Having over 40 years on this beautiful island, I do know a thing or two about all things photography with Dominican photographers. It also helps that I actually started a photography group back in the ’90s called Sociedad Fotográfica de la República Dominicana. Even though it is a dead group now, it did many photo-related activities and many Dominican photographers joined in. So I knew them all basically. These were pre-Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube days.
Because of this and my many years living here, I know many of the photographers here in the Dominican Republic. Particularly those of my age (50). New photographers from recent years with thousands of Instagram followers are well known also, but just on that platform in my opinion. When searching for these photographers on Google, nothing comes up except their Instagram account. No Linkedin, no YouTube. Many don’t even have professional websites. Some are drone photographers that hardly know about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. But, nevertheless, they are Dominican photographers.
As for myself, trying to stay focus on the long game is primordial. I try to make sure and keep on shooting for architecture, interiors, and hotel photography here in the Dominican Republic. Other Dominican photographers are best on wedding photography, some on children and newborn (something I tend to find extremely hard to photograph), some on sports and some for magazines and newspapers. Fashion is not a big thing to shoot here on the island but there are a couple of months a year that a couple of Dominican fashion photographers appear because of the Dominicana Moda Fashion Week. But apart from this, nothing else.
I know of new photographers particularly from where I live, in Punta Cana. They pop out of Instagram and seem to come and go, shooting for weddings. Punta Cana is known for its hotels and beautiful beaches, so many weddings and destination weddings take place here. Some Dominican wedding photographers drive all the way from the capital of the island, Santo Domingo, to shoot pre-wedding sessions and weddings. I did this for well over 15 years before slowly transitioning to architectural, interiors, and hotel photography.
In conclusion, there are diverse photography groups here in the DR but many stick to weddings. It is a constant and continuous industry and the flow of activities is a must. I’m in the hotel industry photographing mainly hotels and resorts. Trying to make an impression on the Dominican Republic's best photographers.
