One of my favorite things about returning clients, is getting to see their families grow! I first met the Plankenhorns back in the fall for a holiday family photoshoot. Little Fynn was the cutest – playing in the sand and building forts with sticks. Fast forward to last month, Falk contacted me to let me know Kristina was EXPECTING!!!! They wanted to know if I had any availability for an east coast Sicily maternity sesssion. Even though my calendar has been packed all year, I absolutely couldn’t say no!!
Falk mentioned they wanted to incorporate Etna into their maternity shoot. Despite our first perspective location falling through, we were still able to incorporate her beauty with the extra added perk of a gorgeous sunset.
One of the things that really gave me all the feels from this shoot, was the inclusion of a very special artifact – a gift from Fynn to his future baby brother. Scroll to the bottom to see what little present he picked out!!
The Plakenhorns | East Coast Sicily Maternity Session
Having our first guest on island really made us stop and think, “If we were visiting Sicily, what would we want to see?” The answer here can certainly be endless, depending on what you’re into. We thought up a ton of day trips that were didn’t have time for in the end. Since Jordan was working while Ashley was in town, we had to coordinate sharing a car, which proved to be a bit more difficult than anticipated. So, besides the day trip we took to Caltagerone, Piazza Armerina, and Enna, we kept our exploration a bit closer to home. Since we live near the east coast of Sicily, we visited some of the top spots along the coast that I’d say you can’t miss! Can you guess what they are?
Four East Coast Must See Towns in Sicily
Taormina
Perhaps the most famous town to visit in all of Sicily? Ashley identified Taormina as a “must see” before she even arrived. Luckily, we have visited there quite often, so it was an easy place to go. We always park in Porta Catania when we go, so you can just walk right into the old town. You can also park in Parcheggio Lumbi and take a shuttle to the old town as well.
Top tip: Visit Hotel Belmond (entrance on the right before you go into the greek theatre, Teatro Antico di Taormina) for a drink and receive complimentary views of Mt. Etna from their stunning outdoor patio. Fair warning, the drinks are $$!
Old Town
Teatro Antico di Taormina
Bam Bar
Noto
If you’ve ever seen the Sicily episode of Chef’s Table, then you’ll understand why you have to stop in Noto for granita, if nothing else. While Bam Bar is for sure my favorite granita spot, no place can beat Cafe Sicilia‘s almond granita. And no, I don’t like it just because of the show. I had it before I ever even watched the show. The show just made me realize why it was so amazing! The town is super cute and has a few spots where you can climb to the top of buildings that overlook the town.
Right outside of Noto is Villa Romana del Tellaro, another archaeological site of an ancient Roman Villa. This villa isn’t nearly as impressive as Villa Romana del Casale (which holds the best preserved Roman mosaics in the world). Thus, I’d recommend check it out only if you’re passing though.
Catania
Catania is definitely the city I have visited the most (see a more in-depth post here). If there is one thing you see in Catania and nothing else, check out the Elephant Square area. Right behind Elephant Square is the Catania Fish Market (La Pescheria). You can acquire exceptional produce, fish, meats and cheese for incredibly low prices. Bring Euro coins, buy fresh foods, enjoy yourself.
Syracuse + Ortygia
Possibly everyone’s favorite city on the east coast of Sicily (okay, maybe not, but it tops my list) is Ortygia. Technically Ortygia is an island off of Sicily, but it is also the historic center of the city of Syracuse. It’s weird and mind boggling a little, but whatever.
I’ve talked about some of the things to do in Ortygia before, here. But this time, we checked some new things off of our list!
Cathedral of Syracuse
To be honest, we have explored so many churches since we moved to Sicily that they are all starting to run together in my head. I have visited the outside of this cathedral many, many times, but for some reason, I was never that intrigued to go in. This time, I went in and noticed something a little bit odd… Greek columns. And, that would because it was originally a Greek doric temple (Temple of Athena) from the 5th century BC! It was really phenomenal to see.
Castello Maniace
We have attempted to visit the Castle Maniace several times, but to no avail. This time we made it! Inside the gates, you can climb the castle walls and get some pretty epic views.
