PREPARATIONS

The day begins with the bride and groom’s preparations in the estate’s elegant rooms. Capture details of the dress, jewelry, makeup, and hairstyling. Emotional expressions, glances from friends and family, and intimate moments between the couple and their witnesses are essential to telling the day’s story. While these are obvious suggestions for professionals, some key insights have proven particularly effective.

The couple is usually assigned two separate rooms, each with unique rustic charm—ideal for photography. These rooms are often the same for every wedding, so unless there are special requests, they can be studied in advance by reviewing our photo archive.

Before taking any other shots, gather personal effects and clothing accessories, arranging them carefully on a nightstand or coffee table to create a harmonious and appealing composition. Cards, flowers, rings, shoes, watches, necklaces—anything meaningful.

For the bride’s dress, utilize the makeup and hairstyling phase to showcase the gown elegantly. Hang it on the curtain rod or, if it’s a short dress, consider a hanger hooked on the wardrobe door. For the groom’s suit, temporarily remove a painting and use the nail to create a stylish display. This arrangement will appear scenic and perfectly integrated into the Mocajo Estate’s ambiance.

Instead of the classic dressing shots, we recommend making the most of the room’s mirrors. Reflections, cross-angles, and light interplay can produce stunning, depth-filled images.

Don’t forget to capture a wide shot of the room in its entirety, featuring the couple as the focal point. Including the witnesses, perhaps during a toast, can enrich this composition.

Traditionally, couples avoid seeing each other before the ceremony for good luck. However, many modern couples choose a “first look” — an intimate encounter before the ceremony where they share genuine emotions and heartfelt glances.

As photographers, it’s essential to understand the couple’s preferences: if they choose to meet beforehand, this presents a rare opportunity to capture an intense and unforgettable moment. The estate, with its rustic charm and picturesque views, provides the perfect backdrop to make this instant magical and memorable.

Lighting here is excellent, with open windows allowing natural illumination to enhance these moments beautifully.

CEREMONY

Whether symbolic in the estate’s neo-Gothic chapel or outdoors among the cypress trees, the ceremony is the emotional core of the wedding. Capture key moments: the bride’s entrance, the groom’s gaze, the exchange of vows and rings, and guests’ joyful tears. Paying close attention to natural light will heighten the emotional impact of these shots.

If the ceremony takes place in the neo-Gothic chapel, ensure to capture the entire structure. Due to its small size, it doesn’t require extensive shooting time. While the interior isn’t brightly lit, natural light from the open entrance sufficiently enhances key moments. A bright lens is essential, but any issues can be addressed in post-production. We recommend a wide-angle lens to compensate for limited space and to capture both the couple and guests in a single frame.

For outdoor ceremonies, the broader space allows for two main viewpoints. The first is at ground level, positioned behind the guests or in front of the floral arch to capture the intensity of the moment. The second, taken from an elevated position at the villa’s level, offers a spectacular overhead view ideal for grand, scenic shots.

For the rice toss, we suggest organizing guests to create a dramatic effect and ensure memorable photos.

In the chapel, ask guests to form two parallel lines along the entrance (slightly curved) to create a natural corridor for the newlyweds to walk through. For outdoor ceremonies, advise guests to remain seated in their rows to maintain a central aisle.

Both arrangements allow the photographer to position themselves at the center of the passageway, capturing the couple immersed in the joyful celebration of their loved ones.

IMMORTALIZED LOVE

After the ceremony, take advantage of the golden hour for a romantic photo session with the couple. Vine rows, olive tree paths, and hillside views offer ideal locations for intimate and enchanting shots. Experiment with natural light to create warm and inviting images.

Couples who choose the Mocajo Estate enjoy a complete experience without needing to travel elsewhere, surrounded by authentic and untouched landscapes. With the nearest town 3 km away, everything here contributes to that beloved Tuscan atmosphere, offering endless opportunities for outstanding photography.

While photographers can showcase their talent, some locations naturally ensure stunning results with minimal effort. Remember the estate’s spaciousness: the smaller the couple appears in the frame, the greater the sense of exclusivity and luxury, emphasizing the feeling of being alone in paradise. Additionally, use the space’s geometries to create balanced compositions, positioning subjects centrally for a sense of order and elegance.

Unmissable photo locations at the Mocajo Estate include the ivy-covered facade, the rustic winery entrance, and the iconic cypress alley. The rolling hills provide breathtaking views of green or golden landscapes, depending on the season, delivering professional-quality photos.

Just a short drive away, the estate’s lake reflects the surrounding beauty, perfect for serene and romantic shots. Featuring horses from the estate’s stables or the golden expanse of sunflowers can add further charm to the shoot.

A practical tip: since the venue is immersed in nature, advise the couple to use insect repellent. This ensures they can fully enjoy the moment without distractions, focusing solely on the location’s beauty and the emotions that deserve to be captured in every shot.

If you have a drone, expect to capture unforgettable images.

RECEPTION

The arrival of the newlyweds, the aperitif with a view, the dinner under soft lights: every moment is an opportunity to create images full of atmosphere. Capture table details, toasts, spontaneous smiles, and moments of conviviality. The cake cutting!

This moment might seem more demanding, but at Tenuta Mocajo, we’ve thought about how to enhance it at its best. If the couple has opted for an imperial table arrangement instead of round tables scattered like constellations, the photographer’s task becomes much easier. The large chandeliers create a truly enchanting atmosphere, ideal for capturing right when the daylight begins to fade. After this moment, natural light may become less favorable, but you can still focus on those table spots where the chandeliers are perfectly aligned above.

Leverage the geometries of the spaces to create visually interesting compositions. Consider going up to the upper floors of the villa to get a bird’s-eye view of the entire scene. This perspective offers a truly striking shot.

In other situations, it may be useful to use a flash on a stand, positioned laterally, to add brightness where needed. Don’t forget to capture iconic details like the ice cream cart or the refreshments stand, and dedicate some space to images of the small band or DJ set, which contribute to creating the event’s unique atmosphere.

For the cake cutting, befriending your flash is recommended, as the environment may be darker than the table area. In this case, the flash will help highlight the subjects without compromising image quality. If the couple has planned pyrotechnic effects such as sparkling fountains or fireworks, the situation will change entirely: at that moment, natural light will be replaced by an explosion of colors and lights, offering a spectacular scene but with very intense lighting. In this case, it will be crucial to play with contrasts and adjust the camera’s sensitivity to capture every detail without risking overexposure.