A vacation photoshoot is something I think more people should consider, especially when you realize how few photos you usually come home with of the two of you together.
Your camera roll is full of the city, the meals you’re still thinking about, your cool hotel, and all the random streets you just had to take a photo of. Meanwhile, the photos of you together are a handful of weirdly angled selfies or a very kind stranger’s best effort. Somehow, this happens on pretty much every trip.
I was in Florence photographing a wedding when Tele and Alado happened to be there on vacation too, so we planned a couples session while our trips overlapped. They weren’t celebrating an engagement or planning some big announcement. They were already going to be somewhere they were excited about, and getting photos together sounded like a pretty good idea.
Travel has always been a huge part of what inspires me, and getting to photograph people somewhere new brings together so much of what I love about this work. You can read a little more about me and what shapes the way I photograph here.
So if you’re already planning a trip you know you’ll take a million photos of, let’s talk about making sure the two of you end up in some of the good ones.
A Vacation is a Good Enough Reason for a Couples Session
There’s this idea that professional photos need some kind of official reason attached to them. You get engaged, you book photos. You hit an anniversary, you book photos. Somewhere along the way, we decided that simply wanting photos doesn’t quite count.
I disagree wholeheartedly.
There are so many versions of your life together that happen in between the obvious milestones, and most of them never get professionally photographed. The apartment you loved, the way you looked at this age, or the trip you spent months looking forward to. Those things are part of your story too.
Those are the photos I think get even better with time too. Years from now, you’ll remember the outfit you wore everywhere, the street you kept finding your way back to, and all the little things about this version of the two of you that felt just normal at the time.
You don’t have to wait until life hands you a formal excuse. Sometimes the trip is the reason.
Tele + Alado’s Vacation Photoshoot in Florence, Italy
We started Tele and Alado’s session inside their Airbnb with a few photos by the windows before heading out into the city. I loved starting there because it already felt connected to their trip. It was where they were staying, where they were getting ready, where they were unwinding for the night, and part of the version of Florence they were living in for a few days.
Once we headed out, we walked through Piazza della Signoria, photographed near the Fountain of Neptune, crossed toward Ponte Santa Trinita with Ponte Vecchio in the distance, and eventually made our way to the carousel in Piazza della Repubblica.
As we moved through Florence, the photos naturally changed with the setting. The architecture gave me opportunities for some stronger, more composed frames, while the busier streets and little in-between moments gave everything a completely different energy. You can see that balance throughout my portfolio. I love making a strong portrait when the moment calls for it, then letting things get a little looser when that feels better.
By the end of the session, Tele and Alado were just having fun together, and the carousel gave us the perfect place to lean into that.
What a Couples Session with A Destination Photographer Looks Like
The biggest difference between a couples session at home and one somewhere like Florence is mostly the view. You don’t need to treat a destination session like some huge production or show up suddenly knowing how to be good in front of a camera. I’m still going to photograph you the same way I would anywhere else.
I’ll get you into good light, give you enough direction that you’re not standing there wondering what to do with your hands, and help you settle into it. If something looks really good, you’ll know because I’ll be squealing behind my lens.
I don’t love being in front of the camera, so I know how much easier it is when someone gives you somewhere to start. Once we get into a flow, I can give you a little more room and pay attention to what happens between the two of you without directing every second.
Being somewhere new gives me more to play with visually, which is obviously fun for me. But the part that matters most stays the same: you get to feel like yourselves while I take really good photos of you.
How to Choose a Photographer for a Vacation Photoshoot
There are really two ways I’d go about finding a photographer for a vacation photoshoot. You can hire someone who’s local to wherever you’re vacationing, or you can see if a photographer whose work you already love is going to be there around the same time.
A local photographer can be a great option. They know which streets photograph well, timing with the light, and where to find a pocket of privacy because they already know the area.
But if there’s already a photographer you’ve been following for a while, check their Instagram or just ask where they’ll be. A lot of photographers travel pretty often, and sometimes the timing lines up better than you could have thought, like with me, Tele, and Alado.
Either way, I’d start by looking at their work. Ask to see full galleries and look through enough of it to know if you like how they photograph people, not just pretty places. A destination can do a lot for a photo, but I still want you to love the way the two of you look and feel in it.
How Should We Prepare for a Vacation Photoshoot?
Once you book your vacation photoshoot, the prep is pretty simple. You already did the hard part by planning the trip. From there, here are my tips to make the session feel connected to where you’re going and to the two of you.
