July 29, 2026
Haley & Evan's Wedding at La Bella Vista in CT | Joliette Marie Photography
- Weddings
While I was in Italy photographing a wedding, I also had the chance to photograph Maria and Zach during their honeymoon in northern Italy, and their session ended up becoming something even more meaningful than originally planned. The two of them were staying in the beautiful town of Iseo near Lake Iseo, not far from Lake Como, and wanted to commemorate this season of life together with a relaxed couples session during their trip.
What made the session even more special was that they had just found out right before leaving for Italy that Maria was pregnant. Because it was still very early, they did not want the entire shoot to revolve around a pregnancy announcement, but they did want to subtly document this huge moment in their lives while they were celebrating their honeymoon abroad together. It felt like such a beautiful and intimate way to preserve both milestones at once.
We started the session in the garden area of the hotel where they were staying. Everything about the setting felt incredibly peaceful and romantic. The soft greenery, warm Italian light, and quiet atmosphere created the perfect backdrop for natural portraits together.
Maria and Zach were so easygoing and playful throughout the entire session, which made photographing them feel effortless. A lot of the afternoon was spent simply wandering together, talking, laughing, and soaking in the experience of being newly married in Italy.
One thing I love most about destination couples sessions is how relaxed they tend to feel compared to more structured shoots back home. There is usually nowhere anyone needs to rush off to afterward, which allows couples to really settle into the experience and enjoy the location together.
After photographing around the gardens, we walked over toward the lake for more portraits along the waterfront.
The scenery around Lake Iseo is absolutely beautiful in a quieter and less crowded way compared to some of the more heavily photographed areas nearby. The combination of the water, mountains, boats, and small-town atmosphere made the entire session feel incredibly timeless.
Throughout the session, Maria and Zach included a few subtle photos incorporating the pregnancy test as a quiet nod to the next chapter they are entering together. I really loved the way they approached it. Rather than turning the session into a full pregnancy announcement shoot, they simply allowed this new piece of their story to exist naturally within the photos.
Years from now, I imagine those images will feel incredibly meaningful to look back on because they captured such a specific moment in time.Newly married, traveling through Italy together, and quietly carrying the excitement of becoming parents for the first time. The emotion behind that season was woven throughout the entire gallery in such a natural way.
As the evening continued, we spent more time near the lake taking candid portraits while the light softened around us. Some of my favorite images from the session were the simplest ones: the two of them walking together by the water, laughing quietly, and completely wrapped up in the moment.
Maria and Zach’s session was such a reminder that photos do not need to feel overly elaborate to be deeply meaningful. Sometimes the most important thing is simply documenting people exactly as they are during a specific chapter of life.
This shoot captured not only their honeymoon in Italy, but also the very beginning of their growing family story.
If you are planning a honeymoon, anniversary trip, or destination couples session and want photography that feels relaxed, emotional, and true to your relationship, I would love to document it for you.