Discovering Italy, from Verona to Florence
Storyteller: Elliot George, United Kingdom
A great way to relive special moments in your relationship is by taking plenty of photos together. For Elliot and Sarah, their honeymoon in Italy was an experience worth preserving. After an unforgettable road trip, Elliot decided to turn their photos and mementos into a stunning MILK Photo Book. Discover how he captured the unforgettable moments and why MILK was the perfect choice to preserve their honeymoon memories.
What format did you choose to create your keepsake and why?
I chose a Premium Photo Book to add photos from me and my wife Sarah’s honeymoon in Italy. Following the trend of using a Portrait format, this was perfect to fit all the photos I wanted to preserve forever.
Why did you create your keepsake?
We went on an Italian road trip for our honeymoon and knew we needed to do something special with the photos and mementos collected along the way. So, the project began to put something together that would last, have a bit of that wow factor, and also just be something fun to work on together. What we imagined might be the work of a Saturday morning became rather more – the scrapbook pages alone turned into a whole unexpected side-quest of making a honeymoon photo book.
What image do you love most from your keepsake?
It's got to be the side on shot of the car at the Piazzale Michelangelo with Sarah sat on the back with a glimpse of Florence in the top corner. We were very lucky that Sarah’s father lent us his beloved 1973 Alfa Romeo Spider (called Boris). He’s been in the family a long time, is the undisputed star of every photo and didn’t break down once.
It was taken on my Canonet QL19 with a roll of Kodak Ektar and we couldn’t believe the results when we first saw them. The red of the bodywork particularly pops and the overall look is a befittingly retro one thanks to this film stock. It was a fun location to shoot in and marked the end of our stay in Florence. I think it works well as a double-page spread too.
Do you have an interesting story behind a single shot in the book?
Driving along north of Lucca we spotted the fourteenth-century “Devil’s Bridge” (Ponte della Maddalena). I think I gave Sarah the fright of her life as she thought we were about to drive over it - bearing in mind the bridge is incredibly steep, Sarah has vertigo, and we’d not long ago watched The Italian Job. Much to both Boris and Sarah’s relief, it is of course a footbridge and turned out to be a great spot for some drone photography. The tears were soon forgotten!
What does your keepsake mean to you and your family?
Our honeymoon was such a special time, and we want to be able to look back on it for many years to come. We’re quite vintage about how we grew up with photo albums and the excitement of flicking through old snaps of our parents’ adventures, we wanted the same for our family. There’s something so wonderful about being able to hold something in your hands rather than scrolling through photos on a screen.
What inspires you to take photos in general?
Some people may think taking five cameras on a road trip with limited boot space is excessive, but these people are wrong. I particularly enjoy the tactility of old analogue cameras, and the surprises that await you after you send the film off for development. Everything just looks better through a 35mm viewfinder or the ground glass focusing screen Sarah’s Rolleicord.
What inspires you creatively?
Aside from Sarah’s big hat? Didn’t hurt, did it? It was hard to put the camera away - being in such a beautiful place with a beautiful person and a broad brimmed hat to boot. We have so much fun taking photos together and Sarah is infinitely patient.
What bit of advice would you offer for someone creating their own MILK memento?
I want to say that finished is better than perfect, but as a perfectionist I can say it took weeks if not months to be ready to click print, partly because the process was so enjoyable, and I didn’t want it to end.
Meditate, hydrate, and set aside enough time so you don’t feel rushed.
Putting together a photo book of your honeymoon pictures is a great way to keep your beloved memories alive. For Elliot and Sarah, their Italy honeymoon is something they’ll be able to look back on for years to come. Their keepsake captures everything from scenic drives through historic spots to quiet moments under the Italian sun. It’s a perfect reminder of their adventure together and a great way to share those memories with family and friends. If you’re thinking about creating your own honeymoon album, just remember to enjoy the process and take your time to make a keepsake that’s meaningful to you.
Customer Imagery: Elliot George
Photographer: Elliot George
