All the pieces had to align for me to be free, I let go. And from the family meeting to Colorado, it was about a year of figuring that out doing travel pictures and having my support system, like a real legit plan, where everyone knew what was gonna happen.

  Jessica Whitaker 10:34

  I feel like a year is such a good amount of time. That's so feasible for so many people to be able to look ahead as everybody is when this podcast is going up. It's the new year and you're making new year's resolutions and you're trying to decide where you want to be in six months from now and a year from now. Hearing that I feel like maybe can give people like a sigh of relief like Oh, it didn't take five years 10 years okay, I can do this step by step. And we're actually gonna get into the seven steps as well. But that's such a relief I'm sure to so many people.

  Lucy Munoz 12:26

  Well, we have to be honest, I know it's kind of glamorized. And to be honest, when I wasn't doing them. I was like, wow, that seemed so glamorous, and must be having the type of lie. Gosh, I'm kind of jelly. I wish I could be doing like you think all these things? And then you step into the shoes? And you're like, yeah, no, it's not like what it seems like it would be Yeah, I know, you're in a beautiful place. This is true, am I taking away from that. But the truth of that is you're working really hard because weddings have evolved. They are you know, it's like multi day events, you're working eight hours of holiday you might be working for, you're constantly working. So it's very hard to dress when you know you have to go do something. And I'm a kind of person that know, that prepares for things. And I want to make sure that I have my eyes dotted and T's crossed, because you know, things can go wrong. And somebody's wedding, you can't just redo it. So there's a lot of that thing of like, for me that, you know, it's evolved in a way, these are multi day events, you know, so we're doing a lot of that kind of stuff. Second, shooters don't sometimes get sick or don't show up or there's, you know, constant, you know, worries everywhere to be able to travel to the right place or plane, you've got timelines, you got things that you have to put in place. So they, they have evolved with a multi day event. You have to also be solution based photographer, that's just the truth, because things will arise and you have to be able to solve on the fly. Also. Sometimes your client will tell you hey, these are the things that I'm concerned about. What's your plan in place where you have to if it rains? What if it rains and I look there's one area in France, what are we going to do? You're not faced there, right? But if you've traveled there you've done enough they're going to trust you like I've been there you know 10 times already just within the last you know, whatever how many years I know exactly where we can go I just traveled there this summer for example, you might say so you have to have solution based photography that's really important too but they need it there is like no do over so you're not baser I think going to want to take you if you're not baster they will. If you have traveled they will have you have traveled maybe even to their venue and shot at their back. They will if they can see that these things are they've seen this from your Instagram posts, your blog posts, they have trust and confidence that you have the solutions to whatever might happen. Or you know, if let's say we were supposed to shoot outdoors, it rains because you know, it's unpredictable. We've had rain in In the summer in France, it does happen that way. Right? Like, what are you gonna do? Are you traveling? Are you coming with off camera flash? What do you like to what is your plan? So you have to have all these systems in place. And let them know, this is before they even think about like, hey, could this be a problem, you're like, hey, I already have Plan B, and C, in case this happens. Here's what my plan is, we've already talked over with the wedding planner, we know, there will be indoors, and don't worry, I've got off camera flash, or travel with it, let's just say you have to put them at ease. So there is a definite feeling of will clients will want to make sure that they can trust that you're going to deliver the images that you show, even if you're in a different country. And so and then they've evolved as well, because storytelling now is at the forefront, people want your taking you on these destination weddings or shooting three day events. That's typically the norm, at least for me. I'm shooting a three day event. How is my story and my love story going to read as a novel now? I'm sorry, but we're living in a tick tock Instagram dominant age or reels, and they're showing videos, and it becomes a love story. So how are you going to capture that? So storytelling really is at the forefront of all of these weddings nowadays? How are you telling this in a way that's like a novel, but it's an inner novel, it's their story, there has to be main character, bride and groom, the highs and the lows, the you know, you're telling the nuances of it. And storytelling is definitely at the forefront, you're competing with video now. So images can afford it, you know, for good or bad. That's just how it is. And so how are these images holding up to those videos, and you have to understand that that is what couples are really, it's bombarding, they're, they're seeing it on the constant, tick tock videos of the Instagram reels, it's all over the place. So when they're looking for that they're looking for the storytelling as well, within the context of their wedding.

  Jessica Whitaker 17:04

  Lucy, that is such amazing advice. And it really sets the listener up for the seven steps that you're gonna walk them through. So with all that being said, could you explain the seven steps for how to break into destination weddings, and I know that you teach about this in your workshops, and you're gonna go, you go more in depth into it during your walk workshops, which you're going to be doing, actually this upcoming June in Provence. And I would love for you to share more about that, too.

