A step-by-step guide to your family vacation photoshoot in Italy with Classico Portraits

You’re planning a family travel adventure to Italy and intend to hire a portrait photographer while you’re here on vacation. So, it stands to reason that you’ll want to fully understand what’s involved in a vacation photoshoot in Italy before you book.

In this article, I’m going to reveal the step-by-step process of working with me so that you know exactly what to expect if you choose me as your Italy photographer, whether you’re visiting Tuscany, Venice or elsewhere!

I’ll outline everything from the very first interaction we have through to the delivery of your final artwork, which is shipped to your home, for free, anywhere in the world.

Hopefully, this information will answer any questions that you have about the family vacation photography experience I offer. If not, please look around my website and blog where I share more information.

There’s also the option to get in touch with me to ask questions. I’m an open book and no query is too small or unimportant!

What happens during a vacation photoshoot in Italy with Classico Portraits?

All my vacation photoshoots are unique yet based on the tried-and-tested process that I have developed and used for many years as a professional portrait photographer. When working with clients, I like to keep things relaxed and fuss-free.

I’m a big believer that preparation is key to success, so I encourage you to book your photoshoot (and your photoshoot activity) as early as possible so all the fine details can be discussed and organised well in advance.

My service is flexible though (keep reading to find out more) since I know from experience that life, especially on vacation in Italy, doesn’t always go to plan!

Step 1. Book a Discovery Call with me, Kirstie McConnell

The first interaction we are likely to have is the free discovery call which you can schedule via my website. Simply head here to schedule a call, choose a convenient date and time and complete the form.

On the chosen date, we will get together - either via Zoom Video Call or WhatsApp audio Call (whatever is your preference) - and chat things through.

A discovery call is a no-obligation online video call and you certainly won’t get a hard sell from me! It’s simply a valuable opportunity for us to meet and get to know each other a little. I love meeting the children as well as the adults on these calls.

This call is an opportunity for you to pick my brain about what to see and do in Italy. We will discuss potential locations in Italy for your family photoshoot as well as specific venues and activities.

I will share suggestions and tips on suitable places to visit and things to do considering the ages and preferences of your family, so don’t worry if you haven’t fully planned out your trip to Italy before we speak.

I will also introduce you to my stunning collection of photo products and we’ll look at different options to suit your budget.

On this call, if you wish to go ahead and book me as your vacation family photographer in Italy, a €1250 reservation fee is taken to secure your place in my diary and your preferred date for your photoshoot.

Step 2: Wardrobe Consultation

Outfit choices can have a huge impact on your photos, but working out what to wear on your own can be overwhelming, particularly when you are co-ordinating everyone. To help you out, and to ensure your feel confident in your outfit choices, we’ll have a Zoom call 30 days before you leave home.

During this wardrobe consult, we discuss practical elements of the photography experience with a particular focus on what each of your family will wear on the day.

The aim of this is to ensure that you have pre-planned at least one set of outfits (including your shoes and any accessories) that would work well for the photoshoot. When planning outfits, I’ll encourage you to consider the time of year and the planned activity that you will do while I photograph you.

While there is no right or wrong outfit, it’s advisable to consider the colours of your clothing and the way the outfits work together as a whole. I usually suggest that clients choose a limited palette of colours and have these running through the outfits within the group.

You should also wear clothes that are indicative of your usual style and that are comfortable for you to wear on what may be a warm summer’s day under the Italian sun! Comfort is key to you being and looking relaxed in your family vacation photos.

Related: Style Guide: What to wear for your family photo shoot in Italy

Step 3: The day of your family vacation photoshoot in Italy

We will book and schedule your Italy photoshoot for a specific date and time, typically within the first week of your trip when jet lag has passed but excitement is high.

You may like to know that I always book my diary out for the full day, as well as the evening before the photoshoot AND the morning after your shoot date. This is so that we have flexibility in the diary and can change the time (and date) of your photoshoot if necessary.

We will stick to the original plan if possible, but it may give you peace of mind to know that the schedule is flexible. Situations where this has proven useful for my clients are when the weather is not as good as expected, or when there have been unanticipated situations such as luggage not having arrived or illness.

With my diary blocked out for 48 hours, we can be confident that your family vacation photoshoot in Italy will be able to go ahead, whatever happens!

