Elopement · Sete Cidades & Grota do Inferno, São Miguel, Azores · August 2024

A Wedding Day in Three Acts — Sete Cidades, Grota do Inferno & O Baco

Some days unfold like chapters in a book. Each location a new scene, each moment building on the last. Iryna and Igor's wedding in August 2024 was exactly that kind of day.

It began indoors, in the quiet elegance of their preparation. Both getting ready in the same building — Igor adjusting his suit in the warm light of the room, Iryna in her dress, composed and radiant. The kind of stillness that only exists in the hour before everything begins. As a fine art photographer, these are the moments I seek — unhurried, honest, editorial.

From there, we made our way to the Miradouro do Túnel above the twin lakes of Sete Cidades. The ceremony was intimate and elegant, organised by Maria C. Vieira of Ambiance Wedding Azores, who also officiated. A Ukrainian bride, a Brazilian groom, and the Atlantic as their witness — love has no borders, and the Azores have a way of making that feel true.

After the ceremony, we drove to Miradouro da Grota do Inferno. The light at that hour — soft, diffused, the last warmth of an August afternoon — was everything. No harsh sun, no shadows. Just Iryna and Igor, two people completely at ease with each other, in one of the most cinematic landscapes I know. The images from that session are among my favourites of the year — fine art and editorial, the kind that could sit on the pages of a magazine.

The evening ended at Restaurante O Baco, where the celebration continued in the warmth of good food and the people they love.

Iryna wrote after the wedding: "I remember choosing him over a few other great candidates because his work seemed so personal to me — you could see he genuinely enjoys doing this. And I was right."

I'm Filipe Peixoto, destination wedding and fine art photographer based in the Azores since 2008. Every wedding I photograph is different — and I approach each one ready to work with whatever the day offers. If this way of seeing resonates with you, I take on a limited number of weddings each year. I'd love to hear your story — weddinginazores.com/contact