You don’t need to have every location figured out before you reach out. Tell me where you’re going and what kind of feeling you want from the photos, then I can help shape the rest around the place itself. I like to work with a little room to notice what’s going on once we’re there instead of locking us into a route because Google said it looked good.
For outfits, I’d think about how the two of you look together without trying to match. Pay attention to the colors and architecture around you, and choose something that still feels like you in that setting. I also want you to be able to move around comfortably without fighting your clothes the whole time. Shoes matter more than people think, especially when a vacation photoshoot involves a lot of walking.
If there’s something you’ve picked up on the trip that you already love, bring it. It doesn’t need to become a prop, but something you were already wearing or carrying can make the photos feel even more tied to that specific trip.
My last tip is to plan something for afterward. You’re already dressed and out in the city! Go get dinner, keep wandering, or leave the rest of the night open and see where you end up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Booking a Vacation Photoshoot
Do we need to be engaged to book a vacation photoshoot?
Not at all. I photograph couples who are dating, engaged, married, or somewhere in between. Your relationship status doesn’t really change the way I approach the session. If you want photographs together while you’re traveling, that’s all I need to know.
How far in advance should we book a photographer for our trip?
Once your travel dates are solid, I’d reach out. You don’t need the entire trip planned before you ask about a session, and I don’t need your whole itinerary. If your dates have a little flexibility, tell me that too. Sometimes having a couple of possible days makes it much easier to find the best fit for everyone.
What happens if it rains during our vacation photoshoot?
Weather can be unpredictable when you’re traveling, so I always recommend leaving a little flexibility in your plans if possible. If the forecast is looking questionable, we’ll talk through our options and figure out what makes the most sense for your session.
A little rain can also make for some really good photos, especially somewhere like Florence. I’m always up for getting creative with what a location gives us, as long as you’re comfortable with it. We’ll make a plan together based on the weather and what you’re hoping for.
Do you help choose the location?
Of course! You don’t need to show up with a perfectly planned route or know all the best photo spots in a city you’ve probably never visited before.
Tell me where you’re headed, what parts of the city you’re excited about, and what kind of photos you’re drawn to. I’ll help figure out locations that make sense for us, while leaving some room to explore along the way. Some of my favorite photos happen when we come across something unexpected, so I like having enough of a plan to know where we’re going without scheduling every little thing.
How long should we plan for a vacation photoshoot?
It really depends on what you want the session to include, so I don’t think there’s one perfect amount of time for everyone. I always plan enough time that we’re not watching the clock the whole time. I want you to be able to settle in, move around a little, and let the session find its rhythm without feeling like we have to squeeze everything into twenty minutes.
How much does a couple’s vacation photoshoot cost?
This one is hard to answer with one number because every trip looks a little different. A lot depends on where you’re going, whether I’m already planning to be there or would need to make a separate trip, and what you have in mind for the session. How long we’re photographing and whether you want to explore a few different locations can also affect the cost.
The easiest thing to do is send me your destination and travel dates when you inquire. I can get a better idea of what you’re envisioning and give you a real number based on your plans instead of throwing out a price that might have nothing to do with your trip.
Do destination photographers charge for travel?
Sometimes, yes. Every photographer handles travel a little differently, so I’d ask what’s included before you book.
If I’m already going to be where you’re headed, that can look different from a session that requires me to plan a separate trip around it. Either way, I like to make the travel piece clear from the beginning so you know exactly what’s included and there aren’t any weird surprises later.
Bring Home More Than Photos of the Place with a Vacation Photoshoot
You can buy a postcard of Florence. What you can’t buy is a photograph of the two of you there, exactly as you were on that trip.
That’s what I loved so much about photographing Tele and Alado. Florence gave us plenty to work with, but I never wanted the location to do all the heavy lifting. I wanted the photos to feel like them first, with this really good chapter of their life happening around them.
That’s what I want for your vacation photoshoot too. I want the place to be recognizable, but I care even more about making photographs that could only belong to the two of you. So if you have a trip coming up and this is starting to sound like something you want, send me where you’re headed. I’m always interested in a good excuse to take my camera somewhere new.
Planning more than a vacation? Read my guide to planning a destination wedding weekend.
Hi! I’m Colette, an Austin wedding and couples photographer with a love for film, live music, vintage things, and weddings that feel completely like you. More than anything, I want you to have the space to be fully present with your people while I preserve it, so years from now, your photos can take you right to the feeling of your day, not just how it looked.
If you’re planning a wedding, couples session, engagement or anything else, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up. Take a look through my site to learn a little more about how I photograph weddings, and reach out when you’re ready to have me there for yours.
