Dream-like Wedding Photography at Austria's most Well-known Art History Museum: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien | Vienna Fashion Wedding Photography

There are large and well known European cities such as Paris, London, Rome...

Compared to that, Central European cities such as Vienna, Prague, Budapest may be more compact and easier to travel within and between.

They're all connected by train, and so travelers from outside of Europe often stay for only a few days in these Central European cities. It's the case for many Japanese couples here for their honeymoon.

My favorite 1st district of Vienna offers impressive tourist spots conveniently accessible on foot.

Once you set foot on these streets, you realize:

Vienna's spectacular and detailed architecture

Somehow nostalgic but modern atmosphere

filled with art and music.

I soak in all of these rich flavor of culture as I prepare for the special photo sessions at the KHM.

On the stairs leading up from the ground floor.

These photos on the stairs were photographed with a 16mm wide lens but even so, it is difficult to fit all details of the ceiling into a single photo - it's that spacious!

Thanks to my photo assistant who is running back and fourth between the camera to the couple to support with posing and dress layout.

The stairs in the center diverge into two separate routes up to the room with paintings. The morning sunshine lights through the large windows on both sides.

Soft, blue, filmy tones.

Here are some highlights of the photo-weddings I do, especially at the KHM.

Firstly and intuitively, I include some essence of fashion photography: movement movement movement, flash.

By movement, of course the couple is changing the pose, walking, dancing - but I, am also constantly moving around and changing angles.

Almost like photos you see on Vouge's page, where a celebrity is quickly photographed upon their arrival at a fashion show or event. Very less focus on posing.

Since we are photographing prior to the standard opening hours of the museum, we enter the museum from a separate side entrance and make our way up to the main entrance area.

When we reached this area, I immediately place the bride & groom at the center where they accepted these movements without hesitation: dancing with the dress, looking in different directions, staring contest with each other, all captured in 360 degrees.

Conversation at Austria's most beautiful cafe.

Next point: I like to capture "moments" rather than strictly posed photos- like scenes paused from a movie.

Using harsh light as an advantage to create B&W silhouettes.

When we arrive at each photo spot, I will usually give you one starting pose along with a scene I want you two to imagine or feel together.

Then, I leave it up to you two to talk, imagine, connect with each other and express what comes naturally to you.

This way, the photos transition from normal to meaningful: a story-like scene.

With these amazing two, a scene that came to mind was "arriving at the ball."

All dressed up and ready to dance to the music.

This allows more movement without using the word "movement"

A natural excitement, when I ask them to imagine

What music will be playing?

What music would you like them to play?

You two are the prince and princesses of the evening?

When the bride mentioned her favorite music is from Arashi, a Japanese idol group, I told her,

"What if they were waiting upstairs for you? Oh, I think I hear them rehearsing at a distance?"

Their reaction is everything, that are just amazing moments to capture and look back at.

I told the groom, "You are leading your princess to the ball."

Last point: Low angles.

Low angles usually includes the action of bringing the camera to a lower position than eye level for a dynamic perspective of what you are capturing.

With portraits, it's not as easy as placing the camera at a lower position, but requires consideration on the angle you are photographing from as well as the scope.

When I take more fashiony portraits, I like to include low angles in combination with flash, and tilted.

For photo weddings, I take it from a lower angle to include the whole dress (all the way to the laces at the end) as well as to express how grand and spacious the whole museum actually is.

Rather normal sighting to see photographers sitting or laying on the floor to capture these photos.

Walking backwards as I place the camera near my feet and in a diagonal direction to capture both the bride & groom's face.

The goal here was to place the dress lace towards the front, naturally curved as the bride placed her back towards the painting.

Of course, there are rather 'standard,' upright photos we took, but isn't it more unique, enjoyable, memorable

when we include multiple perspectives?

Added onto the fact that these two are beautiful from literary any direction 360 degrees

new perspectives, new angles, new ideas bring a whole lot of fun to look back on.

The uppermost floor lounge area where we can get special access for these photo sessions. We can see the cafe area below.

Detailed golden architecture in the background. Through the windows behind me, you can see the Nature history museum.

At one of the most beautiful museums in the world, every corner is picturesque.

Would you also like to have memorable pieces as a whole photo gallery at the KHM?

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Vienna Fashion Wedding Photography

Photo: PHOTOGRAIKA (Aika Maeda)

HMUA: Kerstin Szinovatz

Photo Assistance & BTS: Lica Ishida

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Arthistory Museum)