Adventures of my hobbits // Destination film photographer - Swiss Family photographer - Travel photography

Marjolein & Christian wedding in Schlössli Utenberg

One of my most favourite weddings of last Summer! After civil registration (wonderfully in a perfect “city hall” wedding style :) the couple had an outdoor ceremony in Schlössli Utenberg in Lucerne. This green oasis is a pure gem to celebrate weddings in Switzerland. Schlössli Utenberg is conveniently located in the centre of Lucerne overlooking the Vierwaldstättersee and the Alps and is full of beautifully photogenic corners! :)

Hacienda El Carmen in Jalisco, Mexico

It was 2013, and I went to Mexico to the workshop of Jose Villa, I was in love with his work since I started shooting weddings. I just bought a Contax 645 and had no idea how to load 120 mm film. It was my first intercontinental flight without my children, and I was probably the most inexperienced photographer who came to this workshop (usually attendees are people with lots of experience in the wedding industry who come to listen to the most sought after Fine Art Wedding Photographer and kind of “polish” the skills).

It was a magical time. I remember getting up very early in the morning because of the time difference and walking along the beautiful surroundings of the hacienda. Horses, peacocks and the dew on the grass. Then the day full of learning and shooting under Jose Villa’s guidance began. I need to say that being Jose Villa means working with the best people available on the wedding market. He introduced us to the amazing team of wedding planners, designers and stylists (and, actually, I used these words not to make the text longer, but because they really do exist and do perform different functions!), who put together glorious settings for each element of a wedding - engagement, bridal boudoir, details, couple portraits … there was even a donkey carrying the wedding gifts. Absolutely beautiful. Despite of the colourful and very unique details that you might think could be trendy just for a season, the atmosphere feels very timeless, and I am sure that even in 10 years from now these ideas will be the same stunning and not in the least outdated…

Jose Villa Workshop in Mexico 2013 https://josevillaworkshops.com

Styling Mindy Rice (Floral & Event Designer), Lisa Vorce (Event Design & Production), Fashion styling Summer at Grey Likes Weddings, Hair & Makeup styling https://www.teamhairandmakeup.com, Paper designs BB Paper Ink Paper & Ink

Revival of old pictures

When you start planning your wedding celebration, you quickly realise that there is so much to do, and with so many details to consider, you may feel a little overwhelmed at times. Why not to take a pause and do something special just for the two of you? What could be more wonderful than a romantic trip to the city of your dreams?  Dress for the occasion - delicate laces, exquisite fabrics, intricate embroidery perfectly paired with vintage style jewellery will make you look effortlessly graceful and classically feminine. Don't forget to take your Zurich based wedding photographer as adventure starts already at the Hauptbahnhof! :)

Dresses and earrings:  Russian bridal designer Tatyana Kochnova  

Wedding invitations and other beautiful handmade paper details are by Milia Ink

Hair & makeup artist  Maria Lipatnikova

Hair & makeup artist  Lena Kamenskaya 

After Christmas family photo session in Zurich // Family photographer in Zurich, Switzerland

It’s been such a long time since I have published pictures here, so I decided that sharing more of my experience as a wedding and family photographer should be a good New Year resolution.

During the first week of January I was invited to make pictures of a wonderful French family residing in a beautiful district of Zurich near Rietberg park. Marie of https://www.jollymama.fr contacted me first in Autumn with request to do a maternity photo session. She wanted some beautiful, intimate portraits with her husband and their sweet toddler daughter documenting tender moments during this unique time in their lives. The plan was to take pictures first at home and then move somewhere to the park or the lake, but unpredictable Zurich weather made us stay indoors. The setting could not been more gorgeous though! Despite all the rainy greyness outside, the beautiful apartment with distinct French flair was filled with cosy Christmas atmosphere. I love these relaxed and natural images and hope they will help to preserve sweet memories of this beautiful time …

Fiona's family. The 7132 Hotel in Vals. // Destination family photographer in Switzerland.

Fiona and Jens live in Germany, and this December I had the pleasure of photographing them in Vals, Switzerland. When Fiona wrote me and invited to come to the Hotel 7132 to take pictures of her family, I was immediately very excited. 7132 Hotel is a fantastic place famous for its architecture and design, iconic thermal baths and spectacular panoramic view of the mountain valley. I loved every minute of this beautiful 3 hours session.

If you are interested to know more about the hotel, I found this interesting article written by Epic Europe, a bespoke adventure travel operator based in the Alps and beyond, catering to the luxury experiential traveler. https://www.epiceurope.com/stay-detail/?item=thermes-vals-hotel-7132

The 5-star 7132 Hotel and the adjacent 7132 House of Architects features a unique collection of rooms designed by renowned architects: Tadao Ando, Peter Zumthor, Kengo Kuma and Thom Mayne. Its architect, Peter Zumthor, was awarded the world's most prestigious prize for architecture for this masterpiece.

 Layered stone upon stone, and presented magnificently with light effects, it was built in harmony with the mountain and the surrounding landscape: the green Therme Vals. The edifice is constructed of 60,000 quartz pieces from the local mountains. Together they form a mystical, sensual and surprisingly light vessel for the thermal waters. Pleasantly warm at 30-degree Celsius, the waters originate in the Valser Valley and are full of healing minerals.