  Lucy Munoz 17:31

  Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, I'm so super excited to teach about this go. They know, way more in depth. Definitely. So it is going to be in Provence during 26 Year 29. This summer coming up. And it's the only time where the lavender fields blue. So that's why we picked that digital other time that it has, you know, those, you know, the images of the lavender fields are going to be shooting there as well. In the same chateau. I think it's where one of the Jonas Brothers got married there. I think it's I can't remember. But anyways, it's a it's an amazing chateau. It's, it's gorgeous. And it's more on the intimate scale, of course, because I feel like that's how you learn the best. So I'm really excited about that and just get more information, of course, on my website, listening to photography.com and there's all the information that you need there, but definitely I go more into depth because it's you know, it's there's three days of learning. So it's, you know, it's a lot more in depth than I could possibly go in here. But I do want to go through them. And I think you can get a lot out of it. Just by kind of like even if you did just half of the steps. It's you're in a much better place. Trust me than if you were just kind of just hoping and wishing for destination weddings. So first off for step one I want to talk about is like creating travel awareness through images because let's just be honest up like I said before, you cannot shoot what you do not show. So always start small. And that was for me, like I said going to you know, in California Travel pictures, you must put those travel images out because how do people know you even travel they don't. Before I started destination weddings, I was just 100% based in California. And now it is flipped. I'm like at 80% destination weddings and 20%. You know, in California, very few. It just has flipped because the more I show travel, the more increase of travel I get. That's just how it is. So So you want to start on a smaller scale, but then you're trying to level up. So once I shot that wedding, for instance, at the engagement session session in Colorado, I obviously shot the wedding later on. But just from showing that wedding in Colorado, they're like oh, you travel out so then I got a wedding in New York. That was on the East Coast. I'm really excited for that. And then by showing the weddings on the East Coast, so if you travel to Mexico, yes, I do shot couple weddings in Cabo Cancun, and Rue. And so it was just so beautiful weddings I did there as well. And from there showing those, then I was shooting weddings in Europe. And so again, you're going to create travel awareness. And that's really important, no matter where you go, take images, and a lot of have a style shoot that up, you don't have to, as long as your travel images are putting that out to you. You want to plant seeds, you're planting seeds to people who follow you, people you know, who are watching your Instagram stories or looking at your feed, or looking through a blog post. Oh, wow, there's some beautiful images of Napa there, you're planting the seeds, oh, they travel to plant the seed there. And then you just never know. So I think it's really important to create the trouble wareness. And then we'll I can't afford to go, you know, how I talked about this before is you cannot argue for your limitations, or you're going to keep them. So I'm not in a place of ever argue for limitations. I'm just looking for creative solutions, because then I do get to create them. So if I'm like, Well, I can't because I'm just arguing for them constantly. And you will get to keep your limitations if you argue for them. Like I remember who had there are some people who have quoted that differently. But it's the truth. If you already for your limitations, you will get to keep them. So you need to create the solutions in a space for them. So I don't you know, I hear my mentees will tell me, but I can't afford to do that I won't pay Where are you traveling anywhere this year? Well, yeah, but it's only like, you know, you know, just to Palm Springs, you know? Well, that's where you're going to be able to, it's not just only Palm Springs for creating travel awareness in Palm Springs, the goal is to just go, Hey, I travel. And here are just some images, just start there, start where you're at. And so that's really important that for me is essential. Because you, you might not be able to afford travel to luxurious resorts or whatever. And that's doesn't mean that you will never become a destination photographer. You just got a great travel awareness. And that's anywhere. If I'm shooting a wedding in San Diego, I mean, that's still in California. But guess what I was videotaping things, I was always Instagramming stuff in my stories that I'm in San Diego, San Diego, LA, you know, you go to San Diego, you just have to I thought you're just based in Los Angeles people. I mean, you would think that people will work, you know, photographer, but they don't know what you don't show and they don't know what you're interested in doing. And they're not aware that you even want to go to other places and travel. So that's really important. And if you happen to go to like a mission, I think sometimes people say, Look, you know what, I have a vacation. And I'm going to be going to Cabo and we're actually going to stay with my family there. And it's a really beautiful resort, but I don't have a wedding, there's no way I can afford it a toilet together. If you're already going to Cabo at a resort that you would love to shoot that what you want to do is hook up their their hook up with, who was a wedding coordinator at the venue say, Hey, can I take some images for the venue? Do you think they're gonna say no, I can say no, they're gonna be like, of course you can. And you can take some amazing images, establishing shots for the venue, who then use your images. And then you can use those images to post sometimes you get access to areas where they don't allow people just to go through, because they're like shooting this for the, for the venue. To be honest with you. When I went to Napa, I send out emails to probably 15 or 20. This is me trying to just break into designation was okay, like, how am I going to reach out perhaps, I just don't have any images. But we're gonna go to nap. And I thought, I wonder if I emailed this years ago. And you know, I just never thought of No, I just thought let me just try this by email 10 or 15 hotels, I can't remember how many was but point is I emailed all these hotels and resorts that I would like to shoot at and I said I'll just shoot your venue for free and and is it possible for me to stay there just the no payment but Can I just stay there? Caught because you're getting these images. And, and for me at that time, because I had already this is, you know, me traveling to Napa. It wasn't the first time I was traveling, but this might have been on my third. We went all the time to Napa was like, you know, with the kids, it was very close enough and we were like We love going there. So like on my third go around and I was like okay, let's just amp this up. Let me do something else. So I was like, What can I do so If I said I know what I'll do, I'll put together a session there at the place. If they say yes, and I'll just see if I could get a florist, just a bouquet, you know, I could pay for that if I needed to a bouquet. And if I made it. Good giveaway. I could do like a couple. And I think we even had hair and makeup. I don't know, I don't think we would do that. No, I think to do that girl. So anyways, and then I would just got a dress. So I was able to get this dress. And that's a whole different, you know, well, we'll go into how to get gowns, but because that's a different topic. But so I was able to get a dress on loan. And I'm gonna see if any of them will be interested. And they could caught me because I'm getting these images and you know, all submitted for publication across the fingers, you know, there's no guarantee right? And I didn't hear back from a lot of them. And the ones that some of them that I did hear back were like, No. And then I heard back from only one. And that's what I choose like it, you can look at the whole thing and go oh my gosh, reports for you that I don't care. I needed just one. Yes. And I got one. Yes, I got it from this incredible resort. Who was like, Oh my gosh, we would love to do this. Can we talk more? I was like, Are you kidding me? Because just to stay there per night. would have been like 14 Her dollars a night. That's a lot of money. So I have small kids. I'm like, Lord, I don't know. And back then. Are you kidding me? So I was like, Oh my gosh, I'm gonna make this happen. And they were on board. So I did a giveaway. I did a giveaway. We, you know, kind of one of the people that entered it, we picked a person a couple. And they got to say they're for free. Which is that was that they're just in heaven, right? They're like, Oh, our Getty Images. Oh my gosh, that's great. So I said the first free we shot there, and they were so kind they upgraded me to the house, the house that they have like they have beautiful homes as well that you can actually rent out a Carneros resort. It's like Lulu is incredible place. And I was saying the 2000 plus a night kind of like house there just wanted it to be so comfortable. And they were they were just so happy. And that I was coming to do that. And the couple was a static they even got like a spot Shimon don't and then and then they're like, Oh, can we have a dinner to let me ask him? They're like, Yeah, I'd give him a dinner. So anyways, the capital was happy I was I wasn't currently having my family traveled with me. They were just like, over the moon like, oh my god, this is amazing. Get more of these wings. And so I ended up shooting. And I submitted this like so many years ago, and I submitted to Saudi pretty and it got featured. So the everyone was a win win win all around. So you're going to have to cast a wide net. And that might have not even been wide enough. But I was thinking like, oh, sure people will say yes, why wouldn't they?

