On a warm afternoon in late summer, we met at one of Vienna’s most romantic historic venues — Villa Hermes. Hidden inside the peaceful Lainzer Tiergarten, this neoclassical residence once belonged to Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) and today remains one of the most atmospheric places for intimate couple portraits and elopements in Vienna’s surroundings. Soft light, quiet gardens and elegant architecture created the perfect backdrop for two people celebrating their love.

Vienna is one thing, but the mountains are something else entirely! If you live in the city, you might not realize just how gorgeous the mountains are. The real mountains are about four hours away from Vienna by car, but it's so worth it! If you only have one day, you might as well make the most of it! And if you can, try to plan at least one overnight stay. Matthias and Svetlana were kind enough to invite me to do a photoshoot in Carinthia. I arrived on Friday evening, and on Saturday we drove to the absolutely gorgeous village of Malta (I know, right?). From there, the mountain road takes you to the Kölnbreinsperre reservoir and the dam at an altitude of 1950m. On the way, we passed a truly breathtaking waterfall, and of course, we just had to stop and take it all in. I'm so grateful to the locals for showing me these incredible spots. It was such an excitingly beautiful romantic shoot. I hope you enjoy watching it!