 Stone and water at various temperatures (indoor pool 32°C, outdoor pool 30°C to 36°C) and the effect of the light as it changes in the course of the day, turn Therme Vals into a mystical oasis of peace. Blossom bath, sound grotto, cold and fire bath, steam baths and drinking stones are to be found side by side in this building of rock, the first edifice in Switzerland to be designated a protected monument shortly after it opened. 

Asked to describe his building, architect Peter Zumthor said: "Mountain, stone, water – building in stone, building with stone, building into the mountain, building out of the mountain, being in the mountain – how can all the associations and all the sensuousness which these words evoke be translated into a building, that is to say, interpreted in architectural terms? As we worked on the design of this building and saw it take shape, we gradually found answers to these questions."

Amalfi Coast Wedding //Destination Wedding in Italy //Elopement at Villa Cimbrone

This is my most favourite editorial shooting I have done so far, which is not surprising as it was styled by the renowned wedding designer Joy Proctor, famous for her elegant and romantic aesthetics, at the truly stunning Amalfi Coast. 

Design & florals: Joy Proctor Design

 Moda e Arte

Location: Villa Cimbrone

Gown: Samuelle Couture

Stationary & Invitations: Written Word Calligraphy

Bridal boudoir portraits

Location: Belmond Hotel Caruso

Robes & Mask: Girl With a Serious Dream, http://www.girlwithaseriousdream.com/

Lingerie: Lali Louche, http://www.lalilouche.com/

Veils: Jannie Baltzer, http://janniebaltzer.com/

Hair & Makeup: Mia Jeppson, http://miajeppson.dk/

Video: MG Image, http://www.mg-image.com/

Model: Karoline E. Le Management, http://lemanagement.dk

Second location: Ruins of the Basilica di Sant'Eustachio - Amalfi Coast

Gown: Delphine Manivet from Maria Fekih Store Store Copenhagen http://mariafekih.com

Destination wedding photographer // Primavera, Allegory of Spring - part 2

She walks in the loveliness she made,
Between the apple-blossom and the water -
She walks among the patterned pied brocade,
Each flower her son, and every tree her daughter.
 ~ Vita Sackville-West, “The Land”

The Styling Pilgrimage, Pearl & Godiva’s Workshop at La Badia di Orvieto

Production, Creative Direction & Styling: Pearl & Godiva | Hair Stylist and Make Up Artist: Lara Navarrini Make Up | Gowns: Lace and Tulle Gown by Watters Wtoo, Ivory Tulle Long Sleeved Gown by Delphine Manivet, Vintage Lace Gown by Gossamer | Veil: Girlwithaseriousdream | Jewellery: Kristin Hayes Jewelry | Florals: Saipua | Models: Ieva and Alicia at Distinct Model Management | Shot on Location at La Badia di Orvieto, Italy

Rebecca & Greg, wedding in Luzern // wedding photographer in Luzern // Zivile Trauung im Portraitsaal, Luzern

I am still not sure what I love about this wedding the most - the beautiful Hotel des Balances, where Rebecca was getting ready, or her fabulous alabaster skin? Or was it her dreamy shoes and embroidered silky layers of the wedding dress that I was not able to stop taking pictures of? Or her classic hair style that will never go out of style? Or was it the charming smile of the Groom?  Well, I guess it was a perfect combination of everything :) (and I could not think of a more stunning venue to register the marriage than the majestic Portraitsaal in the Rathaus of Lucerne!)

Rainy wedding in Zermatt // wedding photographer in Switzerland // destination wedding photographer Zermatt // Hochzeitsfotos aus Zermatt

Another beautiful wedding that I loved a lot last year ... This lovely couple chose to exchange their wedding vows in Zermatt. They traveled all the way to Switzerland from the USA with family and friends and stayed at Cervo Mountain Boutique, where they planned a beautiful outdoor ceremony with the spectacular view of the iconic Matterhorn. On the morning of the wedding it started to rain cats and dogs, and the Matterhorn, perfectly seen just the day before, was completely covered with grey clouds. The gorgeous flower arch and all the ceremony decor had to be transported to the Ferdinand restaurant. The groom's mother was the Officiant, and the whole ceremony was very personal and emotional for the bride and groom. Despite of the heavy rain we still took outdoor portraits in the nearby meadow, which was actually a fun to do! The newlyweds celebrated well into the night with their guests!

“and now from the very beginning ...”

“What could be better for a wedding in the Swiss mountains than this beautiful dress with edelweiss flowers? :)”

Hilda & Matthias, wedding in Luzern // Switzerland wedding photographer // Hochzeitsfotograf in Luzern

Paris, No 4

Swiss family photographer // Destination lifestyle Photographer //Summer holidays, France, 2015

Film processing: Richard Photo Lab

morning at the Zurich lake // portrait session in Zurich, portrait photographer in Zurich

Love story in Zurich // wedding photographer in Zurich // engagement portraits

It usually takes me long to update my journal with new pictures and a lot of beautiful events are still waiting their turn. With some shootings I can't just wait and post them immediately ... this was one of the coldest Sundays of this Winter ...