Gigi and Matthew’s Sunrise Couple Photoshoot in Sicily
A few months ago, Gigi reached out to me about doing a couple photoshoot in Sicily. From the very first message, she knew exactly what she wanted: sunrise by the sea. I loved her confidence; it’s always refreshing when people are clear about their vision from the start. Gigi and Matthew live in the UK now, but their story began far away in Australia, where they first met.
They were staying somewhere between Siracusa and Noto, so I booked my little hotel in Noto. The evening before, I had some me time, wandering the streets, snapping a few analogue shots, and enjoying the calm before the early morning adventure.
The next day, at 4:30 am, still half-asleep and with heavy eyes, I climbed into their car. They picked me up with bright smiles and friendly chatter. Even though I was trying my best to look professional, inside I was telling myself: “Wake up, you’ve got this!” And by the time we reached Spiaggia della Pizzuta, the magic of the Sicilian sunrise had already taken over. At 5:45 am, I clicked the shutter for the first time.
From there, it was pure joy, a mix of romance, laughter, and a bit of sand sticking to our feet. On the beach, Gigi and Matthew moved so naturally together. One moment they were walking hand in hand along the shoreline, leaving a trail of footprints behind them, the next they were holding each other close, stealing kisses as the waves rolled in. I loved capturing those raw, genuine smiles, like when Gigi looked up at Matthew with her eyes sparkling, or when Matthew pulled her in and they couldn’t stop laughing.
After the beach, we headed to Ortigia in Siracusa for breakfast and coffee. That’s when I introduced them to something very typical in Italian breakfast culture: the treccia. It’s a soft, braided pastry, slightly sweet, often enjoyed with cappuccino in the morning. Gigi loved it so much that after the photoshoot she asked me for the recipe, which made me smile because it felt like she was taking a little piece of Sicily home with her.
That’s when the second half of our adventure began, weaving through old streets, finding random corners and textured walls that made the perfect backdrops. At one spot, Matthew lifted Gigi off the ground, and her hair flew in the air as she threw her arms wide open, laughing like she was flying. In another, they sat on the stone steps of an old church, wrapped in each other’s arms, smiling so big it almost felt like I was intruding on a private moment.
What I loved most was how easy it all felt. Gigi and Matthew weren’t just clients, they felt like friends. The way they trusted me, the way they were fully themselves in front of the camera, made the whole experience flow so naturally. It wasn’t just a photoshoot, it was a morning full of memories.
I wish these two all the happiness in their life together. And who knows, maybe the next time we meet it will be somewhere else in Italy, or another corner of Europe, chasing light, laughter, and love once again.
