PHOTOGRAPHING LOVe in the Dolomites, Alps, and Iceland
Elopement & Wedding Photographer local to the Dolomites
Pack your bags, get your tickets, don't forget that extra pair of socks, and get married however you want to!
xx Shawna
Do you feel overwhelmed AF when trying to plan your elopement? For just a moment, stop, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Exhale slowly, I'm here to help you.
Where do you see yourself while you’re tying the knot? Are you surrounded by the Swiss Alps or the jagged peaks of the Dolomites? Maybe you taste the salty breeze coming off the Mediterranean sea, or are surrounded by the Mars-like landscapes of Iceland.
I will help you create your dream-come-true wedding and equip you with lasting, smile-inducing memories. THIS IS YOUR CHOICE; march down that isle, up that hill, or through that river to the beat of your own drum!
I am an elopement and wedding photographer nestled in the mountains of Northern Italy; The Dolomites. I'm available Europe-wide, with my second-most popular locations being Paris, Iceland, and Switzerland.
Your Memories Matter
Tradition isn't for you?
What is a modern day elopement or intimate wedding?
you're not alone
- It's All About the Two of You, instead of being focusing on trying to keep everyone else happy
- You share your vows Much More Intimately between you and your partner, without the anxiety of having to do it in front of a big audience
- Your Besties Only. Either sharing the day just between the two of you or having anywhere from 2-20 guests
- A full day of Adventure spent However You Want (sky's the limit!), instead of being stuck to chatting with your drunk uncle all night
- A Stress-Free Day Without Obligations, instead of nail-biting over whether or not the cake is going to arrive on time and if everyone is having fun
Ready to grab your wedding by the bells and exercise your right to do things according to your wildest fantasies?
Imagine your best-day-ever with you and your partner, from the moment you get out of bed until the sun sets - that's where we'll start.
The part where I come in
Planning made easy
The long story short: I'M HERE FOR YOU. There's no better third wheel out there to ride along on your wedding day, because I'll be there to capture every moment of your eternal epicness.
It's true- I'm Canadian. But since I've moved to Italy, I now know Europe like the back of my hand. Location and activity ideas? I have them all.
I'm not here to guide your elopement or wedding through posed photos, I'm here to join you on your adventure and take pictures along the way.
Hi, I'm Shawna
Thank you! I will respond within 48 hours. Don't forget to check your spam and promotions folders.
The Word on the Street...
"When my girlfriend told me she organised a photography session for us on the streets of Lisbon, I was a little bit shocked and quite nervous. I have never done such a thing before and didn't know how to pose or pretend I'm comfortable. Well, no need for that - as soon as we met with Shawna I felt completely relaxed! She is such a nice person and really makes you feel like she's just a friend randomly taking photos. I don't know how, but two hours with her just flew by and now we're left with such a nice experience and even more incredible photos! I can't believe how beautiful we look on them😊 Shawna, thank you so much for this opportunity, we appreciate it alot, we will be showing these photos proudly to our grandkids in the future😅 Really, we never thought we would feel so comfortable during a photoshoot and that the result will be so amazing! We can recommend Shawna to anyone!"
*(From Niki & Eva's engagement photo shoot, which I continued on to shoot their elopement in Slovenia 2 years later)
- Niki + Eva
Pack Rafting Adventure Elopement in Slovenia
"Shawna is not only an incredible photographer, but also an amazing person and if we could give her higher than 5 stars, we would!! From our first video chat until the day we finished up, we feel like she went above and beyond for us. We were traveling from the US to Italy for a private elopement and we could tell immediately from our first video chat that she was who we wanted to capture our experience because she was personable and very knowledgeable about the area with great ideas for locations to include exactly what we were envisioning. She was flexible and created a custom package to accommodate our trip and was willing to travel to two or three different locations to get a variety of shots. Throughout the process, communication was excellent and she was easily reachable for any and all questions. She always responded quickly and sent useful reminders and information leading up to our date, including making alternate plans in the event of rain or bad weather. Her private elopement guide was also helpful for finding vendors and services since we did not have an elopement planner and did not know where to even start looking."
*(Part 1/3 of thier Google review)
-Aimee + Matthew
Elopement in the Dolomites
"Our entire elopement was made because of Shawna. I would 11/10 recommend her to anyone!
