Luxury Wedding Photography in Venice: Behind the Scenes of a Styled Shoot
Stuart Wood FSWPP takes us behind the scenes of a luxury wedding photography styled shoot in Venice, from the initial idea and international creative team to lighting, locations and working with luxury brands.
You would have to try pretty hard not to take a lovely photograph in Venice.
The city has captivated Stuart Wood FSWPP ever since his first visit, and when an opportunity arose to create a luxury styled shoot at the St. Clemente Palace Kempinski Hotel, he saw the chance to combine his love of the city with a more ambitious photographic project.
What followed was a two-day shoot involving an international team of wedding professionals, luxury brands, specialist suppliers and some of Venice’s most recognisable locations.
How the Venice Styled Shoot Came About
The idea began during a visit to Venice for the RSVP Global Wedding Symposium.
While there, Stuart found himself talking to the manager of the St. Clemente Palace Kempinski Hotel, who proudly explained that the property had recently been named Best Hotel by readers of Condé Nast Traveller.
Seeing a creative opportunity, Stuart asked whether the hotel would be interested in hosting a luxury styled shoot.
He showed the manager some of his work on his iPad.
The response was immediate.
“When do you want to do it?”
That conversation was quickly followed by another important introduction.
Stuart met luxury wedding planner Sonia Petrazzi and asked whether she would like to become involved.
She agreed, and the foundations of the shoot were in place.
Bringing the Creative Team Together
Back in the UK, Stuart contacted his friend Jeremy Price, who runs Graphistudio UK and represents the company’s range of photographic products.
With Graphistudio’s Italian headquarters located around an hour from Venice, there was an obvious opportunity for collaboration.
The timing was particularly good because Graphistudio was preparing to launch its ultra-luxury Tramontina range and needed a collection of high-end images for the launch and for use in sample albums.
The project therefore became much more than a styled wedding shoot.
It was also an opportunity to create commercial imagery for a luxury photographic brand while bringing together a team of creative professionals from different countries.
Why Styled Shoots Can Be Valuable for Wedding Photographers
Styled shoots can be an effective way for wedding photographers to create the kind of work they want to attract.
Rather than waiting for the perfect real wedding to appear, a styled shoot gives photographers much greater control over the location, styling, models, details and overall visual direction.
For Stuart, the Venice project also demonstrated the value of collaboration.
When every creative partner is working to a high standard, the photographer is challenged to raise their own game.
Projects like this demand high standards across the board—from the team and styling to the location and photography.
Day One: The Private Island
The first day of shooting focused on the private island where the St. Clemente Palace Kempinski is located.
Before shooting began, Stuart, Jeremy and Sonia’s team carried out a recce to establish locations and plan the following days.
Planning was particularly important because the shoot involved a large number of people, locations and photographic opportunities.
As Dwight D. Eisenhower famously put it:
“Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
That principle proved particularly relevant in Venice.
With limited time available, losing an hour through poor organisation could mean losing an important shot altogether.
Working With Portable Lighting
For the shoot, Stuart had recently acquired an Elinchrom THREE.
One of its biggest advantages for a destination shoot was its compact size. It could fit into his cabin baggage while still providing enough power for professional work.
That combination of portability and power was particularly useful when working across different locations.
On the second day, the light was used to balance flash with the warm natural light around the Grand Canal.
For destination wedding photographers, equipment that can be transported easily without compromising capability can make a significant difference.
Working With Luxury Brands
The shoot also involved Fregoli, a Venice-based haute couture handbag brand.
Stuart deliberately looks for opportunities to include luxury brands and carefully chosen accessories in this type of work.
There is a business reason for doing so.
When a brand later uses your photographs and credits you, the photographer benefits from additional exposure to an audience that may already be interested in the type of work they provide.
In Stuart’s experience, this can even lead to new enquiries.
He has previously had clients discover his work after seeing photographs shared by luxury brands on Instagram.
For photographers creating styled shoots, this is an important consideration.
Think beyond the immediate images and consider who might benefit from the photographs and who might share them afterwards.
Shooting Around the Venetian Lagoon
The team also photographed around the lagoon using a classic Venetian water taxi.
The combination of the location, styling and model provided opportunities for more fashion-led images.
Stuart also demonstrates that expensive equipment isn’t always necessary to create an effective image.
One of his props was a pair of cat-eye sunglasses purchased for around £5.
With the right styling and model, a simple accessory can look considerably more expensive than it actually is.
The lesson is useful for any styled shoot: creativity and presentation often matter more than the price of the individual prop.
Day Two: Gondolas and the Grand Canal
The second day began early in St. Mark’s Square, before the city became busy.
The team then moved on to gondolas before finishing with a shoot on a spectacular balcony overlooking the Grand Canal.
The balcony provided an opportunity to combine the architecture and atmosphere of Venice with the couple’s portraits.
This was also where the portable lighting setup really came into its own.
Stuart used the Elinchrom THREE to balance flash with the soft, golden Venetian sunlight, helping him maintain control over the exposure while still retaining the atmosphere of the location.
The Importance of Planning a Styled Shoot
A destination styled shoot might look effortless in the finished photographs, but there is a considerable amount of planning behind the scenes.
The location, weather, timings, transport, models, styling, equipment and creative team all need to work together.
For photographers considering organising their own styled shoot, it is worth establishing the following before the day:
- What type of photography do you want to create?
- Who is your ideal client?
- Which suppliers or brands would you like to work with?
- What location fits the visual style?
- What equipment will you need?
- How much time is available at each location?
- How will everyone and everything be transported?
- Which images do your creative partners need?
- How will the finished photographs be shared and credited?
The more complex the shoot, the more valuable a detailed plan becomes.
Creating Images That Open Doors
For Stuart, the Venice project was about more than producing beautiful photographs.
It brought together a luxury hotel, wedding planner, album manufacturer, fashion brand, models and photographer in one creative project.
That creates opportunities for everyone involved.
The photographer gains a portfolio of images that demonstrate the type of work they want to attract. Suppliers receive professional imagery they can use in their own marketing. Brands have photographs that showcase their products in an aspirational setting.
A well-planned styled shoot can therefore become a marketing asset for an entire group of businesses.
Final Thoughts
The two days spent photographing in Venice were exhausting and exhilarating in equal measure.
From the private island of the St. Clemente Palace Kempinski to gondolas, the Grand Canal and the streets around St. Mark’s Square, the city provided an extraordinary backdrop.
But the success of a styled shoot isn’t simply about choosing a beautiful location.
It comes from combining a strong creative concept with careful planning, the right team, suitable equipment and a clear understanding of what you want the resulting images to achieve.
And Venice certainly helps.
As Stuart says:
“You would have to try really hard not to take a lovely picture in Venice.”
