Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai Wedding Photographer
Candid weddings among the mountains and temples
Weddings in northern Thailand
Chiang Mai wedding photographer for mountain and temple weddings
Chiang Mai is where couples go when they want mountains, old temples and green hillsides instead of a beach. I’m Daniel Baci, and I’ve worked in Thailand since 2009, with my first wedding in 2011. At Daniel Baci Photography I’ve spent over a decade photographing weddings across the country, and I’d be happy to be your Chiang Mai wedding photographer.
Some couples here hold a traditional Thai ceremony. Others plan a full destination wedding or an intimate elopement. All three suit my style: candid, documentary and unposed, with a little classic and moody portraiture once you’ve relaxed. I want the photographs to look natural and still feel right in twenty years.
Settings for a Chiang Mai wedding
Chiang Mai has a walled Old City, hills on every horizon and a deep local culture of its own. Which setting you choose changes how I shoot, so we talk about it early.
Temples and the Old City
The ancient temples are a big reason couples choose Chiang Mai. Temple grounds usually come with rules on dress and photography, so I’ll check what’s allowed with your planner before the day. I keep a low profile around monks and worshippers, and I won’t ask anyone to pose in a place where it feels wrong.
Mountains, gardens and greenery
The countryside around the city has garden venues, resorts and viewpoints with misty hills behind them. Light behaves differently up here. Early mornings can be soft and cloudy, and shade under trees gives clean skin tones at midday. Drive time matters, so I’ll ask where each part of the day happens and plan the timeline around it.
Lanna traditions and Thai ceremonies
Northern Thai (Lanna) customs give Chiang Mai weddings a character of their own, and many couples include a Thai ceremony or a local-style dinner. I ask your family or planner for the running order beforehand, so I know which moments to be near. More on how I approach these days is on my Buddhist weddings in Thailand page.
Best time of year for a Chiang Mai wedding
Chiang Mai is cooler and dry from roughly November to February, which is the most comfortable window for ceremonies and portraits. Mornings can be misty, and evenings feel properly cool, so guests should bring a layer. Between about February and April, haze from farmland burning can soften the mountains and flatten the sky. It doesn’t ruin a wedding, but I’d tell you honestly if it affects your date.
The rainy months bring greener hills and the risk of showers, so you’d want a covered backup space. Sunset is around 6pm for most of the year, which helps with planning. My Thailand destination wedding guide compares seasons across the country if you’re also considering the islands.
Chiang Mai wedding videographer
Looking for a Chiang Mai wedding videographer as well as a photographer? I direct cinematic wedding films that follow the real emotion and movement of your day, from a traditional ceremony to a modern destination celebration. A good film keeps the laughter, the tears and the small moments in between.
We offer high quality wedding videography in Chiang Mai and throughout Thailand, and have done since 2011. Photo and video packages are available, and so is stand-alone video. For more examples, see our Koh Samui wedding videography and Phuket wedding videography pages.
An honest, natural way of photographing weddings
I’m not a bossy photographer. I’d rather give you room, stay close and let things happen. My goal is that you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and the best test of that is whether you look like yourselves in the pictures. You can judge for yourself in my selected work.
We’ll hold a video call before the wedding to go through your timeline and family groups. I arrive the day before, which gives me time to see the venue light and to be calm on the day itself.
Booking your Chiang Mai wedding photographer
I was named Thailand Wedding Photographer of the Year by LUXlife Magazine in 2019, 2024 and 2025, and I’ve been voted a Top 100 Best Wedding Photographer in the World by Wedding Photographers Society Magazine in 2017. Here is how booking works:
- We start with emails or a video call, and I reply to every message within 24 hours.
- A small deposit (Wise, Skrill or bank transfer) holds your date, and we sign a contract.
- A second video call goes through your wedding day.
- I arrive the day before, and I take on a maximum of 25 weddings a year.
- Photos arrive in 3 to 6 weeks in most cases, and the contract commits to 3 to 4 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you travel to Chiang Mai for weddings?
Yes. I’m based in Phuket and photograph weddings in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Krabi and elsewhere. I arrive the day before your wedding so we can meet, see the venue light and start the day unhurried. Reply times are quick too: I answer every email or text within 24 hours.
When is the best time of year for a Chiang Mai wedding?
November to February is cooler and dry, which makes it the most comfortable window. Haze from farmland burning tends to build from about February to April, which can soften views of the mountains. The rainy months are greener but need a covered backup plan for ceremonies.
Can you photograph a traditional Thai wedding in Chiang Mai?
Yes. I ask for the running order beforehand, keep a respectful distance around monks and elders, and photograph the day as it unfolds without staging it. If you mix Thai and Western customs, we’ll talk through each part on our video call.
Do you photograph elopements in Chiang Mai?
Yes. An elopement works well here, with temples, gardens and hills close by. I’ll keep the schedule short and relaxed, plan around the best light, and keep direction light so that the day stays about the two of you. Tell me if you’d like a sunrise or a mountain viewpoint and I’ll plan around it.
Do you offer Chiang Mai wedding videography?
Yes. I direct cinematic wedding films and can combine photo and video in one package, or film on their own. Our team has offered wedding videography in Chiang Mai and across Thailand since 2011. Take a look at the Thailand wedding videography page.
How much does a Chiang Mai wedding photographer cost?
My wedding photography generally ranges from about USD 1,000 to 5,000, and full-day packages start from USD 1,700. Travel to Chiang Mai and the length of coverage affect the final quote, so send me your date and plan. I offer promotional rates for bookings made about five months ahead, and discounted rates in low season.
How long until we receive our photos?
The contract commits to 3 to 4 months, but in most cases you’ll have your gallery within 3 to 6 weeks. Peak season, from November to May, takes longer because I can have ten or more weddings waiting to edit. I’ll give you a realistic estimate at booking.
Get in touch
Tell me about your Chiang Mai wedding
Send me your date, venue and ideas through the contact form, email dbaciphotography@gmail.com, or message me on WhatsApp at +66 84 558 0420. I’ll tell you whether I’m free and what I’d suggest for the light and the schedule. If you’re still choosing a location, my Phuket and Krabi pages show what the beaches look like.