  But you know, you know, I already do. i All I need is one. All I need is one. And so that was incredible. So for sure. Travel wareness cast a wide net, if you're already going there, I'm gonna say do that you need to contact whoever the wedding coordinators from that place am already stayed here. Could I shoot it give you the images? You most likely going to hear? Yes. Because you're already saying there why wouldn't say I know for a fact because I've seen when Star Wars do that in my second shooters who have come travel with me they're contacted the resort to go shoot. So I know it does happen, then that hurt ever know from at least the ones that we've gone to shoot, they've always been able to shoot something. And you got to, I always say you better be thirsty, not hungry. Okay, because you can last without food much longer than you can without water. Because trust me, there are people out there who are thirsty and they're working and they're building their momentum. And it's a ball that keeps rolling, you can just be on the sidelines. Wow, that's amazing. You got to be just as thirsty as they are. And what I mean by that is you got to build your momentum, you got to be part of the equation. It's just not going to come to you. If you just wishing and sitting there, you've got to also be part of it. And then step two, is expanding your portfolio. Let's say you're like, Well, you know, I really want to go, you know, you've done this on the smaller scales, you really want to go and you want to build your portfolio like in Europe, let's say, I know for me, that was one thing that I wanted to do I want to shoot weddings in Europe. I love the architecture, the history. I mean, I can just go on and on. Through I mean just I can go on and on. And so for me, I said you know, this is really important. So how can you do that? If you're somebody like it's just going there? And you're like, Can I do an editorial? It is really difficult. Let me just start off with you. There's a language barrier. They're also people run on a different type. Online, like you can get a response and an email like two weeks later, from coordinators that are there. And it's really an you know, and then you might be like, overwhelmed, but are you traveling with the dress? Yes, I think all these things, how does that? How is it all going to work? So what is the easiest, of course, it's much easier to go shoot an a workshop, and build your portfolio that way, because everything's already in place, I'm going to tell you, if you've done them before, it's stressful. If you're even in your native land, like things, sometimes they'll go right now, can you imagine being, you know, in Europe, and then you know, it's like, really, really difficult. So you, you can't, you're not going to just do that on your own it you will need somebody who is like a wedding planner there. And you know, people are busy. So sometimes you're not going to get that, you know, invitation. Yeah, let's do this. Because it's, it's really difficult. So the easiest way I would tell somebody is to go shoot at a workshop, I know I'm doing I'm doing what you're doing, like I said, because you want to create a, you know, a portfolio that surrounds yourself with some imagery, that is in venues that you would hope to shoot at, in locations that you would want to travel and photograph weddings, you need to think about all of that. And not just like, oh, well, I'll just reach out to a wedding car and say, that's gonna be really difficult. Also, don't try doing some like that on your own. Because you can lose a lot of money. I've seen people who've gone lost money, because models didn't show up versus they didn't come. It's, it's, it's stressful, navigating traveling, they're driving through, you know, Europe is not the easiest, picking up stuff, it's just, it's much easier for you to expand your portfolio through workshops. And while you're there, on a workshop, I can do something on a smaller scale. So maybe I'm not going to go shoot at another chateau. But while I'm in Paris, could I go to the Eiffel Tower, and then shoot just a model there that is on a smaller scale. So yeah, and have some, since you're already going there, maybe perhaps shooting at a workshop, you might do a smaller scale, where you just have a model. And you're like shooting for the Eiffel Tower, or whatever it is that you know, you can go shoot up in Sunrise, of course, you don't want to have to edit all these people out. and things of that nature. So you want to create this, you want to expand your portfolio, of course, your workshops, and creating travel inventory because you're already there. And that will be step two.

