Is this for real? I mean are you going to take photos or just surf the whole time?
We are professional surf photographers with a single goal in mind – to get the best possible photos of you surfing and enjoying your surf charter. We are proud of our reputation as the ‘hardest working’ photographers in the business. Are we surfers? Yes. It helps us to know when to fire the shutter and [...]
What do we get for hiring you? Tell me about the photo package.
Your trip includes the following: 1. An exerienced surf photographer and/or Videographer with professional equipment to shoot your trip 2. A comprehensive collection of photos and/or video – we like to call your ‘Portfolio’ • Professional surf photos and/or video • Lifestyle photos • Scenery photos • Wave photos and lineups • Group photo(s) and [...]
When do I receive my photos?
A standard trip will receive photos on CD or DVD, which will be delivered by mail about two weeks following the trip. Upgrades are available that allow you take your memories home with you on the plane using external memory storage devices. These options are reviewed in our members section.
How many photos do I get?
How many photos you get depends on the surf and your ability, but most guests go home with several hundred photos of themselves surfing – sometimes much more. With those kinds of numbers in your portfolio, you are certain to have a few magic shots, which is really the point. To say it another way, [...]
Can you shoot some video/photos using our camera?
We specialize in professional surf photography and videography. Our equipment is the industry standard for professionals and we know it well. We prefer to focus on our assigned task whether that be Photography or Video using equipment we have hundreds of hours working with. It is our goal to get the best photos/footage of you [...]
Our surf charter offers ‘photo services’ why should we hire you?
Because of the popularity of Mentawai surf photos, some boats and resorts have added ‘photo services’ as part of their offering. Sometimes this means one of the crew members, or even the captain, will provide the service as an extension of their job on the boat or camp. While you will probably get some decent [...]
One of our friend is a photographer why should we hire you?
You wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t concerned about the cost to fly that person to the Mentawai Islands and pay for their trip. Our home base is in Indonesia and our photographers spend long stretches of time in the Islands, therefore, we have no additional travel expenses. Moreover, we have agreements with most [...]
We have a really good camera set up why should we hire you?
A surf charter in the Mentawai Islands can be the trip of a lifetime and on any given day you can get the best waves of your life. This is as good a reason as any to give the camera duties to someone else and enjoy your vacation. If you are a photographer or just [...]
Do we have to pay for your space on the boat/resort and how much is it?
We have agreements with most surf charter companies and have negotiated the best possible boat fee, so you usually do not have to pay full fare to bring our photographers on your surf charter. Please contact your agent or charter company for more information regarding the cost to bring a photographer with Mentawai Surf Photos. [...]
Seems like a lot of money can you give me a discount?
Our 10 day rate is similar to what a wedding photographer often charges for a weekend. A trip to the Ments, for most surfers, is as special an event as a wedding is to a bride. Remember, we are professionals using the highest level of professional photo/video equipment. You may find a ‘cheaper deal’ but [...]
I am sending you a lot of money. How do I know you are not going to run to the Bahamas?
We have been involved with surf trips for seven years now and have had hundreds of satisfied guests. The largest and best charter companies and agents trust us to take care of their customers including Antidote Travel, Indies Trader, Pelagic, Wavehunters and Waterways. We have a vested interest in surf travel and want to continue [...]
What kind of image files/video footage do I receive?
Your photo images will be original .JPG files, and will be approximately 5 megabytes each. What does that mean? Your files will be large enough to produce jumbo poster sized prints and beyond (we recommend you start looking for some open space on your home or office wall now). Video footage will be unedited original [...]
Do you enhance, sharpen or color correct our photos? Do you edit our video?
Because we will take thousands of photos per trip, we do not enhance your images and prefer not to run original files through automated color correcting programs that may over or under process. However, we capture your photos at the optimal settings (we know our shutters, Fstops and ISO’s) so they can be enhanced to [...]
What kind of equipment do you use?
All of our photographers use professional high speed Canon Digital SLRs with calibrated Canon ‘L series’ lenses. This gives us the capability to capture each nuance of your turn or tube ride, frame by frame, with stunning ‘tack sharp’ clarity and save that perfect surfing moment. Our Videographers use professional HD cameras that shoot broadcast [...]
Can I see some of your work?
Sure. This entire website is filled with photos from our trips, but you will also want to check out the recent surf trips section of the site for actual trips that we have done. You can also see each of our websites in the ‘our team’ section of the site.
Our group is worried about bringing an unknown person on our surf charter. Are you cool?
We feel you and can only say that the crew and captain are also unknowns (we look at ourselves as extensions of them). All of us understand this is your holiday and we look to make it the best ever. Everyone has a story about a crazy, eccentric photographer. We pride ourselves on the fact [...]
Do you have any tips on being better photo subjects for the best possible shots?
Yes, there is a ‘members section’ of the site with helpful hints and tips on getting better surf photos. Further, the members section offers options for saving your memories – from iPods and iPads to Canvas prints and Coffee Table books. This section of the site is private and reserved for our guests. A password [...]
I want to use some of the images from the trip for a magazine. Is this included?
No, your photos are for private, single use only – in other words, for your own personal use. All images are copyrighted and any advertisements, publications or internet use must be approved in advance from the photographer and/or the photographer’s agent. The price for commercial use of the photo(s) will depend on the how they [...]
