It was a perfect summer day in Tropea, Italy, where I had the joy of capturing a lovely German family’s vacation memories. Their two young boys, 2 and 4, were bundles of energy and excitement, filling our session with life. Knowing Andrea, the mother, is also a photographer made it an honor to be chosen by a colleague to preserve these special family moments.
Our day began at Tropea’s iconic Santuario di Santa Maria dell’Isola. Perched on a cliff, this ancient church provided breathtaking views of the town and the Mediterranean. We strolled around the grounds, letting the family interact naturally. The gardens surrounding the church were an ideal backdrop for our family photo shoot; the boys explored each path with wide-eyed wonder, filling the quiet with their laughter. Andrea and Peter’s loving smiles made each frame that much richer.
The second part of our family photo shooting took us to a secluded beach where the boys kicked up sand and chased waves, their laughter mingling with the sound of the sea. I captured these moments as naturally as possible, giving the family space to simply enjoy being together.
One of my favorite parts of family shoots is the freedom to let the day flow without a strict timeline, especially with children who need time to play and explore. My assistant helped capture behind-the-scenes moments and kept things relaxed with water and toys on hand.
This shoot was a record—over 500 edited photos, and a sweet video for the family to cherish. Each photo holds a piece of this family’s joy, and I’m so grateful to have been part of these precious memories. This family asked to keep the children’s faces private and personally reviewed and approved the final images for publication.