Yana Skakun
Destination Wedding Photography · Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como Wedding Photographer
Timeless, romantic photography on the shores of one of the world's most beautiful lakes — from Villa Balbianello to Bellagio and beyond.
Photography for Lake Como Weddings
Lake Como sits at the foot of the Alps in northern Italy, ringed by soaring mountains and dotted with centuries-old villas draped in wisteria and bougainvillea. There is nowhere else quite like it — the light on the water changes hour by hour, the gardens are in perpetual bloom from April through October, and every viewpoint seems composed by a painter. For couples who want their wedding photographs to feel genuinely cinematic, Lake Como delivers completely.
I travel to Lake Como from the UK several times each season, working with couples who want photography that captures not just the moments but the full atmosphere of the place. I know Villa Balbianello at different times of day, the exact light on Varenna's harbour at golden hour, and how to make the most of the lake's dramatic scale in the background of portraits. The resulting photographs feel effortless — quietly luxurious rather than staged.
My approach on the lake is documentary at heart. I am present throughout your day, photographing the ceremony on the villa terrace, the boat journey between venues, the reception under a pergola of roses — all without interrupting the flow and feeling of the day. The editorial portraits we create together at golden hour become the centrepiece of your album, but everything leading up to them is equally real and alive.
Lake Como Wedding Locations
From legendary UNESCO villas to hidden lakeside villages — each corner of Lake Como offers something different for your photographs.
Villa Balbianello
Lenno, Western Shore
The most iconic wedding venue on the lake — a 16th-century villa perched on its own wooded promontory at Lenno, complete with a loggia opening over the water. Recognised from Star Wars and Casino Royale, it offers terraced gardens, a baroque chapel and extraordinary views across to the snow-capped Alps. Morning ferry arrivals and sunset portraits here are unforgettable.
Bellagio
The Pearl of the Lake
Sitting at the very tip where the two southern arms of the lake divide, Bellagio is the jewel of Lake Como. The gardens of Villa Melzi cascade to the waterfront, Villa Serbelloni crowns the hillside above, and the narrow cobbled lanes between them provide endlessly photogenic backgrounds. Wedding portraits here carry real romance — every alley, every balcony, every geranium-hung window.
Varenna & the Eastern Shore
The Most Photogenic Village
On the eastern shore, Varenna is quieter and more intimate than Bellagio, with a tiny Venetian harbour, the ruined Castello di Vezio visible on the cliffs above, and a waterfront promenade that runs along the very edge of the lake. The pastel-painted houses reflect in the water at dusk. The ferry crossing from Menaggio to Varenna makes for wonderful reportage moments — the lake seen from the middle, Alps all around.
Como City & Villa d'Este
Grand Lakeside Arrival
The city of Como anchors the southern tip of the western arm, with a magnificent Duomo, a lakefront promenade and the Villa d'Este — one of the grandest hotels in the world, built in a 16th-century cardinal's villa and set in vast formal gardens that tumble down to the water. Arrivals by private launch, ceremonies on the Villa d'Este's lakeside terrace, and portraits in the illuminated gardens: these photographs have a particular grandeur.
Tremezzo & the Central Lake
Gardens & Grand Hotels
Halfway up the western shore, Tremezzo is home to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo — a belle époque palace facing Bellagio across the narrowest and most blue stretch of the lake — and Villa Carlotta, whose botanical gardens rival Balbianello for sheer colour in spring. The reflected mountains, the morning mist over the water and the pale stone of the Grand Hotel's façade create a setting of unassuming, European grandeur.
Spring on Lake Como
April, May & Early June
April and May bring the azalea and camellia season to the lakeside gardens — drifts of pink, white and red against the dark water and the still-snowy Alps behind. The spring light is crystalline, the colours are extraordinary and the lake is not yet crowded with summer visitors. Many couples specifically plan their Lake Como wedding in May for the blossom — and the photographs from this season have a freshness that high summer cannot quite replicate.
