A photo shoot at the Château de Chillon
Mila and Olivier had booked me to photograph their wedding in Vevey just after Christmas. This gave us plenty of time to get together and chat about their day, and all the pictures that they wanted me to capture. As they were not living in Vevey at the time, they didn’t have a lot of possibilities for their pre-wedding, engagement shoot. We opted for an early evening photo shoot at the very picturesque Château de Chillon with time for a coffee and chat afterwards.
As it was early in spring I was keen to capture the sense of life just beginning again. Bright green new leaves on the trees and a sense of things warming up, as well as the clear blues of Lac Léman reflecting the setting sun.
The couple wanted to use some of the images in their wedding invitation and possibly for a guest book on the wedding day. To make sure that we had a wide range of images to choose from we took our time, scheduling the shoot a couple of hours before sunset. This gave us time to walk along the lakeside and get a variety of different looks in a small space.
Soft light for natural romance
Following the lake between Montreux and Villeneuve is a footpath which leads you through little spots that seem almost made for photographs: a pine wood, a weeping willow, spring blossoms, wooden jetties and even a little beach. Making its presence known in the background is the magnificent Château de Chillon, a 12th century fairytale castle where in the summer you can enjoy drama and dance under clear skies.
We began the shoot at a quiet spot away from the evening walkers and went through some basic posing, tried out different looks and took some time to let them get used to having their picture taken. Couples are sometimes skeptical about the pre-wedding shoot but always go away feeling more relaxed about their wedding photos and with some lovely memories of a special time in their lives. To make them feel more comfortable I started with some shots from a distance, giving them simple actions to perform so they didn’t feel awkward.
As they relaxed into the shoot Mila began to suggest poses and we worked together to create natural moments that suited their personalities. I was so happy that Mila and Olivier enjoyed their session so much they almost didn’t want to stop as the sun set on us!
Couples photo shoots on the lake
As well as an option for wedding photography, I offer couples photography collections for anytime in your life. Whether you are celebrating an anniversary or just want some extra special holiday photos I can help you find the perfect match. Choose from photo books, art print, frames, canvases or just files to print at home. If you would like to book a couples photo shoot, please get in touch for collection pricing and availability.
