Hand-crafted ceramic sculptures are a testament to the deep connection between artistry and craftsmanship, and few embody this more gracefully than the original creations of Leo Wong Ceramics. His work transcends the ordinary, blending tradition with a unique, modern aesthetic that captures the essence of both form and function. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Leo in Venice, during the grand opening of Homo Faber – an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the best of artisanal craftsmanship from around the globe.
The event, set against the enchanting backdrop of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, was a visual masterpiece. The scenography, envisioned by the renowned filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, transformed the exhibition space into something truly magical. It provided the perfect environment to showcase Leo’s work and to capture him in his element during a Venice Portrait photo shoot.
A vow renewal photo shooting often involves a couple and their children
I lately had the chance to shoot a vow renewal in Venice: an American couple chose the city as the right location to re-commits to their relationship and re-state their love for one another.
Our photo walk in Venice enclosed several stops in romantic spots for intense couple portraits
A couple shooting of this kind is in some way different from a wedding photo service: the couple has already experienced the wedding rituals some time in advance; they often choose a more intimate, simple ceremony and, just like in this case, they are not alone.
The Texan couple I shot was indeed accompanied by their 15-year-old boy which gave me the chance of portraying a family story.
A vows renewal photo shooting gives the photographer the chance to portray the relationship and feelings among parents and children.
Needless to say, during our informal photo walk in Venice, I made some couple photographs in highly romantic spots trying to fully express the couple’s deep feelings for one another. It was really exciting to see long-lasting and still intense love almost shining from their smiles and eyes!
The feelings between the bride and his son were also highlighted in this vows renewal photo shooting
Beside, I also focused my shots on the three people’s relationship as a family, portraying the mother-son and father-son behavior, as well as making some shots full of “family-flavor” with the three of them walking, hugging or even running together.
During this photo shooting I managed to catch very intense expressions and feelings in my photographs
As a professional wedding, honeymoon and engagement photographer, I always aim at catching people’s feeling and relations in my photo portraits. This vow renewal photo service gave me the opportunity to get intense shots which can work as nice souvenirs of important family moments.
This prewedding photo session in Venice was successful even under unfavourable weather conditions
Edward and Ester are a young couple from China who hired me as a photographer for a prewedding session in Venice last November.
As you might well know, November is a time in the year where the city reveals its most real essence. Rain, clouds and grey skies endow the Venice with a special romantic charm….but you must be prepared to be able to appreciate this special atmosphere.
Before beginning our photo walk in Venice, the bride got ready with the help of an expert make-up artist in her hotel room.
I must say that Edward and Ester were brave enough to have their pre-wedding photo session in this period and greatly dealt with the fall weather which we were not able to avoid (unluckily enough, the day after the sun was shining over Venice). The results were satisfactory for all of us.
During our photo session we made the most of arcades as shelter from the rain!
They got dressed in their hotel suite where Ester also enjoyed a special make-up session with the help of the make-up expert Ilaria Giani. Ilaria even managed to meet all her requests which drew inspiration from Pinterest boards.
Then we went out for our informal photo walk, with the two of them wearing heavy coats between one shot and the other. They did not lose their good spirit and enjoyed playing with the bridal veil, kissing in the small Venetian alleys, hiding under the arcades, etc.
In the course of our photo walk we managed to take some romantic shots in different spots of Venice
They even plaid some jokes, which I dutifully caught in my shots, when we reached a white statue of a young naked boy at Punta della Dogana, one more piece of art most likely belonging to the Venice Biennale of Arts.
In order to warm them a bit, we stopped in a café where they enjoyed a real Italian cappuccino before we went back to the hotel. There they changed their clothes and wore gala suits to have a few more couple portraits in the magnificent lobby of their hotel.
The couple enjoyed a break in the photo walking tour to warm up a bit in a café with a real cappucino.
The final phase of our wedding photo session included a gondola tour at nighttime, which gave us the chance to make the most of the light and shadow effects on the Canal Grande.
After our photo walk, the couple changed their clothes to have some more shots in gala attire with Venice in the background.
At the end of our couple photo session, they were tired but happy: rain and clouds were not match for their shining love which was evident in all the photographs.
At the end of our wedding shooting the couple also enjoyed a gondola tour by night.
For further examples of wedding photo services in Venice see my website.
Irina and Simon felt a bit uncomfortable and awkward during the first shots of their photo portrait in Venice
One of the most common situation during a couple photo service is that the couple do not feel at ease posing in front of the camera. This is mostly due to the fact that they decided to have a photo portrait for their wedding, honeymoon, or holiday in Venice and this is perhaps their first photo shooting (or one of the first) in their life.
Beside, in most cases, they are not familiar with the photographer whom they just met that day and feel a bit uncomfortable about his presence, glances and work.
My own strategy to overcome this problem is to spend as much time as possible with the couple and let them relax and get used to my presence. First of all, I propose to meet well before the photo session for an informal interview: while chatting in a café, we can get a bit more acquainted with each other and I can get important pieces of information about the couple’s wishes and personality.
I used this method with a young couple who lately hired me for a honeymoon photo service: Irina and Simon felt a bit uncomfortable, even nervous, in the beginning, which explains the lightly “stiff”, almost awkward look of the first shots.
However, the photo walk had a very relaxing effect on them: they enjoyed Venice’s markets and small alleys where I even asked them to dance and jump and, eventually, the last shots managed to catch very intense, spontaneous glances and feelings.
At the end of our informal photo walk the young couple eventually felt at ease with my presence and work and I managed to get very intense shots.
For further examples of couple portraits in Venice see my website.
My own strategy to overcome this problem is to spend as much time as possible with the couple and let them relax and get used to my presence. First of all, I propose to meet well before the photo session for an informal interview: while chatting in a café, we can get a bit more acquainted with each other and I can get important pieces of information about the couple’s wishes and personality.
