This summer we spent a few weeks traveling throughout Europe and Milan was one of the stops on our journey. The thought of being in a beautiful city filled with fashion and not doing some sort of photoshoot was definitely out of the question.

During this shoot we wanted to capture the essence of the Italian girl in Milan: brave, outgoing, adventurous and optimistic. We shot outside the gorgeous Duomo di Milano among the pigeons, people and indescribable Italian light. Our girl wore a fashion-forward embroidered dress and simple hair and make up. Both elements allowed her effortless beauty to shine through.

The moral of the story, go to Europe every summer and live the life of the Italian girl. I think we can safely say that we will be back in Milan. With the proximity to Lake Como, southern France and of course the Mediterranean coast, Milan just might be my favorite European city.

Quick tip though, if working with a modeling agency abroad, be very aware that things might not go your way. For us this moment happened when our model overslept and we ended up missing sunrise. This meant that we had to compete with lots of tourists for the spot in front of the Duomo. We had arrived early the day before to check out sunrise, and we go there early the day of the shoot to get environmental photos. But alas, even the best laid plans go awry. However, we got the shots we wanted! And let’s be honest, setting this beautiful city in soft glow of sunrise and the privacy of the early morning is a treat each time.