Ortygia’s Street Market
If you get lucky and visit during the morning of any day but Sunday, you’ll get to visit Ortigia’s Street Market. I think Ashley particularly enjoyed trying the fresh seafood there.
While a bit overpriced, the restaurants along the waterway provide incredibly scenic views.
One thing I’ve learned about myself this year is that I tend to befriend strong women. Alexia is one of those women; she’s a mom of two, a fellow photog (check out her work here), an avid gym-goer, and oh, did I mention she just finished her first degree? I honestly have no idea how Alexia does it all, but I am so thankful that she finds time in her hectic schedule to hang out with me!
You might remember Alexia from this adorable family shoot in Ortigia last year. This time, the kids stayed home! Shane took Alexia out in their newly acquired vintage Fiat convertible for an intimate picnic overlooking the Ionian Sea. It was the perfect romantic date. Thanks for letting me tag along, you guys 😉
Alexia + Shane | Italian Fiat Picnic
I feel like it was just yesterday that Brit confided in me that she was pregnant. If you remember back to their gorgeous beachfront gender reveal in November, Brit and Adrian announced how thrilled they were to be expecting a little GIRL! Well, days, weeks and months have passed and their little girl is finally here!!
I was incredibly honored to be invited into their home to photograph their little love just a few weeks after they brought her home from the hospital. I love newborn lifestyle sessions because little tiny babies are just SO cute!!! She was no exception and slept the entire time as she was being doted upon by all. What can I say? Little Viv has the best and most loving parents and I can’t wait to watch her grow.
See a few snaps from our time together down below. Thank you so much to Brit, Adrian, and Viv for having me.
World, meet Vivienne Marie!
Vivienne Marie | Lifestyle Newborn
I “met” Caitlin before either of us ever moved to Sicily and I instantly knew we would be friends. Caitlin is kind, empathetic, and loves animals. She also is a mom to two ADORABLE littles! I always hoped I’d get to photograph her beautiful family. You can image how excited I was when we put a date on our calendars for a one-year anniversary shoot in the lush parks of Catania. It’s the perfect place for littles to run around and for a nice Sicilian backdrop for family photos.
While the backdrop was gorgeous, the Larvicks were STUNNING! I already knew they would come ‘dressed to impress,’ but they really went above and beyond! Bella’s little tutu dress, mom’s formal gown, dad’s suit, and Axil’s cute little button-up shirt were all just what every photographer dreams of!
One year in Sicily down, three more to go for the Larvicks! Happy one-year Sicily anniversary, you guys! I’m so glad to know you and thankful you asked me to document this time in your lives. I hope you love the photos!
The Larvick Family
We were supposed to do thaaangs this weekend, but funny enough they all fell though. About 30 minutes before sunset, I had the idea to bike around our neighborhood and snap some photos for fun. It’s almost the end of orange season in Sicily, so we decided to stop by the orange trees. The photos are silly, but we had a lot of fun. So, here you go!
Orange Season in Sicily
You may recognize Elizabeth and Matt from their Aci Trezza maternity shoot back in November. If not, you can take a peek at their dreamy seaside images here. One of the things I loved most about that shoot (besides Elizabeth and Matt, of course) was the location. Yes, The Aci’s are beautiful, but I loved the fact that Elizabeth picked the location out specifically because it was meaningful for them. It is their home here. And really, that just gave me all the feels. This time, I visited their actual home-home to get some some lifestyle newborn images of the newest Crosetti, George!!
I already loved working with Elizabeth and Matt, and baby George proved to be just as natural of a model as his parents. To be completely honest, I actually started crying when I began editing all of the images. Their love is just too beautiful and contagious and I just couldn’t hold back!
Elizabeth and Matt, thank you so much for having me again!! I am so thankful for your trust in me. I hope you’ll treasure these images for years to come!
Elizabeth + Matt + Baby Crosetti | Lifestyle Newborn
If you regularly read my blog then you’ll recognize the Browns from the Ortigia family travel shoot I did back in early December. Aren’t they just the loveliest family?! This time, I captured the Browns in the Austrian Alps for a stellar Alps ski family vacation!!
