Noto Portrait Photography / Photographer in Sicily

Photos from a beautiful sunrise Noto Portrait Photography session, with an Australian-Italian Photographer in Sicily, plus some tips for how to make the most of your trip to Noto, Sicily!

It was a humid, sticky morning when Flaviana & Antonio met me outside of Noto’s famous cathedral. We’d all woken up before the crack of dawn in a futile attempt to avoid the heat, but nonetheless, we were grateful to see this beautiful town before the August crowds began to line the streets. As soon as I started sharing stories of Noto to my Instagram, the messages began pouring in – it seemed friends & followers only had good things to say about this coastal baroque town. And as luck would have it, my trip there coincided perfectly with Flaviana & Antonio’s. Safe to say, we couldn’t not take the chance to create some beautiful Noto Portrait Photography together. 

NOTO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY | PHOTOGRAPHER IN SICILY

Noto, Sicily: What you need to know

Noto can be found nestled into the hills just a short drive from Sicily’s rugged southeastern coast. It was rebuilt from scratch after the old town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, and is packed to the brim with stunning baroque architecture. Truly, everywhere you turn you’ll be greeted with another beautiful façade or hidden courtyard. It’s no wonder Noto is part of a UNESCO Heritage Site!

Along with Flaviana & Antonio, I visited Noto in August which… well… as any Italian will tell you, is probably the worst time to visit any of Italy’s famed summer destinations. It’s packed with Italians on their annual August holiday, as well as travelers & tourists from around the world. Still, I didn’t mind watching the crowds go by and making the most of Noto’s relaxed nightlife after spending our days exploring the nearby beaches and towns. Honestly, if August is the only time you can go, Noto is well worth it! But I’d recommend visiting in either June, July, September, or even October if you can, when the weather is still warm, but the crowds are smaller.

My other main piece of advice if you’re planning a trip to Noto is that it’s well worth hiring a car! Parking in the town’s center can be difficult, but you’ll appreciate the freedom to explore during the day.

If you’d like to know more about what it’s like to Visit Noto, then check out the blog I created with a few of my favourite beaches, nearby towns to visit and where to eat & drink! Just follow this link 🙂

Noto Portrait Photography

Flaviana & Antonio spent their days in Noto much like I did. Mornings were for creamy granitas downed with the softest brioche buns. The daytime was for exploring the towns surrounding beauties, like Marzamemi, Calamosche Beach, and the magical Island of Ortigia. Nights were for indulging in Sicily’s endless delicious plates of food, from pasta with pistachio pesto to the freshest seafood to crisp, refreshing wines.

But for one morning, they decided to do something a little different and come out for Noto Couples Portraits with yours truly! We met just after sunrise in front of Noto’s epic cathedral, before exploring the sweet side alleys and beautiful vine-covered courtyards. It was only the second time I did portraits for a couple speaking Italian, so I was a little nervous, but that quickly passed as these two beautiful lovers laughed and cuddled their way around the old Sicilian town.

“Rhianna photographed me and my boyfriend on a super hot day of August in Sicily. It was a beautiful day! Rhianna was able to make us comfortable, making us laugh and always giving us different ideas. I was really impressed by her professionalism, competence and creativity. The final photos are wonderful, she managed to grasp our smiles and the photos have amazing colors!
I recommend her to everyone… she is great !!”

Flaviana

Photographer in Sicily

Although this was my first official photo session as a Photographer in Sicily, I knew straight away that we had to make it a sunrise session. Sunrise and sunset are traditionally the best times for portrait sessions thanks to their beautiful soft light. In a busy area like Noto though (and any other coastal areas of Sicily in August!), sunrise is the best bet as it’s the only way to avoid the crowds. In the evening, Noto Cathedral’s famous towering stairs are lined with couples, friends, and families chatting away, devouring fritto misto from oily paper cones, and indulging in fresh gelato. It’s beautiful and nostalgic in its own right – a true Italian summer experience – but not necessarily the best for beautiful Noto Portrait Photography!

Instead, the early hours of the morning provide (slightly) cooler air and dreamy empty streets for you to explore with your Sicily Photographer there to document it all. Plus, there’s the promise of a new day that will be filled with beautiful new adventures to look forward to (and if you’re like Flaviana, Antonio & I, a trip to Noto’s famous Bar Pasticceria Mangiafico Mandolfiore for a refreshing granita.

Are you planning a trip to Noto and are looking to hire a Photographer in Sicily so you can take a beautiful gallery of photos home with you? Or perhaps you’re planning a destination wedding or elopement in Sicily? Either way, I’d love to meet you there and document your trip with a beautiful portrait session. Just get in touch to find out more!

Or did you just love Flaviana & Antonio’s Noto Portrait Photography? Then let them know in the comments below!