Summer photo shooting in Florence
We can do good photos even on the summer
Sometimes the intense heat doesn't let us think very well. It was a hot summer day in Florence and I needed to drive a couple of Americans for a photo shoot with good views of the city.
Doing this in the early afternoon carrying a backpack with about 6kg of equipment made things a bit more complicated.
But one of the coolest things when you work with photos of couples in love and in a city that is all about love, art and history, is that once you start making beautiful photos in such iconic places you get a good dose of encouragement to keep going no matter what the weather conditions are.
And as soon as I introduced myself to the couple and we started the photo shooting in Florence everything flowed very naturally and in the end they really liked the result: being driven by a local photographer with explaining a bit of the main points of the Renaissance city along the way and having your passionate record in this scenario is something that customers value a lot.
Surprise Proposal shootings are back!
Surprise photographer for proposal in Italy
We are getting requests for surprise proposal photos again. This kind of photo is always a challenge because it is, in fact, a surprise and we need to be close without giving the impression that we are photographers. To be present in front of these kind reactions is a great gift for our work.
I can't remember exactly when was the first time I photographed a surprise marriage proposal. But I remember that as soon as I received the request, I loved the idea and days before the photos I was already anxious. I was a Secret Photographer for Proposal.
It was an idea that came naturally, to suggest being close to the scene as a tourist (and not as a photographer). Thus, the couple would position themselves in the place that I had previously indicated and the groom would ask me to take a picture of them with his phone.
I would readily accept and ask them to take a photo looking at each other. That was the "key" for the groom to get down on one knee and propose.
Over the years there have been more challenging situations than others, but the result is always surprising, and fortunately until today all requests have been accepted! :0)
If you are thinking of making a surprise proposal in any city in Italy or Europe in general we are at your disposal to discuss the details and choose the best scenarios with you and keep the occasion a surprise until the moment of unveiling.
Best places to photograph in Florence
My selection of places to photograph in Florence in Vacation Portraits, Surprise Proposal and Honeymonn sessions
When we think of a destination in Italy, Florence can not be left out. The capital of Tuscany could be simply recognized for its cultural richness associated with the Renaissance. But it is much more than that. Most attractions are nearby and the city is flat, being possible to do everything on foot. A little out of this rule is the Piazzale Michelangelo, a must see to appreciate the city from above. Even so, with a bit of disposition it is possible to walk up the hill leading there, or use some public means or taxi. The other points are all at the Arno River level.
I do not like to think about fixed routes. I prefer to have the points that I must see and follow a more dynamic, free path, according to the flow that the movement of the city offers.
What I usually do in the Photo Sessions and Surprise Pproposals is to ask if customers prefer the monuments closest to the Duomo to Ponte Vecchio or start from the top, and go to river, always with views that have the Ponte Vecchio as background.
Thinking in terms of Tourist Photography we will not delve into the significance of each monument. Each person has different criteria to define what is most important and can not miss in his collection of images in each city. Michelangelo's David, at the Galleria dell'Accademia, is one of my favorite monuments in Florence. But it is not an issue addressed as it is an enclosed museum. Although it is possible to photograph inside, I can not imagine how to compose portraits with clients.
This is a selection of mine, probably very similar to many others offered by route suggestions in Florence, but which I assembled from photographic work with clients and walks around the city at different times and seasons of the year. Let's go to them!
Duomo, Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore
An american couple at the Florence Duomo
Due the great proportions of the Cathedral, we can create innumerable positions next to it. The three colors of marble, the large entrance door, the dome of Bruneleschi allow us to produce a wide range of images. For those who make a point of capturing the piazza del Duomo without tourists it is necessary to arrive very early, like 6am in the morning.
Santa Croce Basilica
Silvia and Eduardo, from Brazil, at Santa Croce square
Besides being a beautiful church, it is an excellent option for those who want to avoid large crowds and get angles more remote with the whole church in the background, because there is a large piazza in front of. It is worth to follow the events of the city because the space is used for local fairs and is the stage for the famous and contested "Calcio Storico Fiorentino".
San Miniato al Monte
It is also a beautiful marble façade. Getting there can be a bit tiring for walkers. You need to climb the hill that leads to Piazzale Michelangelo, walk a little further to the right and still climb the entire staircase of the basilica. All the effort is rewarded by the view, more "clean" and higher than the one we have at Piazzale. It is the preferred point of the clients for the Surprise Proposal sessions.
The view from San Miniato al Monte
Ponte Vecchio
One of the classic postcards of Florence, can be pictured with walks along the bridge, capturing a small piece of Bruneleschi dome in the background, and is also great for photos with the river. Leaving a little of the bridge and walking the side streets we can explore angles with the bridge in the background, one of my favorite photos.
Sunset at Ponte Vecchio
Ponte alle Grazie
Outside of the traditional tourist circuits, it allows views of the river and centralizing the Ponte Vecchio in the background. If you're lucky, depending on the cloud formations, it's great to insert more "sky" into the photos, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Ponte alle Grazie view
Santa Trinita Bridge
Worth the same mention in Ponte alle Grazie, but on the opposite side of the Ponte Vecchio.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The most traditional point to see the city from above is also the most crowded. If you just want to have a top view and do not care about the crowd this is a great option. And since it's not all photography, after a few clicks, if you have time to contemplate the sunset, it's really fantastic!
Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazza della Signoria
Maybe it's the best "open air museum" that you will have the opportunity to visit. The large statues are an invitation to mount portraits of the most varied points of view. As it is one of the most touristic places in the city, here creativity must speak louder. One tip I would give is to photograph in half body, from the bottom up.
Piazza della Signoria
Galleria degli Uffizi
The central space, a kind of "patio" formed by the design of the building in "U", is great for those who like to photograph architecture and geometric shapes. Columns and exterior corridors also offer good possibilities.
Florence is much more. These are some points that easily come to mind when customers ask for suggestions. But what makes a collection of photos really special is to "live" a little the Fiorentine atmosphere. Stop to enjoy a spritz, a glass of Chianti or a delicious homemade gelato. Many façades of small shops are true movie sets. Allow yourself to walk quietly and you will certainly be rewarded with the best memories of the Tuscan capital.
Honeymoon Photo Session in Florence
An american couple in honeymoon on the streets of Florence
Portraying people on travelloing was not an idea when I started working with photography. But really, being in a Country that holds much of Unesco's world heritage, and in a city that breathes the Renaissance, it was not surprising the tourist appeal that has Florence. Then the requests for travel photos began to appear, and it was amazing from the outset to imagine the compositions that could make with this wealth of scenarios.
The biggest challenge for anyone who had never studied English was the language. And it still is, as you can see by the failures of my text. Fortunately, photography has its own language and does not need to be fully narrated. And Emilee and Mark, a couple of Americans, collaborated a lot for their honeymoon session. We walked through the streets of Florence without pretension of obligatory places and monuments, we just defined some points along the way to take as a sweet memory of your trip.
