Nobody sitting still. Nobody saying cheese. An hour at the villa you rented, at your hotel, or out in Ortigia and Noto, while I photograph what actually happens. Up to 15 people, so the grandparents come too. You go home with the holiday you really had.
From €300 · up to 15 people · photos in 24 to 48 hours
The approach
Most family photos fail for the same reason: someone asked a four year old to stand still and smile. I do not do that. We walk, they run ahead, someone gets distracted by a cat in an alley, and that is when the good photographs happen.
I live in Siracusa, the town most of you will have seen written as Syracuse, on the south-east coast of Sicily. A lot of the families I photograph fly in from the United States, so everything happens in English, from the first message to the last frame.
I keep sessions short and early, because with children the last quarter of an hour is rarely the best one. And I speak English, so nothing gets lost while you are trying to keep everyone together.
Who I photograph
Toddlers who will not sit down and babies who need feeding halfway through. We work around them, with all the pauses they need.
The ones who say they hate photos. They usually stop minding once they realise nobody is going to make them pose.
Grandparents travelling with you is rarer than you think. If everyone is in Sicily at the same time, photograph it properly.
Where we shoot
A real session in Noto with two little girls: a few running races, and gelato in front of the cathedral as the prize. Read the story →
At the villa you rented. This is where a lot of my family sessions happen, and it is often the best option: the children are already comfortable, there is a pool, and nobody has to be driven anywhere. Breakfast on the terrace, kids in the water, the whole family together at the end of the day.
At your hotel or resort. Gardens, poolside, or the terrace at golden hour. I come to you, and I can coordinate with the concierge if that is easier.
At Minareto and the Plemmirio coast. A family photo shoot at Minareto beach or the rocky coves around the Plemmirio peninsula works well once children are old enough to wade in and out of the water; for younger kids, the sandy stretches at Fontane Bianche or Arenella are easier going.
In Ortigia or Noto. A family photoshoot on the island of Ortigia early in the morning, when the piazzas are still empty, or the baroque streets and staircases of Noto. Noto is about half an hour away, so with a two hour session you can even do a bit of each.
Two families together. If you are travelling with friends or with the other side of the family, one session can cover everyone: each family gets its own photos, plus the group ones. It works out better for everyone, and the children keep each other entertained.
Questions from travelling families
They do not have to. I never ask children to sit still and smile, because that is exactly when photos start looking fake. We walk, we play, they run ahead, and I photograph what happens. Most parents tell me afterwards that their children did not realise it was a photoshoot at all.
One hour is right for most families, and it is deliberately short: with young children, the last fifteen minutes of a long session are rarely the good ones. If you have several children, or you simply want more time without watching the clock, two hours works better.
Early morning, right after breakfast, or the golden hour before sunset. In July and August the middle of the day is too hot for children and the light is harsh, so we avoid it. Early morning has one extra advantage: Ortigia is almost empty, so you get the piazzas to yourselves.
Yes, and those are often the most valuable sessions of all. Three generations together on holiday is rare, and it is worth photographing properly. Tell me how many you are and I will plan the pacing so nobody is left standing in the sun.
Coordinate, do not match. Pick two or three soft colours and let everyone stay within them: white, beige, sand, light blue, olive. Avoid big logos and busy prints. Comfortable shoes matter more than you think, because Ortigia is all cobblestones.
A few options, and all of them work. At the villa you rented, which is often the easiest with small children: pool, terrace, nobody has to travel. At your hotel or resort, in the gardens or on the terrace at golden hour. At Minareto beach or the Plemmirio coves, if you want the sea in the photos. Or out in the old towns: the island of Ortigia early in the morning when the piazzas are empty, or the baroque streets of Noto, about half an hour down the coast.
Yes, and it is one of my favourite kinds of session. Each family gets its own photos, then we do the group ones with everyone. It costs less per family than booking separately, and the children keep each other entertained, which makes the whole hour easier. Just tell me how many adults and children in total.
Edited photos arrive within 24 to 48 hours, in a private online gallery in full resolution. That is on purpose: most families are still travelling, and you should be able to share them with grandparents at home before you fly back.
A one hour session is €300, which is roughly $325, for up to 15 people. Two hours is €450. Larger groups and extended families are quoted individually, always before you book.
Yes, this is one of my most requested sessions. When a family flies to Siracusa or Noto for someone else's wedding, everyone is in one place, dressed well, and in a beautiful setting, which almost never happens at home. The best slot is the morning of the wedding, or the day before or after, so it doesn't clash with the celebration. We can do it at your hotel or out in Ortigia or Noto. Tell me the wedding date and how many of you there are.
Keep reading
A Real Family Photoshoot in Noto: No Boring Poses → Editorial & Vintage Photoshoots in Sicily → Photographer for Your Villa in Siracusa & Ortigia → Full-Day Photographer in Sicily → Photoshoot Prices in Sicily → Things to Do in Noto, Sicily → Things to Do in Catania, Sicily → Photographer in Noto: Baroque Photoshoots → Photographer in Taormina, Sicily → Photographer in Catania, Sicily → Things to Do in Siracusa & Ortigia: A Photographer's Guide → How a Vacation Photoshoot Works (Prices & FAQ) → The Best Photo Spots in Siracusa & Ortigia → All photo sessions in Sicily →
Before the holiday is over
Tell me your dates, how many you are and the ages of the children. I reply within 24 hours with a plan and a clear price.
Book a family session