FILMMAKER & PHOTOGRAPHER | Saara Vuola
Saara Vuola is a Scandinavian filmmaker and photographer based in Italy, and sees her work as visual poems from your wedding day. Her work features an artistic style with natural colors and a touch of humour. She captures both destination and local weddings across Europe, using an artistic and candid approach with strong storytelling. Saara Vuola focuses on building genuine relationships with her couples, often maintaining contact for years after their wedding day.
Tell us about your business!
I am a Scandinavian filmmaker and photographer based in Italy. I document destination weddings all over Europe, mostly in Italy; but also local and intimate weddings in Finland, Italy, Switzerland and France.
What would you like couples to know about you?
I am one artist, one human being, behind the camera. I only do either photography or filmmaking; I don’t do both at one wedding.
Because of my very diverse background of growing up in Finland, Switzerland and spending a few months in the US too as a child, I feel at home when traveling and being surrounded by international settings like destination weddings often are. I also speak fluent English, Italian and French.
Where are you based?
I’m based between Italy and Finland!
Do you travel for weddings?
Yes!
How would you describe your style?
I make visual poems at weddings – or at least that is the aim. I believe in photos and videos you need to pause to look at. You see your memories and feelings reflected, light bended and your loved ones present as themselves. Like in poems. My own favorite films and books are the same, they let me reflect and discover new things each time. They last the test of time.
How would you describe your working style?
Very couple-focused and calm. I want to know the couple well before the wedding, in order to tell their story. On the wedding day, I tend to be present, calm and blend in the crowd. That’s how you best catch candid moments!
Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?
Both!
Where would you love to travel to for work?
Any venue where there is a lot of green and nature around is my dream venue. A backyard wedding anywhere in Europe. A wedding on a wild Scandinavian island. At the Mediterranean sea, where the sea sparkles. UK – love how the sky and weather moves and never stands still there. Anywhere in my birth country France. Indonesia would be a dream too! The geographical location doesn’t really matter that much when the venue/surroundings itself have charisma and are special.
Who is your dream client?
My dream clients are the type of couples I’ve always worked with: extremely kind, want to do things differently and appreciation for unique, artistic expression. They want to create something personal and therefore meaningful, for themselves and their guests.
How do you select music for your films?
Based on the couple’s music taste and live music playing at the event – anything that best reflects the memory of the day and suits the video. I also often include recorded sounds from the day: a friend’s funny comment, laughter, wind, birds, waves.
What is your advice to couples getting married?
There are no rules! Forget all the ‘shoulds’ and how things are usually done or should be done. Instead; Start dinner with cake. Have a swim with your wedding party on the morning of your wedding. Or a boat day before the wedding. A bride can wear pants. Instead of a reception dinner, have brunch? Wear a hat instead of a veil. You can have the most stunning French chateau behind you and still want portraits taken in long green grass next to it if you think that is more romantic and natural. Make your own selection and interpretation of traditions and leave the unnecessary out. Do whatever you want, it’s not that serious!
Saara Vuola Weddings
Website: saaravuola.com/weddings
Instagram: @saaravuolaweddings