Katie is a fabulous travel planner – I know because I’ve used her services and she is a LIFESAVER!! (Check her out here, y’all!!) So, frequent travel is her middle name! When she invited me to photograph her family’s ski vacation in the Austrian Alps, I didn’t even think about saying no! We first flew to Munich and then rented a car to drive to Achenkirch, Austria. The drive was easy and the scenery, simply STUNNING!! Even if skiing isn’t your thing, the views alone are enough motivation to make the trip.
One morning we set up a little shoot to capture the Browns all together in the serene Tirol snow. Little Bella even got some sledding in with her little husky “woof woof.” Isn’t she just adorable?
Thank you so much to the Browns for inviting me along to photograph your skication!!
Austrian Alps Family Ski Vacation
When you talk about dreams coming true, do you ever think about having a photoshoot at THE Eiffel Tower in Paris? Because, granted I am a photographer, but it was definitely on the top of my list when I visited!! Last week, I met up with my beautiful friend, wife, and momma to four, Nellie and her family for exactly that – a photoshoot in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower!!
Originally, Nellie contacted me to schedule a shoot for Christmas card photos. However, the rainy season in Sicily this fall was too crazy, so we ended up having to postpone. When we chatted about when to reschedule, she mentioned she was going to Paris for her 30th birthday and wished I could come for an Eiffel Tower shoot. And just like that, the plan was born, tickets were purchased, and we started getting excited for the big day!!
As I mentioned previously, the photoshoot took place the morning of Nellie’s 30th birthday. What an unforgettable way to ring in 30, right?! What’s more is that Nellie and her husband Joe had been to Paris together before when they were dating. It was incredibly special for them to return years later with their four children. I loved hearing their story, meeting their incredibly well behaved and ADORABLE children, and spending time with their crew on such a special day for Nellie.
I have to say, Nellie, Joe, and their family are some of the kindest people I have ever met. It’s so infectious. Thank you guys so much for letting me crash your vacation! I hope you had fun and love the photos!
Simoneau Family | Paris 30th Birthday Photoshoot
One of the first experiences Jordan and I had in Sicily was visiting an agriturismo. At the time, I don’t think I fully understood what an agriturismo really is (we were visiting for Maddie’s birthday). So, we recently paid another visit to Murgo with our friends Rachel and Aaron. This post is all about the agriturismo experience; one you won’t want to pass up if you visit Italy!
So, what is an agriturismo? Basically, agriturismi (plural) are working farmhouse Bed & Breakfasts (e.g. “farm-stays”). That is, an agriturismo is an independently-owned farm that you can stay in while visiting Italy. Thus, the owners of the “hotel” or agriturismo, are primarily farmers and your room is in the farmhouse or somewhere along the grounds. This all sounds very “unofficial,” however, agriturismi are legitimate businesses and some can be quite fancy! If you want to know the basic historical rundown, essentially, the Italian government began providing tax relief for family farms that opened their doors to visitors in 1985. However, to be legally considered an agriturismo, more income must be generated from farm activities than the B&B.
I have to admit, I have not actually stayed overnight at an agriturismo. Perhaps we will do this later in Tuscany! However, there are so many near our home that I have made several visits for what I consider to be the best part – the food. As they are working farms, the food is local (most from the farm) and AMAZING!! We have been to several agriturismi, and the food has ranged from 30 to 50 euros per person. This includes all courses of a meal. The menu is pre-planned. Some agriturismi serve meals family style (like Murgo) or individually (like Barone di Villagrande). Some include full bottles of wine or wine tastings from the farm’s winery. It all just depends on where you go!
The one thing that I must note is that agriturismi are generally not conveniently located. Since they are working farms, they are usually out in the country. Thus, transportation to-and-from may be difficult to coordinate. Therefore, planning ahead is essential (I always reserve, even for the meal). However, they agriturismi I have been to have been 100% worth the trouble!!
I snapped a few shots of our HUGE meal at Murgo so you can see what 35€ got us (spoiler: a lot!!!) We also spent some time casually wandering around the grounds with Rachel + AJ, so I’ve also included a few shots from our impromptu photoshoot. Enjoy!
Our Meal at Murgo Agriturismo
Murgo
Rachel + AJ’s Impromptu Photoshoot