We shot in Rome and the mountains of the Amalfi coast, and she has a mastery of landscape shooting (while not losing the couple in the incredible shots) as well as urban cityscapes. We chose her because her website galleries are absolutely stunning in these two settings that we knew we wanted, and I can confidently say she delivered the same spectacular results for us as well.
During the planning and shooting process Shawna is, above all, flexible and supportive. We changed our ideas on exactly what we wanted frequently, and every time Shawna helped us look into logistics and feasibility and offered ideas, until we landed on something we were ecstatic with. Leading up to the day, of course, there was rain forecasted during every activity we had planned. Shawna helped move everything around at the last minute, and it turned out perfect.
Me and my husband are not particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but somehow Shawna made it so easy, and genuinely fun. I often feel like regular photos never capture how I really see my partner/ how we see each other. But Shawna’s work truly captures the love we share with one another and I’m so grateful to have these memories and experiences captured forever.
In the end her (and her husband Harry!) are great people, she is fantastic at her job, and she delivers unbelievable results. Sharing such an important event of our life with Shawna wasn’t just easy and comfortable, it actually improved the experience."
- Hanna + Clark
Elopement in Rome + Amalfi Coast
"Where do I even begin? Shawna was an absolutely incredible photographer and a huge part of what made our proposal so magical. From our very first conversation, her clear communication, thoughtful guidance, and genuine enthusiasm made us feel like we were in the very best hands.
Planning a surprise proposal can be stressful, especially when it involves helicopters and remote locations, but Shawna made the entire experience seamless. She went above and beyond – helping me pick the perfect spot to pop the question, and even guiding us in choosing the right helicopter company to take us on a private tour and land in a secluded, breathtaking location. It was more than I ever imagined – and she helped make it happen.
Her photography skills are unbelievable. The images she captured of our proposal and the moments after are absolutely stunning – beautifully composed, emotional, and timeless. These are photos we will treasure for a lifetime. She also has a real gift for making people feel at ease in front of the camera. Neither of us are used to being photographed, but Shawna’s warm, friendly, and down-to-earth nature instantly put us both at ease. She offered just the right amount of guidance to help us pose naturally while still keeping everything fun and relaxed.
Another thing we hugely appreciated was Shawna’s flexibility — she broke our shoot into two separate sessions so we could have photos at both the proposal site (Cadini di Misurina) and a second, scenic location (Lago di Braies). It meant we didn’t feel rushed and were able to really enjoy each part of the experience.
Shawna, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. You played such a vital role in one of the most important days of our lives, and we are so thankful for your talent, your support, and your warmth throughout."
- Arjun + Nadia
Proposal in the Dolomites
"We had the absolute pleasure of working with Shawna for our wedding in Croatia— and we can confidently say she exceeded every expectation we had.
From the very beginning, Shawna impressed us with her creativity, professionalism, and clear communication. She made us feel at ease and truly captured the essence of our day with such care and artistry. The photos we got back are absolutely stunning. They were even more beautiful than we had imagined — timeless, emotional, and and filled with the kind of small, magical moments you never want to forget.
What truly sets Shawna apart is how much she genuinely cares. She even helped us find our wedding planner, which led to the fairytale wedding we always dreamed of. On top of that, she sent us sneak peeks of our photos literally less than 24 hours from our wedding day— and they were breathtaking.
If you’re planning a wedding anywhere in Europe, I cannot recommend Shawna enough. We are from Canada so it can sometimes feel anxious looking for vendors half way across the world but you have nothing to worry about with Shawna! Her talent is unmatched, and her dedication is truly special. We’re so grateful to have had her as part of our day!"
- Maddie + Tristan
Croatian Wedding
awards & features
awards & features
Reach out
Send me an email or fill out the form below
hello@shawnaraephotography.com
Or simply send me an email...
Are you interested in going on a well-documented adventure with me? Then fill out the form with any questions you have. I do my best to reply within 48 hours, although I could be out shooting a session or hiking in the mountains with no reception.
2026 Travel dates:
March 21-27 JAPAN
March 31-April 6 MAUI, HAWAII
April 6-30 VANCOUVER, BC
July 1-14 ICELAND
August- SWITZERLAND
© Shawna Rae Photography 2025
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