An Elopement That Didn’t Feel Like a Photoshoot
Some places in Italy are beautiful in photographs but a little more complicated in real life. San Gimignano can definitely be one of them.
It is small, incredibly photogenic and, for obvious reasons, very popular. So when I photographed Grieta and Yoeri’s elopement here in September, the idea was never to spend hours moving from one “photo spot” to another.
I wanted San Gimignano to actually be part of their day.
We walked, stopped when something felt right, used the streets and the people around us instead of trying to avoid everything, and then left the town behind for the countryside when the light started getting lower.
That combination is probably what I like most about an elopement in San Gimignano. Within the same afternoon you can go from stone walls, little streets and busy Italian life to vineyards, olive trees and complete silence.
And visually, it almost feels like two different days.
With an elopement there is always a temptation to fill every minute. Another location. Another portrait. Another view. I prefer doing the opposite.
With Grieta and Yoeri there was enough time to actually walk around, talk, change our plans slightly when I saw something interesting and make photographs without constantly thinking about the next one.
Of course, I give direction when it helps. Especially when two people are standing in front of a camera and suddenly have no idea what humans normally do with their hands. But I don’t want an elopement to become four hours of instructions. A lot of the photographs I like most usually happen between the photographs we had planned.
Someone starts laughing after I stop giving directions. They walk somewhere without thinking about the camera. They stop for a moment because they see something. The wind does something strange with a dress.
Those moments can’t really be scheduled, but you need to leave enough space for them to happen.
Why San Gimignano Works So Well for an Elopement
San Gimignano gives you a surprising amount of variety without having to travel very far.
Inside the historic centre you have narrow streets, old stone buildings, small squares, arches, doorways and the towers appearing unexpectedly between the buildings. Then, a short drive outside the walls, everything changes.
The streets disappear and you are surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and open countryside. For photography, having both environments in the same area is incredibly useful.
You can make the first part of the story feel more energetic and spontaneous, with people walking around and things happening in the background, and then slow everything down later in the countryside. That is exactly the kind of contrast I look for when I photograph an elopement.
From the Medieval Streets to the Tuscan Countryside
The second part of Grieta and Yoeri’s photographs was completely different. Once outside San Gimignano, the pace changed almost immediately. Less noise. More space. No reason to rush. And, most importantly, the light was becoming much better.
This is usually where I would place the countryside part of a San Gimignano elopement. Not in the middle of the afternoon just because the schedule says “couple photos”, but later, when the sun is lower and the vineyards and olive trees start picking up much more depth.
On this September evening, that final part of the day was exactly what I had hoped for. The town gave us architecture, movement and texture. The countryside gave us light. You don’t have to choose between the two.
How I Photograph an Elopement in Tuscany
My approach to an elopement is quite simple. I want you to experience the place first and think about photography second.
There are moments when I will step in and give direction. If I see a particular composition, a pocket of light or a way to make a portrait stronger, I will use it. Then I step back again.
I like photographs that have a clear visual intention but don’t look as though the couple spent the previous ten minutes being arranged into position.
That balance between documentary photography and a more loose editorial eye is particularly interesting on an elopement because there isn’t the structure of a traditional wedding constantly deciding what happens next. We can walk. We can stop. We can go for a drink. We can change the route. If the light is better somewhere else, we can go there.
Planning an Elopement in San Gimignano
If photography is important to you, I would build the schedule around two very different parts of San Gimignano. Spend some time inside the historic centre and leave some of the countryside for later in the day.
Trying to do everything in one location usually means giving up one of the things that makes San Gimignano interesting in the first place. I would also avoid packing the schedule with too many stops. Three meaningful places almost always photograph better than seven locations visited in a hurry.
And give yourself some empty time.
An aperitivo you didn’t rush through, a street that wasn’t on the original plan or ten minutes doing absolutely nothing can end up giving you better photographs than another scheduled “shooting location”.
How Many Hours of Photography Do You Need?
Four hours can work well for a very simple San Gimignano elopement, particularly if the ceremony and photographs are all happening relatively close together.
For most couples, though, I think six hours gives the day a much better rhythm.
It gives us enough time for the ceremony, San Gimignano itself, a relaxed couple session and the countryside without having to constantly look at the clock.
Eight hours makes more sense if you also want getting ready photographs, more than one location, dinner or a larger part of the experience documented.
San Gimignano Elopement FAQ
Is San Gimignano a good place for an elopement?
Yes, particularly if you want both historic architecture and the Tuscan countryside without spending a large part of the day travelling. The centre gives you a very recognisable medieval setting, while vineyards and olive groves are immediately outside the town. That variety is one of the main reasons I like photographing elopements here.
Is San Gimignano crowded?
It can be, especially during the warmer months and in the central part of the day. I don’t think this makes it a bad location, but timing matters. I normally use the busier areas when their energy adds something to the photographs and then move toward quieter streets or the countryside when we want a completely different atmosphere.
What is the best time of year for a San Gimignano elopement?
Late spring and September are particularly interesting because you can normally spend plenty of time outdoors without building the entire day around the strongest summer heat. Every season looks different, though, so I would choose the period based on the experience you want rather than only on how the landscape looks in photographs.
What is the best time of day for photographs in San Gimignano?
There isn’t one single time that works for everything. The historic centre can be interesting earlier because of the contrast created by the buildings, while I generally prefer photographing the surrounding countryside closer to sunset. When possible, I plan the route so that we use each location when its light is at its best.
Can we photograph both San Gimignano and the countryside during the same elopement?
Absolutely. In fact, I recommend it. They create two very different parts of the story and you don’t need to dedicate an entire day to travelling between them. With the right schedule, both can comfortably be included in the same photography coverage.
How many hours should we book for a San Gimignano elopement?
For a ceremony and a simple couple session, four hours may be enough. Six hours is usually the option I recommend because it gives us much more freedom and makes it possible to include the town and countryside without rushing. Eight hours is ideal if you also want getting ready, dinner or more of the day documented.
Do you photograph elopements elsewhere in Tuscany?
Yes. I photograph elopements throughout Tuscany and the rest of Italy. San Gimignano works particularly well if you like medieval architecture combined with vineyards and countryside, but depending on what you are looking for we can also consider other parts of Tuscany and build the day around a completely different atmosphere.
Planning Your Own Elopement in San Gimignano?
If you’re thinking about getting married in San Gimignano, tell me what you already have in mind, even if at the moment it’s only a date and a rough idea.
I can help you understand how much photography coverage makes sense, which parts of the day are worth keeping flexible and how I would organise the photography around the light.
The goal isn’t to create the most complicated elopement possible.
Usually, the simpler we keep it, the more freedom we have to make something interesting.
