“We’ve had no previous experience with professional photoshoots, but her guidance, kindness and her friendly & bubbly personality made us feel very comfortable.”
– Martina & Scott
“She’s truly the best and makes awkward people like me feel comfortable and look GREAT!“
– Celeste
hello there!
Meet Karolina
Professional photographer. Amateur travel planner. Curious human.
Ciao, I’m Karolina. I was born in the Czech Republic, somehow ended up in Italy (there’s a love story behind that – more on this later), and genuinely believe anyone can look good in photographs.
IIf you’re worried about feeling awkward in front of the camera or not knowing what to do, you’re not alone. Most of my couples tell me exactly that when we first get in touch. Most of them also say they’re “not photogenic” and don’t know how to pose. (This website is full of photos of these “not photogenic” people, ha.)
Well, good news: I don’t expect you to be professional models. Helping you out and guiding you when you don’t know what to do with your hands is literally my job. I’ll give you a little direction when you need it, and leave you alone when the real moments are happening.
I’ll probably also try quite hard to make you like me – not just because I want everyone to like me (sadly true), but because if you feel at ease with the person behind the camera, you’ll look more relaxed and natural, and the time we spend together won’t feel so much like a photo shoot, but more like I’m your personal cheerleader, a friendly presence who accompanies you on your big day, who just happens to have a camera as well.
Why this job never gets old for me… and I’ve been doing it for 10+ years
01
I am curious (or nosy?) and sentimental
I honestly find humankind fascinating.
People and their stories, relationships, personalities, family dynamics, the different ways we show affection… And because time passes ridiculously quickly, I love that photography lets the old muggle me do one tiny bit of magic: freeze it. A moment, a person, a little piece of life that can still exist years from now. How cool is that?
02
I love creating art & making people feel good about themselves
I’ve always been artistic, but never had the patience to learn how to draw or paint.
Enter photography: a perfect creative outlet for my impatient artistic soul. What hooked me so fast was the way photography can change the way someone sees themselves, even just a little bit. Honestly, I could shed a tear every time someone tells me: “This is the first time I actually like myself in a photo.”
03
I love love
I might sound a bit cliché, but I really do love LOVE.
Seeing and witnessing it in all its different forms, shapes and kinds, and being able to preserve a little piece of it for the years to come is my kind of high. It’s what keeps me photographing couples 18 years after my first wedding, and what will keep me going for many more.
How I became a wedding photographer…
and how I ended up in Italy (yes, it’s because of a man)
My photography is old enough to legally drink in Europe
Time really flies, and I was actually kind of shocked when I realized that 2008, the year I started taking pictures of people, was 18 years ago. (Yep, I know, one would think one could count, but here we are.)
Well, the high school me in 2008, just starting to explore photography, also photographed her first wedding, having no idea that one day this will become my full time job.
Back then, what interested me most were portraits. I loved how, with a few adjustments and a bit of direction, I could help someone look their best. And, honestly, I also loved the feeling of control, because the documentary side of a wedding can be pretty challenging when you are a new photographer.
me on a wedding in 2014 
with my wonderful clients in 2015
me on a wedding in 2026 
wedding photographer minimalism in 2026 – 2 cameras, a drone and a phone
Over time, with experience, I started to appreciate the moments nobody plans for. I learned to embrace the unpredictability, to anticipate what’s going to happen, and to to walk the fine line of knowing when to step in when I’m needed and when to just let things happen.
A whole adult person could have grown in the time I’ve been photographing people and their weddings, but I honestly feel like I am still growing, learning more about this craft and how to best serve my clients and be the best photographer-companion for them on this day.
Before every wedding I still get butterflies in my stomach when I realize how lucky I am that people chose me to document such a big event in their lives — and the responsibility of it.
Life twist – Italia & Amore
I never really planned to move to Italy. I’m from the Czech Republic and lived in my small hometown until my late teens, but my thirst for exploring took me to Portugal during university. There I met an Italian boy (Edoardo, now an Italian man – or better, an Italian husband).
