A creative and personal bridal session along the Mallorca coast — photographed by Sofi Ammann, wedding and couple photographer based in Zurich, Switzerland.
There is a particular kind of session that I find myself looking forward to more than almost any other, and that is a bridal pre-wedding photoshoot. Not because of the dress or the veil or the beautiful locations, although all of those things play their part, but because of what the session actually represents. That specific moment in a woman's life when she is standing on the threshold of something enormous, fully herself, fully free, and about to step into one of the greatest adventures of her life. The space between who you are and who you are becoming. I find that space endlessly fascinating to photograph, and I feel genuinely grateful every time a bride trusts me with it.
As a Switzerland-based wedding and couple photographer who shoots across Europe and regularly in Mallorca, I had the joy of spending a golden afternoon on the coast with Jimena for her bridal pre-wedding session. It was creative, unexpected, and honestly one of the most fun shoots I have had the pleasure of being part of.
Jimena's Story
Jimena's Story
Jimena is an Argentinian born in Spain, recently engaged and getting married in Argentina next year. On her wedding day she will have the full celebration, the dress, the ceremony, the dancing, all of it.
But today was something different entirely. Today was for her.
She wanted images that captured who she actually is right now, in this exact moment, as she prepares to marry her forever person. Not the polished, posed version of herself that a traditional bridal shoot might produce, but something fun, unexpected, and completely true to her personality. Sexy without trying too hard. Free without being reckless. Entirely, unapologetically Jimena.
When she described what she was looking for, I was immediately on board. We started planning around a vision that I can only describe as Mamma Mia meets cowgirl, with a Mallorca sunset thrown in for good measure. She was in. I was in. And the results were everything.
The Location — Cala Punta Negra, Mallorca
Finding the right location for a bridal session like this is half the work, and it is one of my favourite parts of the process. For Jimena's shoot, I knew we needed somewhere that felt a little wild, a little secluded, and completely cinematic at golden hour.
Cala Punta Negra, located just five minutes from the Mandarin Oriental hotel on the southwest coast of Mallorca, turned out to be exactly that. It is one of three small calas nestled together in the same area, each one slightly different in character, and all of them beautiful in that rugged, untouched way that the more popular Mallorca beaches simply cannot offer anymore. The road to get there is a little rough, but I would say without hesitation that it is absolutely worth it.
We specifically chose the cala that faces the sunset, because I wanted to work with the reflections on the water as the light shifted from golden to amber to deep rose. The location gave us natural privacy, stunning light, and a backdrop that felt genuinely dramatic without being overdone. It was perfect.
Not Your Mother's Bridal Moment
Once we arrived and the light started doing its thing, we let go of any remaining ideas about what a bridal shoot is supposed to look like and just had fun.
I had Jimena grab the cowboy hat, step into the water, and face the setting sun. Using one of my handmade filters held directly in front of the lens, I was able to capture the light scattering into soft, shining stars around her silhouette as the sun dropped towards the horizon.
The resulting images are, and I say this with complete sincerity, absolutely iconic.
There is something about that combination of the hat, the veil, the water, and that particular Mallorca light that feels both timeless and completely of this moment. I genuinely cannot wait for her kids to grow up and look at these images one day and realise just how cool their mum was!
For this session we planned three different outfits to give us a range of moods and aesthetics throughout the shoot. The dress was vintage, both veils were vintage, and every piece was chosen specifically to complement Jimena's energy and the coastal setting rather than to look generically bridal.
Styling is something I care deeply about as both a photographer and a trained fashion designer. One of the parts of this work I enjoy most is helping brides develop the concept and visual direction of their session, from the location scouting to the outfit selection. I actively go out of my way to source vintage gems both online and offline for my brides, because I believe the right clothing completely transforms a shoot from a pretty photo session into something that genuinely feels like you.
If you are dreaming of a bridal session like this one, whether in Mallorca, the Swiss Alps, or somewhere else entirely, I would love to help you plan it.
Reach out at 📩 hello@sofiammann.com or fill the questionnaire below, and let's talk about your vision!
A note on Mallorca
I spend several months of the year in Mallorca because my family lives there, and over the years it has genuinely become a second home for me.
I know the island well, including its light at different times of year, its less visited spots, and the particular magic it has during the summer months when the evenings stretch long and golden.
If you are planning a shoot in Mallorca and are looking for a photographer who knows the island intimately, I would really love to hear from you.
FAQ - frequently asked questions
What is a bridal pre-wedding photoshoot?
A bridal pre-wedding session is a personal photoshoot for the bride before the wedding day. It is an opportunity to capture who you are right now, in this exciting chapter of your life, in a way that feels completely true to your personality rather than following a traditional bridal formula.
Do you offer bridal sessions in Mallorca?
Yes, I spend several months of the year in Mallorca and know the island and its most beautiful locations intimately. I am available for bridal pre-wedding sessions, couple shoots, and destination wedding photography across the island.
Do you help with styling and concept for bridal sessions?
Absolutely. As both a photographer and a trained fashion designer, styling and concept development is one of my favourite parts of the process. I help my brides think through outfit choices, locations, props, and the overall visual direction of their session, and I actively source vintage pieces for shoots when needed.
What makes your bridal photography style different?
I use handmade light techniques with physical crystals, fabrics, and filters held directly in front of the lens to create organic, cinematic effects that feel completely unrepeatable. Combined with my background in fashion design, every session is styled and lit in a way that is personal, unexpected, and impossible to replicate digitally.
I am based in Zurich, Switzerland and shoot across the Swiss Alps, Europe, and regularly in Mallorca, Spain. I am available for destination bridal sessions and wedding photography across Europe.
Where are you based and where do you travel to for bridal sessions?
Say Hello. Let's work together.