  Jessica Whitaker 32:38

  And it's getting the most out of your time and your trip!

  Lucy Munoz 32:43

  Right, you're like yeah, because if you're already going to be there, that's really important. That's what I always encourage my mentees, I'm like, Hey, if you're gonna be there, you're gonna come over here to my workshop, then come through the lavender fields, because what you want to do is create content that you have enough to Ben, when you come back, you're going to be showing casing that the only one to one place, and then that's all you did, that's all the travel card that you have, it might be kind of like a bummer, where you come back, you probably should have done something a little extra done, maybe something else that was on a smaller scale, because I think that those images are gonna actually be able to, and I'll talk about that in a minute, because I want to jump the gun, but you want to be able to use your expansive portfolio that you've built. Hopefully, it's not just a one kind of thing. And then you're done. Obviously, when you're doing workshops, you want multi day workshops, because you're there and you've traveled far. So you're hopefully you're having an online workshop, we do multi day events for that same reason. Because if you're going to do to spend all this money to travel, you want to create enough content, and then three connecting with vendors. So once you're traveling, you're gonna go like I'm out here I gotta connect with vendors, you have to put the work in i It's just people are not coming to you. Right so you're going to contact vendors and you're going to meet with them and the example that I gave you if you're you know, traveling to Europe and you're shooting a workshop, you're going to hopefully use that time also I can call them working days where you know there's an hour and obviously visit sightseeing a little bit but there's working days I have planned in there right where I'm going to be setting up meetings going to them shooting headshots for that wedding planner because I'm already there. I'm going to be offering some thing not just taking but I'm offering and listen to some headshots and out please come grab a coffee lunch afterwards and you know kind of connect with them there. If you are traveling as well for vacation you're doing the exact same thing. Don't need to go for if you can't, okay, like where am I? I think I can do I would like to shoot here. This is a great place. Yes, I may contact the wedding coordinators here and you want to create content for them. How can you be of help or views? Creating content for them I think is where it's at because we all need content in this day and age.

  Jessica Whitaker: Do you contact them through email? Or like DM? How would you initially reach out to them?