What followed were years of a long-distance relationship, travelling back and forth between Prague and Italy, building a life between two countries, starting my full-time photography business in 2014, learning a new language, and eventually making Pavia, near Milan, my permanent home.
So, my love for my Italian boy brought me to Italy – and, no surprise here, I fell in love with Italy itself, too. The beauty of this country, the variety between regions, the food culture, the slower pace of life and the warmth of its people are some of the things that make me feel at home here. Although I did have to learn the hard way not to order a cappuccino after lunch or ask for cheese on my seafood pasta.
planned and executed our Czech-Italian wedding in 2022 
our Czech-Italian wedding in 2022. Btw, I never changed my surname – in Italy, it’s not common and it’s actually almost impossible to do so
Villa Canton, photographed for Stefano Mauri Studio 
Villa Canton, photographed for Stefano Mauri Studio
Since moving to Italy, I’ve also worked with a local Italian photography studio, photographing countless Italian weddings, working alongside some very talented people, discovering beautiful venues all over Northern Italy and beyond, and picking up a few extra skills along the way – including videography and video editing.
My personal background is probably one of the reasons why I particularly enjoy working with couples from all over the world getting married in Italy, especially “international” couples where each person comes from a different country (what a surprise, right?).
On a serious note, having things like this in common is nice, but where people come from is definitely not the most important thing to me. I value honesty and equality, no matter where people come from, what they look like, their culture, religion, or who they love. For me, a wedding day is not about the most expensive venue or the latest trend flowers. It is a celebration of love and the commitment two people make to each other, not a show.
And this might sound like a small difference in wording, but for me it changes everything:
a wedding day is not about the photos.
The photos are about the wedding.
I see my role as a companion rather than a director: someone who is there to help when advice or guidance is needed, but who knows when to step back and simply document what is already happening.
Even though it’s been 18 years since I photographed my first wedding, I am sincerely honoured every time someone chooses me to document their big day. I bring the same care and respect to every couple, no matter the budget, size or style of the day.
(It also helps that I live and work in Italy, where almost every angle looks charming. Even if you decide to have no flowers at all.)
“Karol is the ideal photographer for your special day: discreet, never intrusive, and throughout the wedding you hardly notice her presence or her camera. Yet she naturally manages to capture every emotion, every detail, and every beautiful moment. The photographs are authentic, elegant, and full of life. Professional, sensitive, and truly talented—we would choose her again a thousand times over.“
– Marzia & Dan
What makes me happy… outside photography
I love travelling, discovering new places, trying local food and seeing different ways of life. I also sing in a local Italian gospel choir.
And can chilling at home with my husband be a hobby? After so many years of long distance, just hanging out in our apartment, binging a series each evening bit by bit, still feels so awesome.
So, who you actually get
After all these years, here’s one thing that hasn’t changed: I totally ship my couples. Always. I actually tried not to care so much, but I’m not capable.
So you get your number 1 fan – someone who will support you from our first call, help when you need it, blend into the background when you don’t, and make your maid of honour laugh during group photos.
Someone who will carefully hand-edit all the photos worth keeping, no matter their number.
And someone who will tell you if you have salad stuck in your teeth.
Not because I’m rude (well…).
Because I’d want someone to tell me.
“Not only a great photographer, but also an amazing person: energetic, kind, and wonderful. We are very happy that she spent our entire wedding day with us and took photographs that received a lot of praise. I highly recommend her, and if we ever need any other photography in the future, I know exactly who to turn to!”
– KATERINA & ONDREJ
Let’s talk
If you’ve read this whole thing, congratulations – you now know more random facts about me than most people who have met me in real life.
If you feel like I could be the right person to capture your Italian adventure, I’d love to hear from you. We can organize a no-strings-attached call, and you can tell me about your plans, your story, and what you’re imagining for your wedding day.
You can also explore my portfolio or pricing. My packages include travel throughout Italy, with no hidden fees.
I hope we get to meet soon.
A presto,
Karolina