A Lake Como Interlude

An Italian love story through Bellagio, Villa Melzi and Varenna, with a final escape onto the waters of Lake Como.

She is wearing an elegant red dress, but right now, the most important thing is the gelato in her hand. They are walking through a narrow passage in Varenna, smiling as they navigate the old stone steps together. There is something wonderfully Italian about the contrast: the beautiful clothes, the historic surroundings, and the simple pleasure of an afternoon with nowhere in particular to hurry.

Lake Como has long been associated with grand villas, beautiful gardens and an unmistakable sense of romance. Yet beyond its celebrated scenery lies a quieter charm, found in the little moments that make a journey personal. For this editorial couple photoshoot, we followed that feeling from the lively streets of Bellagio to the gardens of Villa Melzi, through the romantic corners of Varenna and finally onto the open water from Punta Spartivento.

Bellagio, An Italian Beginning

Our day began among the cobbled streets and warm-coloured façades of Bellagio, where the village offers its own effortless sense of style. A yellow Vespa, a black dress, oversized sunglasses and a white lace scarf brought a playful touch of vintage Italian glamour to the opening portraits. Against the faded buildings and green shutters, even the simplest compositions carried the character of the place.

Away from the more deliberate fashion-inspired photographs, there were moments of genuine affection. An embrace beside the fountain, a familiar glance and the easy movement of two people enjoying the day together. The photographs found their rhythm between these contrasts, allowing the elegance of the surroundings to sit comfortably alongside the couple’s own personalities. Nothing needed to feel overly arranged, particularly when the most interesting moments were happening naturally.

Among the Gardens of Villa Melzi

A little farther along the lakeshore, the gardens of Villa Melzi introduced a more tranquil atmosphere. Classical sculptures, carefully maintained greenery and graceful architectural details offered a different kind of beauty, one that invited a slower pace and a more considered approach to the photographs.

Here, the portraits took on a softer character. Light fabric moved against weathered stone, while the surrounding architecture lent a sense of proportion and quiet grandeur. Rather than filling every frame, we allowed the gardens to become part of the composition, preserving the relationship between the people, the landscape and the remarkable setting around them.

There is a particular pleasure in photographs that leave room for the imagination. The gentle movement of a dress, a figure framed by an archway or the stillness of a garden in the afternoon can say as much as a grand romantic gesture. At Villa Melzi, these quieter details gave the story a sense of calm before the livelier scenes that followed.

Varenna, A Romance in Red

Varenna has a character all its own. Its colourful buildings rise above the waterfront, while narrow lanes and old stone staircases lead through the village in unexpected directions. There is an intimacy to its architecture, with beautiful little corners revealing themselves almost by accident.

Against the muted colours of the village, the deep red dress brought a new energy to the photographs. Beside a weathered doorway, he gently raised her hand to his lips, a gesture of affection that felt beautifully at home among the historic surroundings. The pale tones of his suit, the rich crimson fabric and the textured stone created one of the most romantic compositions of the day.

Yet some of the photographs we love most came from the moments in between. Walking together through the village, stopping for gelato and sharing a smile along the way, they brought their own warmth to the setting. The elegance of the portraits was beautiful, but it was their natural connection that made the photographs feel personal.

Varenna offered both sides of the experience: the romance of an Italian film and the uncomplicated happiness of spending time together. The combination gave this part of the story a warmth that no perfectly planned sequence of portraits could have achieved on its own.

Punta Spartivento, The Last Light on the Water

Returning to Bellagio, our final destination was Punta Spartivento, where the village reaches towards the meeting of Lake Como’s three branches. After the intimate streets and historic gardens, the open landscape felt extraordinary. Mountains stretched into the distance, the water reflected the changing afternoon light, and the scenery offered a beautiful setting for the final part of the session.

A white polka-dot dress and a delicate lace scarf brought a lighter, more relaxed mood to the photographs. The wind added its own movement, catching loose strands of hair and lifting the fabric as the lake stretched out behind her. From here, we continued aboard a classic motorboat, leaving the shoreline behind for an entirely different perspective on Lake Como.

With its polished wooden details and cream-coloured seats, the boat had a charm perfectly suited to the surroundings. The couple settled into the experience, exchanging smiles as the mountains passed in the distance. At one point, he raised his camera to photograph her, capturing a little memory of his own. It was an affectionate, spontaneous moment, made all the more meaningful by the simplicity of the gesture.

As the light softened, the scenery took on warmer tones and the photographs became increasingly intimate. The movement of the boat, the reflections across the water and the changing mountain silhouettes gave the final images a natural sense of freedom. There was no need for elaborate direction when the experience itself offered so much to remember.

The closing photograph captures the boat from above, a small shape surrounded by the vast waters of Lake Como. After the colour and character of Bellagio, the quiet elegance of Villa Melzi and the romance of Varenna, the story ends with a beautiful simplicity.

Two people, an unforgettable place, and a collection of moments that belong entirely to them.

Your Own Lake Como Story

The beauty of Lake Como is different for everyone. Perhaps it is the charm of its historic villages, the elegance of a lakeside garden or the feeling of travelling across the water as the afternoon light begins to fade. What makes the experience memorable, however, is sharing it with someone who gives those places a meaning of their own.

At Image Studio, we create photographic stories that bring together considered editorial portraits and the natural moments that unfold along the way. Whether you are celebrating an engagement, an anniversary, a honeymoon or simply a beautiful journey together, we would love to bring your vision to life. Tell Us Your Story