Setup for a surprise beach proposal in Tropea at sunset with Santa Maria dell Isola in the background

Tips for a Summer Photoshoot in Italy

tips for a summer

photoshoot in italy

This advices will save your vacancy

Ask for Availability

Thousands of shooting taught me a lot

I will share my experience with you

Planning a photoshoot in Italy during the summer? Whether you are staying on the Amalfi Coast, in Positano, Ravello, Tropea, Matera, Puglia, Sicily or anywhere else in Italy, a few small things can make a huge difference in how you look and feel in your photographs.

villa rufolo suprprise proposal

AS SOON AS YOU LAND

This is probably the most important tip I can give you. As soon as you land in Italy, make a pharmacy your first stop, before checking into the hotel, before your first gelato, before anything else, and buy a good SPF 50+ sunscreen. Use it several times throughout the day from that point on.

Apply it before going outside, including on your face, neck and ears. If you are spending time at the beach or swimming, reapply frequently, especially after swimming, sweating or drying yourself with a towel.

Why does sunscreen top a photography tips article? Because sunburn shows in photographs. You might spend thousands on a beautiful Italian proposal experience, choose an incredible location and have perfect light, but if you spend the previous day on a boat or at the beach without enough sunscreen, you can arrive at your proposal with a bright red face, shoulders and chest. And unfortunately, Photoshop has its limits.

You want to remember your proposal with beautiful photographs, not with two very red shoulders and a completely different skin tone from the rest of your body.

lake como boat surprise proposal

MOST
IMPORTANT
THINGS TO
DO

Ask for Availability
  • Choose your clothes carefully
    Summer in Italy is not the best time for heavy fabrics. Whenever possible, choose lightweight and breathable materials such as linen and cotton. Light colours are also generally more comfortable in direct sunlight and tend to photograph beautifully in summer.

    Comfortable clothing is particularly important if your proposal involves lots of walking.
  • Wear comfortable shoes
    This is Italy. There may be cobblestones. There may be stairs. There may be a lot of stairs. And then there may be more stairs.

    Destinations such as Positano, Ravello, Tropea and Matera are beautiful precisely because of their historic streets and dramatic landscapes, but comfortable shoes make the experience considerably better. You can always change into something more elegant once you arrive.
  • Prepare a small emergency kit
    Water
    SPF 50+ sunscreen
    Tissues
    Small towel
    Deodorant
    Spare shirt

    And, of course, the ring, if you are the person proposing

    You don’t need a huge bag. Just a few small things can make the entire experience much easier.

During the Day

Italian summers can be extremely hot, particularly in destinations such as the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, Tropea and Matera. Drink plenty of water throughout the day rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.

This matters even more if your proposal involves walking, stairs or climbing. A romantic walk through Positano can quickly become a serious workout in August. Try to arrive at the proposal location feeling comfortable and relaxed rather than exhausted and overheated.

If you know you have a proposal photoshoot in the evening, don’t spend the entire afternoon baking in the sun. A few hours on a boat or at the beach without adequate protection can leave you exhausted, dehydrated and sunburned before the most important part of your day.

Enjoy the Italian summer, but give your body a chance to recover before the proposal.

When people think about sunscreen, they often remember their shoulders, arms and legs and completely forget their face. Don’t. Use a good facial SPF 50+ before leaving your hotel and reapply according to the product instructions, particularly if you are spending the day outside. Your face is one of the most important elements in your proposal photographs.

If you are carrying the ring for a surprise proposal, don’t leave it sitting in direct sunlight or inside a hot car. Keep it somewhere secure and discreet. And most importantly, don’t put it somewhere so safe that you can’t remember where you put it.

I have photographed enough proposals to know that the biggest danger is sometimes not the heat. It’s panic. And you don’t need it: me and my team are here for you!

Right Before the shooting

01.

Bring a spare shirt

This is particularly useful for men. Put a clean, lightweight shirt in your backpack and, if you have been sweating from the heat or the walk, change into it right after the proposal. A fresh linen or cotton shirt can make a huge difference for the photos that follow, the hug, the celebration, the first toast, rather than staying in a shirt soaked from the Italian sun.

02.

Bring a small towel or tissues

Keep a small towel, handkerchief or pack of tissues in your backpack. You can discreetly dry your forehead, face, neck and hands before taking photographs. It sounds like a tiny detail, but when temperatures reach 35°C or more, you will appreciate having one.

03.

Give yourself time to cool down

One of the biggest mistakes I see is arriving at the location and immediately starting the photos. If you have been walking in the heat, give yourself 10 or 15 minutes to cool down. Find some shade, sit down, drink some water and let your body temperature settle.

You will look much more relaxed in the photographs, and this matters even more for a surprise proposal, because the person proposing needs to look natural and relaxed before the big moment.

04.

Consider the time of the proposal

Summer evenings are usually much more comfortable than the middle of the afternoon, and the light is considerably more flattering. For proposal photography, I generally prefer working around the later part of the day, because the combination of softer light, lower temperatures and a more relaxed atmosphere can make a huge difference.

There is another advantage too: you are less likely to be sweating. That’s good for everyone.

Most Importantly, Don’t Stress

The goal isn’t to make everything perfectly controlled. The goal is to enjoy the moment.

Italy in summer is hot. That’s part of the experience. You don’t need to arrive at your proposal looking like you have just stepped out of an air conditioned hotel room. A little heat, movement and natural emotion are completely normal.

Take care of your skin, drink water, stay cool, wear comfortable clothes, and let me worry about the photographs.

Similar Posts