Step 4: The photoshoot

We’ll meet at the pre-arranged location on the date and at the time chosen. We will have plenty of time together so there is no pressure for us to get started with the photographs straight away. We’ll chat first and I’ll help you feel relaxed and comfortable by not putting any pressure on you to ‘perform’ for my camera.

Throughout the session, I’ll take care of everything and will ensure that your photoshoot is relaxed and lots of fun. Since you’ll most likely be engaging in an activity while I photograph you, chances are that you won’t even notice me taking pictures. The photo session will flow naturally.

I photograph in a non-intrusive way offering posing guidance and little prompts when it’s needed but, essentially, I will give you the freedom and space to interact with each other as a family as you normally would. It’s these natural interactions which are so wonderful to capture and that I know you’ll love to look back on.

Before or after the activity, we will capture some more family portraits at the venue, incorporating the quintessential Italian backdrop into your family portraits. If we’ve pre-planned a visit to a second location, we’ll travel there and the photoshoot will continue.

During your family vacation photoshoot in Italy, I will pose you individually and together as a group so that you have a variety of images to choose from. These slightly more formal portraits are in addition to the unposed, documentary-style Italy vacation picture that I will take while you engage in your chosen activity.

You may be wondering “how long does a photoshoot take”. With me, a typical family vacation photoshoot lasts approximately three hours in total, but I’m with you until we have the images you’re after and for as long as you want.

If you’d prefer I work quickly, I can be in and out within one hour, but I’m also happy to be with you all day! I don’t watch the clock and then just up and disappear after any set amount of time.

Step 5: Same-day photo viewing and ordering appointment

After your family photoshoot has taken place, I like to offer you a same-day viewing and ordering appointment so that you don’t have to wait to see your images. I know you will be keen to see how they worked out! That way, we get everything done in one day – there is no need for a follow-up meeting later in the week, so you get to focus on enjoying the rest of your vacation in Italy without disruption.

Another advantage of this is that when you make your image selections on the same day as the photoshoot, I will then be able to get working on your chosen photos right away. Edits can be completed in as little as seven days, so it may even be that your vacation photos will be ready for you to share with friends and family back home while you are still away in Italy.

If a same-day appointment is not possible for you, perhaps due to your travel schedule, then the alternative is an online video consultation within 14 days of your return home.

During this viewing and ordering appointment, you will review the final gallery of images I have created for you and will decide on which you wish to purchase and have made into photography products and wall art.

I have over 10 years of experience helping clients select wall art to suit their homes and interior décor, so will guide and advise you on how to create a custom collection of images that capture the essence of your Italian vacation.

My clients spend anywhere between €1000-€15,000 on their total experience depending on how many walls they want to fill and whether they want gift albums for family members as well as a keepsake album for themselves.

N.B. When purchasing products, your €1250 reservation fee (paid at the time of booking) will be deducted from your artwork order.

Step 6: Your images are finalised and prepared for printing, then shipped directly to your door

Once full payment of the remaining balance is received, your images will be sent to be edited. After this post-production stage, you will be sent a final proof to approve.

When the approval process is complete, your vacation photographs and chosen products – whether frames, albums or wall art – will be handcrafted and shipped to your home.

My handcrafted wall art options are made local to you to reduce our carbon footprint. Albums, on the other hand, are small to ship so we work with an Italian artisan to handcraft those with the highest quality Italian leather and papers.

All my albums are hand-crafted and made here in Italy using the highest-quality Italian leather. Wall art comes ready to hang so it couldn’t be easier for you to start enjoying your portraits from your vacation photoshoot in Italy!

Your step-by-step guide to your vacation photoshoot in Italy with Classico Portraits

I hope this has been a useful guide and that you now feel even more excited about the prospect of your Italian vacation and family photography experience! If you’re now keen to discuss a possible vacation photoshoot with me, then I’d love to hear from you.

I am a luxury and full-service family portrait photographer in Italy. I travel across the country to wherever you are based during your vacation here, and I ship photo products and wall art internationally to your home anywhere in the world at no extra charge.

I would love to help you create a dream Italy vacation itinerary and deliver a bespoke photography experience that you and your whole family will enjoy.

Please get in touch via my contact form when you’re ready.