MORE couples are heading overseas for their wedding photo shoots.

A check with 12 bridal studios and wedding photographers indicates that the numbers may have jumped by as much as 80 per cent in the last two years.

Industry players cite lower airfares, the lack of unusual locations at home and the fact that people travel more nowadays as some factors shaping this trend.

The owner of Lightedpixels Photography, Mr Kelvin Koh, said: “Many have studied or worked overseas, or are marrying foreigners, so they return to where they met or have fond memories of.”

Three years ago, he handled overseas wedding shoots five times a year. Now, half of the 60 couples who hire him each year want shoots abroad.

Such assignments were rare for photographer John Lim three years ago. But this year, and probably the next too, he will make “double-digit” number of trips to countries like New Zealand and France.

Photographer Jonathan Ho said: “The anonymity of having their pictures taken abroad is also a plus – they can relax and are free from distractions.”

He said that being abroad frees his clients from inhibitions over being stared at when they kiss or hug for a picture.

Many of his clients tag a holiday on to the shoot, often in Europe and Australia.

They are with him for two days to pick locations and do the photo shoot, after which they take a vacation.

That the climate in these places is less humid for a couple traipsing around in their wedding finery is another plus, he said. Of course, such photo shoots burn a bigger hole in the budget – a $10,000 to $15,000 bill is typical.

The photographer’s fee alone can come to $5,000 for Australia and $7,000 for Europe, and this excludes the cost of a stylist, accommodation and air tickets.

Couples who choose to stay home will not need to spend much more than $3,000, which covers the bridal gown, indoor and outdoor shoots and a stylist.

Those spending in the region of tens of thousands for overseas shoots are not tycoons.

Business consultant Jeffrey Ong, 32, and his bank executive bride Jaslyn Tay, 28, for example, saved for a year, and blew close to $15,000 on their shoot and holiday in New Zealand in August.

Mr Ong said of his “wonderful experience”: “Photos taken here look the same, so we decided to go overseas. We’d wanted to visit New Zealand too.”

Photographer Mr Lim said business is so good that overseas bridal studios have muscled in on the market.

A CTC Holidays spokesman noted that the 15 wedding planners it brought in from Taipei for the Natas travel fair in August signed up more than 200 Singapore couples.

Taipei bridal studio Ivy Bride saw such good response at its wedding fairs here last year that it has taken up booths at another seven or eight fairs since.

Its owner, Ms Joyce Liao, said that by year’s end, she will have had about 100 Singaporean clients, up from 20 last year. My Dream Wedding, a bridal studio in Tanjong Pagar with headquarters in Hong Kong, has seen “easily over 50 per cent more” business since being set up in June last year.

More than 100 of its Singapore clients have had their photo shoots in Hong Kong, said its consultant Mico Chiu. But not everyone is raring to go overseas for their wedding shoots.

Accountant Tan Siew Boon, 28, who will tie the knot next year, believes in putting her money elsewhere. She said: “I would rather save the money to renovate my home, or go for a longer honeymoon.”

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This article was first published in The Straits Times.