Matthew and Kayla have been together for years. They didn’t need a grand surprise or a production, just the right place, the right light, and someone who knew how to stay out of the way. This is their Portofino.
The question above the harbour
We met straight at the viewpoint. Proposal days should never feel like a photoshoot that happens to include a ring. The moment comes first, and everything else follows.
Above Portofino, the hardest thing is not the view but the people. The best spots rarely stay empty for long, so the plan is always about timing and where I stand. I chose my position before they arrived, with the harbour behind them and the light coming from the side, soft on their faces rather than flat. Matthew asked, Kayla said yes, and I only had to wait.
Film is honest in moments like this. There is no checking the screen and no second take. You see it, you trust it, you press once.
A slow walk through Portofino
After the yes, I never rush couples into portraits. The first half hour of being engaged is the most natural they will ever be, so we simply walked down into town and let it unfold.
The colour of Portofino can overwhelm a frame if you’re not careful. Kayla’s red dress was the anchor: one strong colour against the softer walls and the water. Kodak Portra 800 holds that balance beautifully. It keeps the red rich without letting it burn, and it renders the pastels the way your eye remembers them.
A private boat at golden hour
As the light dropped, a private boat took us along the coast towards Santa Margherita Ligure. I love ending a proposal on the water. The light is low and moving, the backgrounds are clean, and the couple finally forgets about the camera. Some of my favourite frames of the day came from those quiet minutes at sea.
Cin cin at the Imperiale Palace
The boat brought us to the Imperiale Palace, where the evening slowed down completely. A Belle Époque villa above the bay, the last warm light on the terraces, two glasses raised. It was the right ending for a story that had been years in the making.
Planning a proposal on the Italian Riviera
After photographing proposals along this coast, these are the things I always tell couples:
Let the moment come first. Meet at the proposal spot and keep it simple. Portraits can wait half an hour, and they’re better for it.
Plan the light, not just the place. The same viewpoint can be magical or harsh depending on the hour. I plan every proposal around the light at that exact time.
Leave by boat. It turns one beautiful moment into a whole story, and golden hour on the water is impossible to recreate on land.
Choose one strong colour. Against the pastel town and blue sea, a single bold colour is unforgettable on film.
End somewhere that feels like a celebration. Santa Margherita is calmer than Portofino and only a short boat ride away.
Planning a proposal on the Italian Riviera, in Barcelona or along the Mediterranean? I’m now welcoming enquiries for this winter and for 2027.