  Lucy Munoz 36:39

  Um, the thing is, I I'm gonna be honest with you, I track everything. So I can tell when someone's open my like everything I could tell that they're not they opened it like every time that they ever responded. You know, we got all those triggers. But I find I'm not. I just It's the truth. I find the 95% success rate when I DM them on Instagram. Because everyone's curious Nicholas didn't you let me see that now they're all sitting there my feet. Oh, I like the images. Hopefully you know that that's you hopefully we'll let you putting out some seller images before you contact people don't put like ho hum images at the forefront of those nine squares because they're gonna go and they're gonna bounce they need to be on point before you're DMing people because you want to see, you know, you want them to go, wow, okay, I know, I want to know more. Or yeah, I'm injured, wow, I'm interested in them, I would love for them to shoot headshots of me. But then what they have here, that's something you want to do. Make sure that whatever you're offering them is something that you actually haven't those before you like DM them, and make sure you're following them. Don't just DM somebody out of the blue. That's the worst. Not even following them. But the you're DMing them, give it a minute, you know, don't just DM them the same time the same day you follow them, you know, here's how the order should go is that you follow what you love, right? You love certain wedding planners, you're following them, you are contributing to what they post, not just with the light, but with a comment. That means something like you actually looked at it. Not pretty, nobody, nobody feels like you really took the time to look pretty, but really like talk about their design and maybe how it was the colors or you know, talk about the work that they did as a wedding planner, of what the design of that image, and what is speaking to you, that means something to them. When they post something on stories, you're also doing the same thing. I use build, kind of, you know, planting the seeds, you've built some kind of rapport with them. And then maybe when you're heading to you know, Cabo or I don't know, France, or wherever you're traveling to, then you're like, hey, I would love to meet up with you and take headshots if you need the car, you family session. I know it's near the holidays, or whatever it might be. I do spring sessions. I'm gonna be there in the spring and Italy and I would love to come take your family pictures, I noticed you have a pop and you love yourself so much. I would love to, you know, people always need content. And they're not gonna be like, Who is this person? No, because you you literally build a rapport online and you've talked to them you, you know, like there's stories and commented on them. They kind of have a sense of who you are and you're invested in them. And that means a lot more than just kind of cold, emailing cold. The unknown who is this person? I don't know who they are. But getting a vendor relationships are really important. But don't forget, it's not just wedding planners that you can build a relationship with. Because wedding planners, luxury, that's where you're trying to go luxury wedding planners use certain florists build relationships with those florists and I've always said, you know, when you're over to those florists, you can photograph their content and I cuz you're offering something so you're offering to photograph their content. And when they're posting those images that you've shot for them, then the people that follow them, those wedding planners will see your work. Hopefully it's on point, you know why make sure your work is the best. Because when they share them, it should hopefully resonate with those wedding planners. And I think that that's another way of getting them to notice your work. The fourth thing is, when I was starting out, too, and I did this, too, is creating, like, because you're, I'm talking about the person who's like, I don't, how am I ever gonna shoot a destination wedding, right. So this is where we're kind of gearing it towards, if you've never shot one, creating Facebook ads, often I'm not going to go into how to create them, but creating Facebook ads for where you're going to be traveling. For instance, I'm going to be traveling to Greece coming up, unless I wanted to shoot a couple of sessions. So I could create some Facebook ads here to that country where I'm traveling to. I know people who book their entire calendars based off of Facebook ads, where they're going to be traveling. So they don't just go for like one wedding in, let's say Italy, they're actually creating Facebook ads geared towards that. And they book an entire two weeks of sessions based on Facebook ads. And that helps why because you want to have the content, you're already going to be there anyways. Right. So that's a good way of creating more content, obviously getting paid while you're there as well, it doesn't hurt ever. And then you can showcase that content on your back. So that's really another way to do it as well. And then friends and family, let's not forget, as number five friends and family never disregard that. Because if you're putting it out there, hey, I'm traveling or would love to travel to photograph weddings, you guys know anybody who's getting married? Depends on what your entry point is that, you know, it might be that you're like, we're all started a different place. Because if you're just starting from scratch, like how will I ever book a destination wedding, you might be okay with traveling for free, because you want that content, and you want to get started in wedding photography, but you don't know how we hate. We cannot shame anybody for how they do this, it's you know, we all start somewhere. And it just has to be right for you. And so you might be okay with kind of like, what does eat the bill because I know that once I'm showing this up, I will be able then to then book rates where I'm making a profit. Another thing you might be saying is okay, well, maybe I'll just do it for the cost of so like, Hey, if you can pay for the hotel, then I will shoot your whatever session or wedding, whatever it is that you're trying to get into to do, you know, like trying to get into travel photography, trying to get into the next step might be like booking a session or it might be even wedding photography. So wherever that might be for you, you might go like, Hey, you can just pay for travel, I will shoot this for you. And some people will be very happy to do that, of course. And that could be worse for you might be at another thing might be like okay, well, travel fees have to be paid for and maybe because in our in our, you know, we shoot a lot of filming on the film shoot or so. And maybe my cost of my film has to be covered. Maybe that might be your entry point. And then you'll keep going for like where it is where you're comfortable. And because friends and family are a great resource that people sometimes forget, cast a wide net there and say, Hey, I really interested in traveling, if anybody knows somebody getting married, can you know, please let me know refer me that's a great another great way to do that is through friends and family. You'd be surprised. And so then number six is really important. You want to bring into destination wedding, you want to become the guide. And by that I mean you have to build trust. So while you're traveling to these places, you have to be shooting video and content for your own self. Because you're gonna be putting me some IG stories when I shot my first out of the country. Like I was in tequila, Jalisco, and then shot this at the hacienda. Some credible would actually make the tequila. I when I landed there, I'm like we're gonna hit the ground running. I had a POA from day from minute one. What I was going to do because I was not going to waste this time that I had. I'm going to make sure that I

