This is part three of posts about Italy. To read in order, see parts one and two here.

When our train arrived at Napoli Centrale, our driver from Transfer Relax was waiting to take us to our hotel in Praiano. I found Transfer Relax about a year ago when I was researching a safe and easy way to get to the Amalfi Coast from the Naples train station. They had tons of great reviews and our experiences with them have been perfect. The first time we were on the Amalfi Coast, we rented a gorgeous villa through Airbnb but this time it was just the two of us and I had a hotel voucher from Travelocity to use. Praiano is the next city after Positano, and it was the closest we could get without over spending, so we lucked out on Hotel il Pino and loved it there. It had gorgeous views from the lobby, painted ceramic tile everywhere (famous from the region) and they treated us well. They even upgraded us to a sea view room, which we got super excited about. Our room was cute and comfortable but opening the doors to the balcony made our experience.

We spent the late morning napping on the balcony with the sun warming our skin. Eventually, we got up to look for lunch in town. The hotel is really close to the main area of Praiano so it only took us a few minutes to find what we were looking for. On the Amalfi Coast, you’re an hour south of Naples, the birthplace of pizza, and after having true pizza as it was intended on our first trip to southern Italy, we were itching to have it again. We found a casual spot with tables facing the water and ordered a pizza alla diavola and Chris had a Fanta limon (lemons are also famous in the region). And OMG when the pizza finally arrived, it was the best one yet. IWantAnotherOneSoBadRightNow. :(

After lunch, we walked around town some more, went to the room and enjoyed the views some more, went out for dinner and then got ready for another early morning ahead. It was a nice day of relaxation.

The next morning, I’d finally get to meet Vivi, the original person who inquired with me about an anniversary session in Positano. If not for her, we wouldn’t have thought we’d be headed back to Italy so soon. We needed to get to Positano before the sunrise, but even the buses don’t run that early, so our sweet clients, Vivi and Kumaran sent for a taxi to pick us up at our hotel in Praiano.

When the driver dropped us off, we were each greeted with a warm hug by Kumaran. You know when you meet someone and instantly get that warm fuzzy feeling that tells you, “Hey, this person is so nice. I like them!” Well, that’s exactly how we felt and I knew that we were going to have a great session ahead! We made our way down the stairs and met Vivi on the way down.

Vivi and Kumaran are big travelers.  They live in Canada and have spent their marriage adventuring together all over the world. We loved hearing their travel stories and gushing over some of our mutual favorite places. They’ve been everywhere we want to go! They’re basically our #couplegoals. :D

Everyone who knows Chris and I knows that I’m the chatty one and Chris is the quiet one. It takes him longer to feel comfortable around people. Not with these two. Chris was laughing and talking and being his real self, the version you get when you really know him. That goes to show just how much we adored them!

When Vivi and I spoke on the phone months earlier, she said that she and her husband hadn’t had professional photos taken since their wedding in 2012. Positano was one of their favorite places and after seeing a photo session that I did there once before, they thought it’d be the perfection location.

The session was to commemorate five years of marriage, and what made it extra special is that we got to do the session on their actual fifth anniversary. We had an epic sunrise to start off, and had the beach to ourselves as the sun began to finally warm us up. Vivi and Kumaran are so sweet together. They spoke in kind words to each other and posed so naturally in each other’s arms. I remember being so excited as I was shooting these. Frame after frame was so beautiful and romantic. Real love photographs well. Between this perfect couple and the location, the morning was magical.

After an outfit change, we made our way through the cliffside shops, up and up and up to the top for a different vantage point. From this point on, we were mostly just enjoying conversation. It was like we were on vacation with old friends, just enjoying the sights. Positano by day, especially in the last days of summer is beyond crowded. We got stuck in traffic later that morning trying to get out. But Positano just after sunrise is different. Before the umbrellas go up, it’s serene and calm, still colorful and charming. Such a special experience, even now, looking back.

Vivi and Kumaran know this because we keep in touch, but Chris and I are both so grateful for this experience, so happy to have met them. I know I’m the most sentimental person in the world, but Vivi’s email inquiry changed everything. It was the catalyst that led to me photographing an elopement in Italy and an anniversary session in Florence. It gave my husband and I seven days of uninterrupted time together, something that always renews our relationship.

To top it all off, we spent the morning with great people! Somehow, Chris and I have been so lucky when we meet people abroad. We met Gavin and Maddie in Maui (well, the guys already knew each other, but the wives didn’t!) and hit it off instantly, and then Veronica and John, Vivi and Kumaran and Sarah and Reis. All amazing couples. It must be a travel thing. Like-minded couples who want to see the world. Maybe. Anyway, thank you, Vivi, for liking my work enough to reach out and ask. It led to some beautiful memories!

 

**Part four of my posts about Italy will be about Conca dei Marini, Atrani and Sarah and Reis’ gorgeous elopement at Palazzo Ferraioli.**