Yacht photographer in Italy

Portofino is one of the most recognisable backdrops in yachting: a small harbour, painted houses and a green headland. Space is limited in high season, so we plan exterior shots from the water and the air, and use the anchorages along the Tigullio coast for running shots with the headland in frame.

Liguria and northern Tuscany are also where much of the Italian superyacht industry is based, with yard clusters around La Spezia and Viareggio. For shipyards and project managers we cover launches, sea trials, handovers and refit progress, with press-ready images and film for the yard, the designer and the owner.

The Amalfi Coast is built for yacht film. Villages climb straight up the cliffs, and a yacht at anchor off Positano or Amalfi gives a frame that needs very little explanation. Capri adds the Faraglioni rocks and deep blue water, and is a natural stop on the same day when the sea allows.

The cliffs face south, so the light changes quickly. We usually shoot exteriors early in the morning and late in the afternoon, keep the middle of the day for interiors and deck scenes, and plan drone flights around local aviation rules and restricted zones. Anchorages are busy in July and August, so timing matters as much as position.

Porto Cervo is the centre of the Costa Smeralda and one of the busiest superyacht destinations in the Mediterranean in summer. The coastline around it, with granite rocks and bright turquoise bays, is ideal for aerial work and lifestyle scenes. The La Maddalena archipelago nearby is a national park, so we check navigation and anchoring rules for each location before the shoot.

Northern Sardinia is exposed to the mistral, which can blow hard for several days. We keep the plan flexible and move between sheltered bays when needed.

Further south, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands offer volcanic landscapes, dark sand and a quieter feel. They suit charter marketing that wants to show a different side of Italy, and can be combined with Amalfi or Capri in one quote.