VOGA Weddings: two editorials on Lake Como

VOGA Weddings is a wedding photography and film studio from Sydney. Its co-founder, art director and lead photographer, Justin Xie, photographed both days of our workshop at Villa Balbiano and the Gardens of Como on Lake Como, on 15 and 16 September 2026. We asked the VOGA team about their work, why they came to Italy and what the two days gave them. Their answers are below, lightly edited.

About VOGA

“VOGA brings together fashion-inspired editorial photography and genuine storytelling. Our approach is shaped by an appreciation for light, composition and the connection between people. We love images that feel refined and thoughtfully composed, but the natural expressions, personal details and emotions are just as important: they give each wedding its own character.”

“Our work has taken us across Australia and internationally, from intimate celebrations to larger weddings. Whether it is a real wedding or an editorial, we aim for imagery that feels distinctive, personal and timeless.”

Why Italy, and why Lake Como

“Italy has always been a source of inspiration for us: the architecture, the history, the fashion and the landscape. We are particularly interested in how a location shapes the visual story. At Lake Como, the relationship between the historic villas, the gardens and the landscape around them lets you explore composition, light and atmosphere in very different ways.”

“We had already photographed weddings and editorials in Italy. Now we want to keep developing our work across Europe and build lasting relationships with couples, planners and creative professionals here.”

Day one: Villa Balbiano

“What drew us to the workshop was the chance to explore two distinct editorial concepts in beautiful settings, alongside a talented international creative team. The first day at Villa Balbiano was a carefully considered series of wedding set-ups, bringing together architecture, fashion, florals and event styling.”

“The villa is such a rich setting for editorial photography. It is rewarding to see how the work of so many creative professionals comes together into one cohesive visual story.”

Day two: the boat and the gardens

“The second day was a completely different experience, with separate model couples for the boat on the lake and the garden sessions. It had a different atmosphere: a more open landscape and a different approach to portraiture. We loved approaching each setting differently while keeping VOGA's editorial style.”

What they take home

“The value of an experience like this goes beyond beautiful photographs for the portfolio. Editorial projects give us the freedom to try new ideas, experiment with composition and develop different ways of telling a story. They also show how our style adapts to different locations, aesthetics and concepts.”

“Just as importantly, they are a way to build genuine connections in the international wedding industry. As we photograph more destination weddings and editorials in Europe, we hope to collaborate with local planners, designers and creative teams, and to meet couples who connect with our style.”

Their advice to photographers

“Respect the creative vision of everyone involved, from the planners and stylists to the florists and the other vendors. And look beyond simply creating portfolio images: explore new perspectives, appreciate the work of other creatives, and build genuine relationships along the way.”

Credits

Photography: Justin Xie, VOGA Weddings, Sydney (@voga_weddings on Instagram).

See the stories as VOGA shared them, with the full credits of the creative team: the wedding day at Villa Balbiano, the party in the gardens and an afternoon at the Gardens of Como.

Lake Como in 2027

Our next workshop at Villa Balbiano and the Gardens of Como is on 5–6 May 2027, for wedding photographers, videographers and planners: a full wedding day at the villa, and an afternoon in the gardens and on a private boat with two more couples. Everything is on the Villa Balbiano 2027 workshop page.