Shawna Rae Photography- Italy Elopements & Weddings

Shawna Rae Photography- Italy Elopements & Weddings Canadian now living in Italy to join you on your destination elopements and weddings ❤️ A few things about me: as an outdoorsy person, I love being in nature.

My name is Shawna (she/her) and I am a European destination wedding and elopement photographer specializing in Italy. I'm originally from Vancouver, Canada, and that will always be my true home. I have been travelling all across this great, big world, which started as a solo trip, but in 2015 I picked up this crazy Belgian guy along the way and just couldn't get rid of him ever since. Turned out I

had met the love of my life, and he's put a ring on my finger, so I now live in Europe. The serious bits: A graduate from photography school, I've been shooting professionally since 2013. My specialties are elopements, weddings, honeymoons... anything to do with love - including classy boudoir! I find happiness when I’m surrounded by mountains, trees, and lakes. My favourite drink is green tea. My favourite food is lasagna. I am vegan and try to eat whole foods plant-based because I am against animal cruelty, for the planet, and want to know I did my best to live a healthy life. I'm a huge environment geek and try to lower my footprint whenever I can ( ). Some of my favourite things to do are yoga, rock climbing, hiking, and camping in the wilderness with a cozy fire to curl up by.

I was lucky enough to try out some underwater gear from in Hawaii and use my sister + her boyfriend as mer-models 🌊✨Spe...
06/05/2026

I was lucky enough to try out some underwater gear from in Hawaii and use my sister + her boyfriend as mer-models 🌊✨

Spent some time chasing light underwater, and along the way we even spotted a few sea turtles 🐢🤍 (and yes, we kept our distance, though sometimes they got a little curious).

This was right after that storm in March this year (I’m sure many of you know the one), so the conditions sadly weren’t great the first few days. But we got some clarity later on in the week!

And let me say...I’ve been humbled. Holy guacamole, underwater photography is a tough job! I learned so much, and I’m happy to now better understand the prep work, conditions, and gear needed in order to do it well. I hope to be able to try this again one day, preferably not post-storm 😅

For now, you can find me back in the mountains.

05/27/2026

I don’t normally jump on trends, but when I do, I like to include a sad sense of humor 🥲

PS: everyone back up all your important photos in multiple places! You just never know, and losing those precious memories is absolutely heartbreaking.

Your love story deserves more than just one day 🫶🏻With K+A’s elopement, they 100% realized that. We had actually planned...
05/23/2026

Your love story deserves more than just one day 🫶🏻

With K+A’s elopement, they 100% realized that. We had actually planned for 2 days, but it ended up being 3!

🏔️ We got to do some of the coolest things in the Dolomites. We had an intimate ceremony in Val di Funes for sunset, managed a sunrise hike to Cadini di Misurina, and more sunsets and sunrises in between. We hit up the most beautiful spots around and enjoyed them all to the fullest.

What I loved most about this adventure was how every part of it felt different. Without having that extra time, we wouldn’t have had the energy to create such beautiful moments and, therefore, photos. Rushing and trying to fit everything into one day isn’t the recommended way to spend your best day ever.

This is the beauty of multi-day elopements. More space to breathe, slow down, experience a place fully, and to create memories in between the highlights. 🌞

POV: You’re choosing your activities for your elopement day.☕ You can start the morning with a cappuccino in hand and ep...
05/14/2026

POV: You’re choosing your activities for your elopement day.

☕ You can start the morning with a cappuccino in hand and epic mountain views.
🛶 Maybe have a relaxed boatride across a glacial lake.
🚁 Soar above the peaks as the sun pokes over the horizon.
🧺 Picnics out of a fairytale.
💦 Feel the cool spray of a waterfall.

Think of it like this: You have a budget for a wedding. You don’t want to be the center of attention. You don’t want to feel obliged to do your wedding this or that way, according to your mother-in-law. You don’t want to worry about if everyone is having a good time.

You DO want to focus on each other, because this is YOUR day together, not theirs. You do want to make this day the most memorable day ever. A day to cherish forever, one that brings tears to your eyes when you think about it. Not just from the emotions, but from how freaking epic it was, and you can’t believe you did that!