  use in invest all of my time into really making sure I propelled this thing forward in terms of destination weddings. And so I immediately this one videos were not even a big deal back then it became yes reason but it wasn't like that at all, but I knew I had the foresight to go, Hey, if I can show videos of me doing, walking through the streets of tequila, knowing how to maneuver, explaining about the best light here and there, explaining about why I need to come a day before and kind of putting that out there is building trust with brides who potential clients like, whoa, wow, that is true. I never thought that that's gonna become a day before or two days before. And I was also showing, hey, we also do like a lifestyle shoot here. Whoa, that never thought of that. That's great, because now they're gonna add that on. And so like I'm showing, like I'm showing the couple we're doing, we went through like, a sticky lesson over there, the killer, so we were going to different places to try tequila. And everyone was so excited for us to shoot in their plays. Oh, come on in, because they're like, well, you're gonna put this somewhere someone's gonna see our, our, our bar or restaurant. And we were going to different places, we're walking the cobblestone streets. And it created such a buzz with people who are watching it. I was getting increase that moment, even to GMs. Like, oh, my gosh, I'm going to be having a wedding in Mexico, can you please send me your your pricing guide or your rates. And so that that started creating momentum, just on Instagram struggling to go to their wedding, you shot their wedding. And it was because I became the guidance expert. Hey, when you're traveling from here, this is the places you want to go to, on your way from the airport to pick up like, let's stop at the gas fields and look at you know, I was sure I was the guy. And no matter where your child will become the guy? Well, I don't know, Have you ever told that they're talking about these limitations? Lord, please don't let it be that please do not limit yourself. Google it, there is no reason why you can't figure out 10 places to go to visit when you're in a normalcy coast, anybody can do that. And then you can then create a beautiful map, you can do these, I can give you a link for help I do. It literally tells you what train to take love us to go like every little thing to get to those places, and literally never been to those places. I my son navigated with the with our timeline PDF, and he's like, 14, so if you can do it, anybody can do it. And we went to his bicycle, we shot at becoming the guy that every one of those places like, that's important. What does that do? You build trust with the audience, and they know how to get there. Because I'm going to get married in this remote place out here, I can show that this person because actually will be able to go and get there. I'm not going to run off with my money or whatever. Like they actually do this, this thing and they do it well. You want to position yourself as the guide, the person that knows what they are doing and how to get to places and actually are giving you information that you actually might find beneficial. Like wow, this is amazing. These are 10 great places to shoot out. Wow, they use this is amazing. Well, we're gonna you know, you because you come to the guy and you become the expert, you're going to feel like this is the person that needs to shoot my wedding. And so that's what you want to do is become the guide do that on IG stories when you're traveling. Five places to stay in Tuscany, I when I went to Tuscany, I visited because I knew I was going to create the guide pieces in my IG stories on my reels. Because I wanted them to go, Hey, here's a person who has to shoot our wedding. In five places think apparently, you're engaging engagement photos in Paris, and then you are creating those rules and the stories and becoming the expert and the guide. And that speaks volumes because they will literally see you as the go to person. For when it becomes a tenant, they're gonna get married or they want to shoot something that has to do with destination weddings, you will be the person

  Jessica Whitaker 48:39

  It's so much more than just the images!

