Dream-like Château de Rolle Wedding Portrait

This dream-like Château de Rolle wedding portrait of Ariella and Chris is one of my favourites. I didn’t expect it to work when I took it, but editing transformed it completely. The image’s simplicity captivates me. Even though I shot it in a stunning location, it feels like it could be anywhere. The water looks far away, yet the bride and groom remain in perfect focus. It has the charm of a toy camera shot, but with no filters. It feels like they are walking out of a dream.

The Story

Ariella and Chris chose the Château de Rolle for their wedding portraits after their civil ceremony in Morges. They were moving away from Lac Léman and wanted the lake and castle in their photos. We began with shaded shots around the castle to avoid the strong midday light. Then, walking toward a small jetty near the island, I spotted a simple backdrop of lake and faint mountains.

When time allows, I like to experiment. I asked them to walk toward me slowly, guiding them for natural movement. I pushed my camera to its limits, capturing just enough luminous background to enhance later in editing. We didn’t linger on this sequence before moving to safer, guaranteed shots.

Back in the studio, I kept the colours and sharpness of the couple while drawing in just enough background to reveal shimmering water. The wide aperture and long lens created a soft, dreamy effect—no extra filters needed.

Taking a Moment to Try Something New

I believe in keeping an open mind on every wedding shoot. Couples hire me for my ability to find unexpected moments alongside the classic ones. Sometimes I won’t explain the idea in advance—just in case it fails—but other times the couple wants something unique. That’s when the magic happens.

To see more behind-the-scenes stories of my favourite Château de Rolle wedding portraits, visit my Story of the Photo page. If you want wedding photos that are different—no matter how unusual—let’s talk about making it happen.