Looking for a Tuscany wedding photographer means, first of all, deciding which Tuscany. The Val d'Orcia with its cypresses, the vineyards of Chianti, Florence and its villas, the Crete Senesi, the Maremma: they are different landscapes, with different light and travel times that weigh on your schedule.
I live in Terni, in Umbria, and Tuscany is the region where I work most after my own. On this page you will find how the photographs change from one area to another, when to marry, how I work during the day and what it costs.
The areas of Tuscany, as a photographer sees them
- Val d'Orcia. Bare hills, white gravel roads, lines of cypresses. This is postcard Tuscany, and for portraits it is at its best in the last hour of sun, when the shadows draw the hills. Pienza, Montalcino and San Quirico are the reference points.
- Chianti. Vineyards, woods and stone farmhouses between Florence and Siena. The landscape is more enclosed and greener: it works well even in mid-afternoon, because there is always shade.
- Florence and its hills. Villas with Italian gardens and a view of the dome, or palazzi in the historic centre. I cover it on my Florence wedding photographer page.
- Siena and the Crete. Hills of pale clay, almost lunar, and a city that turns brick-red at sunset.
- Val di Chiana, Cortona and Montepulciano. Hilltop towns with a long view over the plain, a step away from the Umbrian border.
- Maremma and the coast. Pine woods, sea and a harder light, which calls for late-afternoon ceremonies.
- Lucca and Pisa. Historic villas with parkland, closer to Pisa airport for guests arriving from abroad.
In Florence the photographs change completely from one hour to the next: marble and crowds in Piazza del Duomo, the river at sunset, the whole city at your feet from the hills. These are from an elopement I photographed there; the complete route is on my Florence wedding photographer page.
A wedding at Villa Catignano, near Siena
Villa Catignano is a historic villa in the countryside near Siena, one of the venues where I have worked in Tuscany. It is the kind of place couples from abroad have in mind when they imagine a villa wedding in Tuscany: a stone villa with its own small chapel, a gravel courtyard, gardens open onto the Sienese hills and a light that turns gold in the late afternoon.
For this wedding the ceremony was held outdoors, with the bridesmaids holding white parasols against the sun, and the guests then moved to the courtyard for dinner at long tables arranged in curves, under the string lights. Everything happens within a few steps: ceremony, aperitivo, portraits and dinner, with no transfers. For the photographs it is an ideal situation, because the time saved on travel becomes time for portraits at sunset.
If you are considering a villa near Siena, keep in mind that late afternoon is the best time for the ceremony in summer, and that the courtyard and the chapel give shade and clean backgrounds even when the sun is still high.
When to get married in Tuscany
May, June and September are the most balanced months for light, weather and landscape. In high summer it is worth moving the ceremony to around 5:30-6:30 pm: you avoid the worst heat and the portraits fall in the best hour. I have written a season-by-season guide to the best time for a Tuscany wedding.
Spring is also the most changeable season. A plan B chosen in advance removes half the worry: see marrying in Tuscany even in the rain.
How I work during the day
I tell the story of the wedding as it happens, without directing it. No posing, no scenes to repeat: I move along the sides, use the light that is there and keep an eye on the people around you, not only on you. It is what is usually called candid or documentary coverage, and I explain it on the page about being a candid wedding photographer in Italy.
Portraits take twenty minutes, to be scheduled in the last hour before sunset. In Tuscany those twenty minutes are worth more than anywhere else, because it is the light that made this countryside famous.
Here is what those twenty minutes look like: the last hour of sun on the hills, the stone warming up, the city or the countryside turning pink behind you.
To build your timings, see my Tuscany wedding day timeline.
What a wedding photographer in Tuscany costs
Prices for a destination wedding, what they depend on and how VAT and travel work are in my guide to what a wedding photographer costs in Italy. My collections are on the pricing page.
Travel is included within 150 km of Terni, and up to 250 km with the fuller collections: beyond that I prepare a dedicated quote, with travel stated clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married in a villa in Tuscany?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular choices for couples from abroad: ceremony, dinner and party all in the same place, often with a symbolic ceremony after the legal wedding at home. Villa Catignano near Siena is an example of a villa where everything happens within a few steps.
Do you also photograph elopements in Tuscany?
Yes. An elopement in Tuscany can be a symbolic ceremony in a villa garden, among the cypresses or in a city like Florence or Siena. I explain how to organise one, and how many hours of photography it needs, in my guide to elopements and the first look.
Do you work all over Tuscany?
Yes. From the Val d'Orcia to Florence, from Chianti to the coast. For the areas furthest from Terni I arrive the day before, so the scouting is already done when the day begins.
Which part of Tuscany is best for wedding photos?
It depends on what you want behind you. The Val d'Orcia gives the most open landscapes, Chianti the vineyards and farmhouses, Florence the architecture. All of them work if the ceremony is at the right time.
When is the best time to get married in Tuscany?
May, June and September. October for the colours and for fewer people around.
Is travel to Tuscany included?
Within 150 km of Terni, yes, and up to 250 km with the fuller collections. Beyond that it is stated in the quote.
Do you speak English?
Yes. I work with couples from abroad throughout the planning, by video call and email, and I speak English with guests on the day.
How far in advance should we book?
For dates between May and October, couples usually write to me 6-12 months ahead.
If you are planning a wedding in Tuscany, look at the portfolio and the wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I answer every message personally.
