8 Unexpected Reasons why Valencia is perfect for Wedding & Family Photoshoots

1. The Mediterranean Light is Soft,

in a way that photos Love! 🙂

First things first: light!

Good lighting is key for any photographer, and luckily, Valencia has plenty of it!

Valencia, in fact, for most of the year possesses this soft Mediterranean light that I find very different from the harsher, high-contrast light found in many other cities.

During the early mornings and the afternoons, the light does not strike the people but rather envelops them: the skin tones look more natural and shadows stay soft.

In the years, I observed the ease with which I could capture images without making people strike a forced pose or seek shade.

Whether you are capturing family portraits and the kids refuse to stand still, or it is your wedding, and you need to capture intimate moments in a constrained time-frame, having the light on your side can make all of the difference!

Last but not least, Valencia enjoys sun for roughly 300 day/year, which makes the chance to hit a good day all the more likely! 🙂

 2. The backdrop can go from

Old Stone Streets to Futuristic Architecture!

The thing that I like most about Valencia is the speed at which the scenery changes: there is such a massive location density!

One afternoon, I strolled through some fusty old-town streets and suddenly found myself enclosed in white and futuristic curves at the City of Arts and Science (photo above), the contrast shocked me!

In the case of photoshoots, the variety of backdrops is always welcome!

Here, romantic and timeless photos and modern and editorial-style photos can be obtained during the same day without the need to drive long distances or change clothes in the car.

It is effortless, and this is very significant when the level of emotions is already elevated during a wedding day!

In just two hours, it is possible to cross the Futuristic City (city of Arts and sciences), green parks (such as the Turia that we will see in a moment, historic Spanish buildings (such as those stony ones in the old town, and the beach!

3. Valencia Feels Local, typically Spanish,

and Not Overrun with potential Photobombers 😉

This could have been my greatest shock (and surprise!) when first coming to this city.

Valencia, despite being a large city, is not overrun with tourism as Barcelona or Madrid tend to be.

Yes, there are tourists (especially concentrated around the Oceanographic museum and the city of Arts), but there is no invasion!

In Valencia, people seem to mind their life and business routines more: walking dogs, opening stores, talking in cafes…

In the case of photos, this setting is actually more useful than meets the eye: couples can be less concerned with being self-conscious, families can relax more, and kids can behave like kids without the worries of larger cities.

Last but not least, something I love as a photographer, is that here you are not constantly fighting crowds or waiting to see some strangers disappearing out of the frame.

The city is more of a backdrop than a stage 🙂

4. The Gardens Running

Through the City are a marvel to shoot!

The Turia Gardens are a highlight of the city: a 9-km-long stretch of land that cuts Valencia into two parts!

What most people don’t know is that this long green park that runs through the city was built in a former riverbed after the river flowing through it dried up.

From a photographer’s perspective this is a natural gift: palms, bridges, open lawns, shaded walks – basically all you need for taking some epic shots!

The Turia garden is a particularly ideal spot as far as family sessions are concerned: there is plenty of space for children to move, play, and discover, which is great to make them forget about the camera!

Having children behave like children is, to me, the best way to get more candid photographs and spontaneous photographs!

5. The Beach here is close and quiet!

The beaches at Valencia are broad, clean, and surprisingly quiet.

Better still, they are enshrined within the city and yet, they do not experience huge crowds nor are plagued by commercials on all sides (something quite common in most of Spain!).

II a few dozen minutes, it is possible to pass from the city texture, to the soft sand and the blue sea: awesome for shooting in multiple settings in a single session!

Sunset sessions, especially with the sun setting west and the sea to the east, are ideal for illuminating faces with a golden light that renders the shots more personal and less performative 😉

6. Good paella, can impact

the photo quality more than you think!

This may not appear to be related to our topic, but it incredibly does!

Stay with me!

The food culture in Valencia, is one of the richest in Spain, and here is also where the world-wide famous paella was originally born (here you can discover more about it!).

The local culture here, promotes eating the food slowly and enjoying the conversation: it’s a tradition and here people take food breaks VERY seriously!

To my photographer surprise, I was happy to notice in the years how after-lunch, the mood of people alters and once fed they appear much more less in a hurry!

In these years, I have observed couples and families relaxing in the aftermath of meals, laughing more, touching more, being more available to take artsy and creative photos!

And the nice part, it is that are precisely those spontaneous moments that attach significance to photos!

So, all in all, good light and paella are an underestimated combo that should be added to this list! 😉

7. The weather is ideal most of the year:

not too cold, not too hot!

I already spoiled it a little bit before, but let’s make it clear: the weather in Valencia is predictable in a manner that is very appealing to photographers and families!

Slightly not too cold nor too hot, sunny 10 months a year, it is perfect for shooting in elegant clothing without the problems of sweating or having to cover yourself. 

The weather reliability is an underrated factor when you want to decrease the stress: it’s that thing that nobody thinks about!

Thanks to the Valencian good climate, it is possible organize outdoor events with a good degree of confidence that it will be sunny (hey, it’s not 100%, so a backup plan is always good to have, but statistically you got a 85% change of sun!).

As a photographer, I notice how bad weather is a factor that strongly affects photoshoots: not because photos in bad weather cannot be memorable, but mostly because you can notice the stress on the subjects’ faces.

When human beings are relaxed instead, it is reflected in their smiles, and that is what pictures recall 🙂

8. Logistics in Valencia are a breeze

for elder and long-dresses too!

Last but not least: logistics!

Valencia is an entirely flat city, which makes a huge difference for kids, grandparents, and long wedding dresses!

There are almost no stairs, no cobblestones-from-hell, no constant stops 🙂

The short distances between major photo locations mean less walking, less stress, and noticeably better energy and expressions on camera!

Moving around is simple: wide sidewalks are the main option, with the convenient and capillary taxi service being the second!

On top of that, if you need a private permit for the city centre, it is far simpler to get than in most European capitals: fewer restrictions, less paperwork, and more flexibility for real-world shoots.

In practice: you spend your time shooting, not managing logistics 🙂

Conclusions 🙂

And here we are at the end of the article 🙂

All in all, Valencia is a city that does not boast about its beauty, and perhaps this is the reason why it is such an effective wedding and family photoshoot location!

If you’re curious to explore this further, you may also enjoy reading about why Valencia is perfect for beautiful wedding photography.

In case you want to find a place in Spain that is romantic in a non-dramatic way, beautiful without being overbearing, and memorable without trying too hard, Valencia may end up surprising you like it did to me.