Think of the possibilities, start daydreaming, open your mind to what your true best-day-ever would be. Put your wedding budget towards those things. Travel. Hike. Surf. Whatever you want to do! Throw expectations out the window and do something that would set your soul on fire ❤️‍🔥

Save this, or send it to someone who needs some inspo ❤️

     

I don’t normally shoot PNW elopements, but when I do, I want to move back home 🥹🌲 I’m so lucky to have been born in such...
05/05/2026

I don’t normally shoot PNW elopements, but when I do, I want to move back home 🥹

🌲 I’m so lucky to have been born in such a beautiful part of the world. I might not live there at the moment, but I always have the great excuse to go back for a visit.

This year, I got to spend some time with L, A, and their newest addition, Albie 🐾. For their elopement, they wanted to celebrate in a place that meant a lot to their relationship. Bowen Island was that place, and I was really digging it.

L & A love the quietude, the coastal forests, and the cider! I loved it all too, and must say, I’m already looking forward to another trip back.

So if you’re looking to elope on one of the islands off the coast of BC, don’t hesitate to reach out 🫶🏻

Cherry blossom season, Mount Fuji in the background, sunshine, and love: yes please 🌸✨H + R were already married, but af...
04/09/2026

Cherry blossom season, Mount Fuji in the background, sunshine, and love: yes please 🌸✨

H + R were already married, but after seeing my Japan travel posts, they reached out and told me they wanted to do a post-wedding photo shoot near Fuji, a place they’d never been before, right as sakura season hit.

So obviously… we made something out of it 😍

You don’t need a wedding day to create magic… sometimes you just need the right place, the right season, and a reason to dress up together 💫

Elopements in 2026 have a vibe 👀🚨 Warning: These are not your average weddings.They’re built around experience, and for ...
03/30/2026

Elopements in 2026 have a vibe 👀

🚨 Warning: These are not your average weddings.

They’re built around experience, and for adventurous souls who would rather be on a mountain or on a boat than at a head table 🥂🌊⛰️

My couples are choosing:
A sunrise ceremony high in the Dolomites 🌄
A slow five-star morning in robes with a cappucino in hand 🛁✨
A helicopter landing or private boat ride just because they want to do something adventurous 🚁🛥️
Two or three days chasing waterfalls and black sand beaches in Iceland 🌊🌫️
An intimate dinner where they can really focus on the experience they’re having, and each other 👩🏻‍❤️‍👩🏼

Luxury in 2026 = experience > tradition 💫

I wrote a full blog post about what couples are investing in instead of a big wedding, and it’s live on my website if you want to read more 🤍

Save this if you’re planning your elopement

Currently freezing in the Dolomites and emotionally spiraling back to beach days in Cannes ☃️➡️☀️So obviously I’m thinki...
02/27/2026

Currently freezing in the Dolomites and emotionally spiraling back to beach days in Cannes ☃️➡️☀️

So obviously I’m thinking about Alexia + Jeremy living their best lives on the beach in Cannes, and sailing into golden hour like they’re in a rom-com I would 100% rewatch.

The duality of being an elopement photographer:
One week I’m hiking through alpine passes with windburn. The next I’m on a sailboat while trying not to drop my camera into the Mediterranean.

Where are you eloping… snowy peaks or salty breeze? 🏔️🌊✨

These shots were taken at Reynisfjara before the recent erosion reshaped the shoreline.The beach looks really different ...
02/19/2026

These shots were taken at Reynisfjara before the recent erosion reshaped the shoreline.

The beach looks really different right now. The ocean has taken a lot of the sand back, and the coastline feels smaller and more exposed. It’s always a little surreal to see a place you love change so quickly.

That’s something I’ve learned about Iceland. It’s constantly moving, the weather is relentless, and the landscapes never fail to surprise you. I absolutely love every gust of wind that tangles my hair so badly I want to cut it off (unpopular opinion? 🤷🏼‍♀️), there’s something I find deeply moving about the chaos that Iceland brings.

That being said, it’s super beautiful and you should definitely elope there 😅

In all seriousness, with proper guidance it’s a breathtaking place, and I’m so grateful I got to document this version of Reynisfjara when I did. Even with these changes, we’ve got so many other options we can explore together. The magic of Iceland is endless ✨

I’ll be back this coming July, are you ready to join me then?

 

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