  Lucy Munoz 48:41

  so much more than just the images. Because anybody can take great images, right? Well, ah, great photographers, you differentiate yourself, you're becoming an expert, and you are the go to person. Then my last step is what I said before, be thirsty, not hungry, you have to create momentum. Okay, so we've traveled to all these spaces, we made vendor relationships, we took pictures here, we became the experts here, we put all this stuff, what do we do with all this stuff. So when you create momentum, which is really important, you dole out those travel images, at least once a week, you don't put everything all your content, and you know, the next two weeks and then that's it, you want to make sure you dole it out. Every couple of days. You want to create you have enough content, you've been doing all of these things to literally if you don't travel again, for the next six months, you're showing all this fresh content because you took a lot of the videos, you took a lot of the photos and you're going to create the momentum like you keep building off of every week. And it's showing traveling consistently all the way through to I don't care January and use your driveway in the summer because you've got all that content, you don't have enough that you're not doling it out all at one time. Because creating the momentum is really simple. People start taking notice and whatever you put out there, it's like rebounds right back, oh, my gosh, I can see this consistently see these travel images, I consistently see this person as the expert, the guy, they have solutions. For any type of problem, it seems like they've talked about this spoken about this, I'm seeing seeing all of this Instagram reels, feed on their stories, wherever it is, you create that momentum. By George, it is almost impossible not to get your friends, these casts of friends and family net, you've contacted vendors are so many ways, as I'm the ones I'm talking about, that can really get your foot in, and really start the ball rolling, but keep the momentum going. Because you dole it out, you know, maybe twice a week, I don't know whatever your schedule is, some people post twice a week only. So you might do like I'll do once a week, whatever it is, for you, you want to make sure you create that momentum and keep it lasting, it shouldn't just be travel images, and then it goes dark. And then it's something else, you know, I forgot to mention too, which is kind of interesting. I started noticing it during the summer. Because I work with some amazing videographers. They create the reels, and I'm like I'm told incorporating this poorly. So in this idea, they create b-rolls, let's just say they were in Utah, and they shot horses or whatever. They might not use that imagery, they might use that theory to connect to something that has the same tonal kind of feeling. And I was like, well, that's genius. Because you're trying to create a feeling like any stories are really important. I don't know and would meet a lot with light and things like that. So I'll create the rules that maybe I don't use it. But I was in Tuscany, and I took this beautiful landscape, like it was a beautiful sunrise. But I use it like when I was shooting in Palm Springs, I know, you're like, Well, why would you do that the feeling imagery kind of looked similar, where I was at, let's just say, and or the sunrise, I just use that. Because it was perfect, you created the rules. And you can actually incorporate them in different rules that don't really pertain to them. Because you're trying to create that feeling the emotion you're trying to connect, and that some of it just can be so amazing. Because let's say you go shoot somewhere. And maybe you didn't get some amazing shots of the landscape. Can you put that in the B roll and just save some of those images? And then use them later? Of course you can and you should?

  Jessica Whitaker 52:33

  That's really good advice. getting as much b-roll as you can.

  Lucy Munoz 52:38

  They shot something I don't know, let's just say horses, and I don't know where they were in Nebraska. But then they were shooting in Utah, and they use the B roll for the Utah shoot. And let's say there's like horses running, but there's nothing that wasn't in Utah. And I saw it. And I'm like, Oh my gosh, but it fit? And it seemed like it could have been there. Oh, no, there's green pine trees. And that looks, you know, like it could have been, but it wasn't, they didn't have that momentum of the horses running and creating that. You know, that feeling. They just pieced it together to create a be real, that was with a different video that had nothing to do with it. But it's about the storytelling of like, the emotion and the horses are really having to do with the couple is you're just trying to create these emotional pieces that kind of take you somewhere, like any movie, where it's shot doesn't always mean that it was shot in that area. You know, it was you don't, you didn't shoot on, you know, the Little House on the Prairie wasn't where it was, you know, it was like, somewhere in like Malibu. So you know, but you're just you create the feeling. So these, the rules are really important to create those kind of impactful images, that videos that really take you somewhere because again, that's just storytelling that could really Yeah, like, I'll do that when I go to Cabo, I'll go out in the street and shoot the rules, I might need that for something else to be real, like video. And I also might shoot just photos, because I might not be able to get into that place. And I have stock images of Cabo, it's still Cabo, right? I might not be able to go do that, because I'm back to back a multi day event. But I really want the feeling of it. And matter, I have so much images that I have so added to it. Because even if I went to Cabo again, that place is still there is not changed, so I can keep that. So then you're not as stressed out when you're trying to shoot these weddings. I mean, there's just so much I can talk about how going to depth what, you know, obviously, I talked about my workshop, but I mean, it just there's just so much to talk about, but how to do it in a way that you're going to create the most amazing images when you're on on in a destination wedding, sorry, but you just don't have time and that will and can happen. And so that's why it's important to have all that kind of stuck in the dream ready to go so you can fill in because you know it's true to the place. I mean, honestly, I've been shooting Mexico. And as you're in Cabo or shooting Cancun or wherever I'm shooting, I have those images that always are my backup. Because sometimes things happen during weddings where you just can't do those kinds of things you can't travel out.

