Meryem & James

Disclaimer: I like this wedding a lot, especially the bridal portraits. Excuse the bias, if any!

Meryem and James chose Villa Oinos for their wedding, a small villa with a big yard in Megalochori. An upcoming star among Santorini’s top wedding venues. My dear friend Ellie decorated the space with an eye for aesthetics and functionality. The perfect amount of flowers, consistent colors, and a vibe that showcased the Greek island feel with a touch of modern elegance.

Total hours of service: 5

Add-ons: Drone, Photographer’s assistant, Ceremony film

The bride was VERY stressed. We spent the first 15 minutes talking instead of shooting. I explained that the more she tried, the more awkward the photos would look. Simple is hard and achieving simple is time-consuming. She listened. The bridal portraits of Meryem are the reason this session is now on the website. My past experience as an architectural photographer has shaped my style and sharpened my understanding of volumes, light, and shadow.

With Meryem, I worked on poses that brought out femininity without feeling staged or cringe. I used my signature technique “Kiss of Light” - a gentle touch of flash to sculpt the shapes of her body and create beautiful skin tones and textures.

Modern wedding editorial feels flashy and artificial to my eyes; it lacks character. "Kiss of Light" will pass the test of time. It is harder to execute and will make you look your absolute best. It’s the same technique used by the world’s top fashion and wedding photographers.

The Private Session

We had a strict timeline, so we hit Megalochori for exactly 45 minutes.

I don’t guess. I miss the days I did. When you have 45 minutes, you need to know exactly how the light works with the environment and the subject. I used invisible direction and just the ambient light to create contrast between the private session and the bridal portraits. The light and luck were on our side.

If the bridal session is your top priority, check out Maxime & Jens’ elopement here.