Believe it or not, these photos were taken in the Dolomites in August, when hundreds of thousands are around hiking and enjoying this beautiful land. Last year—well, December 2023 to be exact—I was contacted by J from Germany. She wanted to elope in the Dolomites… in the middle of August next year! My mind immediately jumped to endless lines outside the cable cars in the morning and the blazing sun complicating everything, at least from a photography standpoint.
Once their booking was confirmed, I immediately started scouting for the perfect location. Fortunately, I had some clear guidelines to work with. J and M are hikers and didn’t place too many limits on the length of the route. J, however, was very clear on one thing: dramatic, rocky landscapes that unmistakably scream “Dolomites.” She also added that she’d love a touch of…🌶️ ;)
Well, in her backpack, she planned to bring a wedding dress with an open back, and she hoped to capture a few images that reflect this phase of their relationship—intimate and meaningful moments included.
You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, but how do you find privacy in that kind of setting?”
Just wait and see.
The advantage of hiring a local photographer, someone who knows the mountains well and truly lives them year-round, became especially clear in this case. Within just a few days, I suggested three possible locations, and the couple chose the one you see here, which happened to be the closest to where they were staying.
The hike to get there wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, but I managed it five months after ACL reconstruction and at the end of my third month of pregnancy, with a backpack full of camera gear, lunch, and water. So I’d say it was manageable for most people.
Elopement’s Photo Shoot in the Dolomites in August: What Matters More, the Client’s Vision or the Photographer’s?
J later thanked me for turning her vision into reality. We often hear how important it is to choose a photographer with a clear artistic style and the skills to bring it to life. After several years working as a photographer—more and more often in the Dolomites lately—I’ve come to realize that the photographer’s artistic vision should intersect with the client’s requests, without erasing the personality behind the work.
This is true in many creative fields. Think about it: not every singer writes their own lyrics or melodies. Some artists are incredibly skilled at interpreting words and music written by others, conveying emotions or telling a story that existed only in someone else’s mind moments earlier. It’s the same in photography.
In this sense, the most personal touch I brought to this shoot—and what I used to take my favorite images from the day—was medium format film. You’ll find the scans here, which I developed and scanned myself last summer for the first time. There are several imperfections, including some color casts due to uneven light exposure on the developed negatives, and the film itself wasn’t perfectly flat in all three cases.
My setup was pretty homemade, mainly because the lab I usually work with had a long backlog for scanning, and I wanted to deliver a complete gallery as soon as possible. There would be time for professional scans later.
But wait… is it really possible to find private corners in the heart of the Dolomites in August?
At the end of this article, you’ll find a short video. For a brief moment, you can see the mountain hut where we, excuse the repetition, found refuge. Just to be clear: we weren’t in a particularly remote or hard-to-reach location for this elopement in the Dolomites. And yet, for at least half the shoot—including the spicier shots we found a private little nook, tucked behind a small basin just steps from the hut, with the “usual” breathtaking views, making this an unforgettable experience even if it was absolute peak season in August.
Only when we moved closer to the helicopter landing pad did I have to later let Lightroom’s new content-aware fill feature run wild.
If you too would love to have unique photographs set in the magical Dolomites this August or next summer, don’t hesitate to reach out… who knows, I might just compose an unforgettable melody for you too. 😉