  Jessica Whitaker: I love that advice of having that flexibility with yourself to be like okay, if you continue to travel one place, you can always take footage from one trip and another and stitch it together to create a story for the content. Could we go more? Could you talk more about your workshop that's happening in Provence?

  Lucy Munoz 56:53

  It's in Provence, June 26, to the 29th. And Maria teach you Tuesday. I hope I'm saying that nicely and correct. Because I love her David, she is incredible. We're going to have luxurious, of course, I'm all about luxury wedding. So we're going to have amazing gowns, amazing design, of course and the floors is going to be incredible, we're going to be having a three day. So you get to do two days of content, there's going to be teaching, of course, first half, and then you're going to go shoot, I also, you know for me, it's really important that you come out of that workshop of better artists, I don't like say the word photographer and better artists they come out of they're not doing the same old things, but learning how to really advance and level up into your artistry. So it's really about composition, like we go into depth about every little nuance. And then creating some amazing images of course opposing. Of course, talking about, you know, luxury market, we talk about all the things that you need in order to get into destination weddings and submit it. And of course, we talk about the very important steps to get from where you're at to hopefully into luxury wedding. And you know, any and everything that I teach, obviously, I feel is going to be hopefully beneficial creating your own story. But of course and how do we create that? I mean, there's just so much things and then we're of course, we'll be shooting at the lavender fields to you on a McCrea as much content as possible on that last day. And all the information is on my website. And you can reserve and attend the workshop there. And all of it includes price includes the hotel, and of course, accommodations and food. And hopefully we are going to be building an Amazing Bond With these artists. He's photographers that are coming to photograph and prolongs and really get some amazing, amazing, amazing images for your portfolio and expanding your creative bandwidth. That's really important. You're sitting there going I feel I'm very uninspired I don't, then I think there's one of one way to obviously get out of that rut, shoot, create and expand, which is really important. This for digital and film photographers. I shoot hybrid myself. I love digital. I love film. So it is for digital. It's not geared towards you know, film photographers. It's not like talking about film. So it's it's, it's for both. Obviously, you can always ask him questions about film, but it's really excusable.

  Jessica Whitaker 59:47

  Amazing, so the link for Lucy's workshop as well as where you can find Lucy on her website, and Instagram everything is in the show notes description. So if you pop over to Spotify or iTunes, wherever you're listening, and you just click the description, you'll be able to go directly to the links to check it out to register. It sounds so beautiful. And in June in France is going to be so nice and warm and lavender. Right. Now, sounds so beautiful. Thank you so much, Lucy, this was so helpful. Oh my gosh, and just your spirit. You're so kind, you're so generous, this is going to help so many people. I think also when it goes up, it'll be the perfect time in January because then we're like, okay, want to you know, I want to do something. And when take some kind of action in my business, I want to go I'm like, This sounds so awesome. Yeah, you should come. We'd love to see you. I definitely gonna check it out. Because I've looked into workshops, like I said, but they don't offer any kind of education.

  Lucy Munoz 1:00:54

  I'm glad you mentioned that. Because I've seen photographers go like they shoot and they're like, Oh, we just shot I'm like, That's it? Yeah, that's all we did. I'm like, oh, no, no, that is you want to become a better artist for sure. So then it's like how how have you just shoot in the same way that you've done the last time Yeah, so that's that's a no no information or education that that seems like it's missing pieces or for me so yeah, yeah, I

  Jessica Whitaker 1:01:17

  agree. I think that's where this separates it out from so many other workshops that people especially are going to just start looking into like what should my summer plans do you wish I do? You know, I want to take something so I'm really excited. You're so kind to I when I was making the my list of like my dream podcast guests, you were at the top of it. So I'm so happy that you were able to

  Lucy Munoz 1:01:38

  hear the sweetest for sure. Like I can't even believe how sweet you are. Thank you. It was a pleasure.

  Jessica Whitaker 1:01:44

  What an incredible conversation. I am feeling so encouraged and so inspired and I hope that you are as well. Lisa's information as well as her film photography workshop information that's happening in Provence will be linked in the show notes below. Don't forget that you can use the code Whitaker for $350 off the workshop. This is not an affiliate code. I don't make any kind of permission from the code. It's just something that I wanted to offer. If you are interested, I believe in you and I believe in your business. Thanks for listening to the Build and Bloom podcast!