Engagement stories
Engagement Session in Portovenere | Justyna & Robert
Justyna and Robert, the evening before their intimate Italian wedding. A relaxed engagement session in Portovenere, with warm light and time to be together.
An engagement session in Portovenere gave Justyna and Robert an evening to themselves before their wedding. Warm light, a sea breeze and the sounds of a coastal town set the scene. There was no need for an elaborate plan: a walk together, time to talk and the freedom to be themselves were enough.
An Italian love story, the day before the wedding
Their plan was simple: a wedding in the middle of the week, with a couple session the evening before. It suited the intimate celebration they had chosen. There would be just six people at the wedding, including the two of us, so getting to know each other mattered. By the following day, we would already have shared an experience, rather than meeting for the first time as the ceremony approached.
Portovenere, part of the UNESCO-listed Ligurian coastal landscape, offered that familiar holiday feeling: sunshine without overwhelming heat, the breeze from the sea, laughter drifting out of restaurants and gulls overhead. We wanted the photographs to hold on to that atmosphere as well as to the connection between Justyna and Robert. The setting was part of their story, not a backdrop that needed to take it over.
Finding a rhythm together
We always look for things we have in common with the people we photograph. With Justyna and Robert, the conversation came easily. They loved wine, running and photography, just as we do. Those shared interests helped us move beyond introductions and enjoy the evening together.
Their engagement session in Portovenere also gave us time to notice what made them laugh, what felt comfortable and how they responded to each other. These are small things, but they shape the way we photograph a couple. An engagement session is not a rehearsal for performing in front of a camera. It can simply be a chance to become comfortable with being photographed while spending time with someone you love.
An engagement session in Portovenere, in their own way
From the first minutes, Justyna and Robert seemed to forget about us. Our suggestions were starting points, which they interpreted with their own energy. That is the balance we look for: enough direction to help when it is needed, and enough space for a couple’s personality to remain visible.
The warm evening light and the character of Portovenere brought everything together. We followed the pace of the walk rather than working through a list of poses. Looking back through the photographs, the important thing is not only where they were, but how it felt to be there together, on the evening before their wedding.
Before the wedding, or simply for the two of you
A session does not have to happen the day before a wedding. It can be part of a trip, a quiet afternoon closer to home or a way to mark a moment in your life together. You do not need a wedding date to have photographs made as a couple. The starting point is a place and an experience that feel right for you.
If you are planning a celebration abroad, you can also explore our full wedding stories across Europe, including Mariana and Alvaro’s wedding at Lake Como. Each story has a different pace, shaped by the people at its centre.
Let’s plan your couple session
Thinking about an engagement session in Portovenere or somewhere meaningful to you? Tell us where you would like to go, when you are travelling and a little about the two of you. Whether you are planning for 2027 or a later year, get in touch with your preferred dates. We will talk through the possibilities and help you plan a session that fits your time together.
Photography: Dorota Kaszuba & Michał Warda / WhiteSmoke Studio.
