A message on Instagram
Christian first wrote to me on Instagram in June. He loved my photographs and was sure Elisabeth would love them too. I sent him a few of my favourite locations in the south of the island, and he chose Montaña Pelada.
A couple of days before the session, I let him know the forecast looked good. He replied with his plan: Elisabeth believed this was just a morning photoshoot on the beach. He wanted to begin with a few ordinary photos and then propose while I was shooting. Would that work? Of course it would.
Why Montaña Pelada
Montaña Pelada is an old volcanic cone on the coast of El Médano, and its beach sits right below it. Wind and sea have carved the rock into golden layers and curves, and the wet sand reflects everything like a mirror. At sunrise the beach is almost empty, and the first light turns the cliffs warm and bright. It felt right for two people with such a quiet, elegant style.
The session
Just a normal photoshoot
We started ten minutes before sunrise. A light veil of calima softened the sky, there was no wind at all, and the sea was calm. I guided them as I would any couple: close embraces, slow steps along the shoreline, their reflections on the wet sand. Elisabeth had no idea.
The question
Shortly after sunrise, in front of the rock formations, Christian knelt in the sand. Elisabeth covered her face with her hands. She hadn’t expected it at all, and she was moved to tears.
Yes
Then came the long embrace, and the ring on her hand resting on his shoulder. I kept shooting quietly from a distance and gave them the time they needed.
First light as an engaged couple
By then the sun had climbed above the horizon and the cliffs glowed gold. We walked among the rocks for their first portraits as an engaged couple. Christian asked me to take a few frames with his analog camera too: a handful of photographs on film that they will wait to see.
What they wore
They chose their outfits themselves: Christian in black, Elisabeth in a very simple white satin slip dress. No props, no accessories beyond the ring. That minimal palette looked timeless against the golden rock and the soft morning light. If you are not sure what to bring, read my tips on what to wear for your shoot.
Planning a proposal photoshoot in Tenerife
- Session: couples photoshoot with a surprise proposal.
- Duration: 1 hour, 25 edited photos.
- Location: Montaña Pelada beach, El Médano, in the south of Tenerife.
- Time of day: we started ten minutes before sunrise.
- Conditions: soft light through a light calima, no wind.
- Wardrobe: black for him, a white satin slip dress for her.
- Tip: tell your partner it’s “just a photoshoot” and choose sunrise. The beach is almost empty, the light is soft, and nobody suspects anything at that hour. Send me your plan a few days before, so we can agree on the moment together.
Planning a proposal or a couple photoshoot in Tenerife? Have a look at my couples sessions, or write to me with your idea. I’ll help you plan every detail, surprise included.
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FAQ
How do you keep a proposal photoshoot a secret?
Your partner books, or is told about, a regular couple photoshoot. We plan everything privately by message: the location, the timing and the moment you’ll kneel. I begin with natural couple photos so nothing feels unusual.
What is the best time for a proposal photoshoot in Tenerife?
Sunrise. The beaches in the south, like Montaña Pelada in El Médano, are quiet, and the light is soft and warm. A light calima can make it even more delicate. Sunset works too, but the beaches are usually busier.
How long is the session and how many photos do we receive?
The 1-hour session includes 25 edited photos, delivered digitally within 7–10 working days.
What should we wear for a proposal photoshoot?
Simple, elegant pieces in neutral tones work beautifully against Tenerife’s volcanic landscapes. Christian wore black and Elisabeth a white satin slip dress: minimal, timeless and perfect on the golden rocks.
Highly recommend!
Lucilla is incredibly kind and made the whole experience comfortable for us taking our first-time couple photoshoot. The results are absolutely outstanding, we’re truly in love with how everything turned out. Highly recommend her!
My partner wanted to propose to me on the Canary Islands and we found Lucilla's website and we were blown away by the amazing portfolio she had. We decided to book a photoshoot she helped us choose q place for the proposal, gave us amazing tips on what to wear, how to pose. We had an amazing time.