Lake Como Wedding Photography Packages
All packages include travel to Lake Como, full-resolution images and a private online gallery delivered within four weeks.
Essential
£1,395
- 6 hours of coverage
- 300+ edited images
- Ceremony & couple portraits
- Private online gallery
- Print-ready files
- Travel to Lake Como included
Most Popular
Full Day
£2,395
- 10 hours of coverage
- 500+ edited images
- Getting ready to reception
- Golden-hour portraits on the lake
- Private online gallery
- Travel to Lake Como included
Premium
£3,495
- 12 hours of coverage
- 700+ edited images
- Full documentary coverage
- Engagement session on the lake
- Luxury fine-art album included
- Travel to Lake Como included
Why Choose a UK Photographer for Lake Como
Experience, logistics expertise, and a documentary eye that captures Lake Como authentically.
Intimate Lake Como Knowledge
I have photographed weddings at the lake's major venues multiple times — I know the best light at Villa Balbianello in the afternoon, where to position during Varenna ceremonies, and how to navigate the boat schedules to maximise golden hour.
Documentary, Not Staged
Rather than posing every shot, I work quietly alongside your day — capturing the laughter on the villa terrace, the way the light catches the water during your boat crossing, and the genuine emotion of the moments as they unfold.
Destination Travel Experience
I have extensive experience travelling for destination weddings across Europe and understand all the logistics: early travel days, Italian ceremony paperwork timelines, and the particular rhythms of Lake Como wedding days.
Seamless UK Communication
Planning a destination wedding from the UK is complex enough without a language barrier with your photographer. I handle all planning, contracts and timelines in English and am used to working across time zones without confusion.
The Golden Hour on Water
The light on Lake Como at golden hour is extraordinary — the mountains glow, the water turns gold, and the old villa gardens are at their most atmospheric. I plan the entire portrait session to make the most of those 40 minutes.
Fast, Elegant Delivery
Your Lake Como images are delivered within four weeks of the wedding as a full-resolution, beautifully curated gallery — every image naturally processed, warm and true to the colours of the Italian light.
Lake Como Wedding Photography FAQs
Do you photograph at Villa Balbianello?
Yes — Villa Balbianello at Lenno is one of my favourite venues on the lake. It is an FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) property with specific photography rules and timetabling requirements that I am very familiar with. I work with your coordinator to plan the coverage around the Villa's access windows and make the most of the famous loggia view at the best light.
How do you travel to Lake Como for weddings?
I travel from the UK by flight into Milan Malpensa or Bergamo, then by train or transfer to the lake. I always build in a full day before the wedding for travel, and I am happy to do a venue recce the day before if timing allows. All travel costs are included within the package price for Lake Como.
What is the best time of year for Lake Como wedding photography?
Late April through June is exceptional — the azalea season at Villa Carlotta, blossom on the hillsides, the alpine snowcaps still visible, and very clear light. September is excellent too: the summer crowds thin, the light softens, and the gardens are still lush. July and August can be very hot and more crowded, though the sunsets are often spectacular.
Can we have an engagement session on the lake before the wedding?
Absolutely — a pre-wedding engagement session on Lake Como is a wonderful way for us to get comfortable working together before the wedding day, and it also lets you experience the environment and light conditions. It can be done the day before the wedding or on a separate visit. The Premium package includes an engagement session; it can be added to other packages for an additional fee.
Do you offer a second photographer for Lake Como weddings?
Yes — a second shooter is available as an add-on and is particularly useful for larger Lake Como weddings with multiple ceremony or reception venues, boat transfers during key moments, or large guest parties. Please mention this when you enquire and I can recommend the right setup for your day.
Plan Your Lake Como Wedding Photography
Tell me about your Lake Como wedding — the venue, the date, the look you have in mind. I'd love to discuss how we can create photographs that do full justice to one of the world's most beautiful settings.
Get in Touch
Let's Create Together
Tell me about your vision and I'll be in touch within 24 hours.