Paul and Cécile arrived in Hong Kong straight after their civil wedding in Europe, (literally the first thing that they did was go to the airport!) carrying that newly-married calm that settles in once the formalities are done. This shoot took place on the final day of their honeymoon, just before they flew back to France — in effect, an elopement that flowed seamlessly into a honeymoon, with no agenda beyond walking, wandering, and letting the city reveal itself one last time.
Most of my previous Hong Kong shoots have been “street level”, shaped by neon, crossings, and motion. For this session, I wanted to give their story a wider breath — Victoria Harbour, the Central skyline, and the quiet contrast between scale and intimacy. I landed the day before and went location scouting immediately, chasing the real lighting conditions of dusk and night to find the best harbour views that were not The Peak. Hehe. The goal was simple: perspective without spectacle, elevation without cliché.
The same approach carried through the rest of the shoot. Every location was scouted in advance, not to lock the couple into poses, but to avoid the usual Pinterest traps that have been photographed thousands of times. Instead of famous spots, we moved through overlooked corners, transitional spaces, ferry crossings, and streets that still felt lived-in. The moments unfolded naturally — candid conversations, quiet pauses, playful contrasts — all unscripted, all grounded in how they actually moved together.
This Hong Kong elopement, doubling as the closing chapter of their honeymoon, is less about ticking landmarks and more about how a city feels when it slows down for you. Harbour mist, night streets, soft motion, and the calm that comes when a journey is about to turn into memory.
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A cinematic Hong Kong elopement and honeymoon shoot photographed on location across Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Victoria Harbour – 2025. Captured by @_elsewherelse using Leica SL2, Leica Q3, and Leica M11 cameras. Shot with a documentary, filmic approach prioritizing candid moments, natural light, and unscripted connection.