I highly recommend! Best photoshoot we've ever had! ❤️❤️❤️
Lucilla was a dream to work with! Our couples shoot photos came out so beautifully - soft, sweet, and totally natural/as we are in real life. The shoot itself was also a breeze. Lucilla gave us direction and suggestions, which we appreciated since we aren’t the most comfortable in front of the camera, and also stood back/gave encouragement when we started to find our flow! Also so impressed by the pre-shoot process - Lucilla was super responsive via email and gave thoughtful and honest suggestions about locations, lighting during our preferred time of day, etc. Plus we got some great island recommendations as well! Absolutely recommend if you’re looking for a talented photographer and a warm, comfortable process!
Lucilla is truly phenomenal. Planning an engagement from the United States for the Canary Islands, I needed everything to be perfect, and Lucilla exceeded my expectations in every way. She provided invaluable advice on the best locations and times for our photoshoot, helping us choose the ideal settings for an evening session. She even guided us on outfit choices and various poses to ensure our pictures would turn out beautifully.
Lucilla arrived early to capture the exact moment I proposed, and the photos she took afterward are simply the best we could have hoped for. We had an amazing day with her, and when we received our photos, we were moved to tears. She perfectly captured the essence of our special moment.
As a same-sex couple, it's important to feel comfortable and celebrated. While we sometimes encounter aversion, Lucilla was the opposite—she made us feel incredibly special. Her warmth and professionalism were unparalleled. We couldn't recommend her enough for anyone looking to capture their special moments.
The best!
1 million stars if I could.
Lucilla was so wonderful to work with and the pictures came out absolutely stunning. Definitely completed our honeymoon to Tenerife.
We could not of asked for a better experience. Thank you so much ❤️
Having our photos taken by Lucilla was such a great experience! She made us feel comfortable and gave us great direction on how to make our poses look natural. She did a wonderful job capturing us with a beautiful sunset on the beach during our honeymoon. We will forever cherish these photos ❤️
I found Lucilla’s profile on Instagram and immediately fell in love with her style.
I booked a couples photo session for me and my husband during our trip to Tenerife in December.
The results are amazing! Lucilla is an amazing person. We both were a bit stiff and stressed but she made us feel comfortable and she perfectly captured the right moments.
I highly recommend booking a photo session with Lucilla at Playa Montaña Pelada at sunrise! It’s incredible!
We booked a sunrise photoshoot session with Lucilla for our honeymoon in Tenerife and could not be more thrilled with our photos! Each and every photo in our gallery was so thoughtfully composed, and the colors, lighting, and angles blew us away. Our photos are really natural and don’t come across as “posed”, which is exactly what we were hoping for. The experience itself was seamless - Lucilla is super communicative and worked with us to scout out locations and even choose our outfits! Lucilla is so dedicated to her craft, she was even climbing rocks and standing in water just to get the perfect shot. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, and for giving us such beautiful photos to remember our honeymoon by!
Lucilla is an amazing photographer. My partner and I are incredibly pleased with the photos she took of us in Tenerife, in a beautiful spot she advised us. She put us really at ease during the photo session. I would strongly recommend for anyone who wants professional quality couple photos in Tenerife to chose Lucilla.
After seeing Lucilla's web portfolio with my wife we decied to reach out to her to arrange a photoshoot - we simply liked her style. Having not known the island she proposed a bunch of shooting locations for us to choose. On the day of shooting in Tajao she has welcomed us with a wide smile and kindness. During photoshoot she made us comfortable and we've felt relaxed. The final results were astonishing, photos are beautiful and they bring back good memories everytime we look at them.
Thank You!
Adam & Anna
Thank you, thank you! We love the photos. we simply can’t think of a better memento from our trip to Lanzarote! My husband and I have chatted many times over the last month about how happy we were we chose you as our photographer. We really appreciated your easy-going personality and making us feel comfortable. We had a wonderful time and it shows in the pictures.
Lucillia, you are extremely talented. Merci beacoup! Salut à Filippo!
You can see the talent and the passion in Lucilla's pictures. It didn't took me long to know that SHE is the one to portrait our honeymoon and we are now really happy and excited every time we relive those moments by her photos. Lucilla is the complete photographer and we are very thankful to meet her!!!
