Golden hours, old streets, and the romance of travel – a look behind the lens with a photographer couple capturing Europe at its dreamiest.

For as long as they can remember, Australian couple Carla and Joel have had a camera in their hands.

From early days in the school darkroom to today’s travels with digital cameras slung across sun-drenched shoulders, their creative life together has always been shaped by the world around them and a quiet fascination with how light touches it.

This time, that fascination took them across France, Italy and Greece, where they captured Europe in all its layered beauty. A single figure floating in the blue. The scent of espresso in the morning air.

Their latest work isn’t just a travelogue.
It’s a love letter to memory, to place, and to the slow magic of life on the road.

Here, Carla and Joel reflect on their creative process and the feeling they try to bottle with every frame.

Please tell us about your trip!
Were there any places that truly stopped you in your tracks?

“For example, the cars in Provence are so colourful and lovely — what was the occasion?”

That was a particularly beautiful day. We were village hopping in the perfect spring sunshine, driving the unbelievably quiet and picturesque roads that wind between the villages.

After a delicious lunch collected from a local market – strawberries, baguettes, olives, and copious amounts of cheese – we were headed to a vineyard not far away.

As we cruised between the rolling fields spotted with bastides, the terrain opened out into a valley and up ahead we saw a lot of movement and colour. As we got closer, we realised we had stumbled across a classic car meet at a beautiful vineyard and chateau.

We couldn’t have picked a better moment to be passing through, and the drivers were more than happy to play up for the camera and let us capture their Sunday drive in maybe one of the most scenic parts of the world.

Europe has such a distinct energy – the scent of espresso in the morning, sea spray on skin, the sound of slow footsteps on old stone.
What is it that inspires you most about being there? Is it the light? The colour? The culture?

Definitely feels cliché to say “everything” – but truly, everything.

Each country, region, and village has its own distinct personality, just like its people and food. You can feel the history, the rich culture, and even the care that’s been poured back into preserving each place’s unique nature.

The light and the layers of the scenery never cease to amaze and inspire us – whether it's Lake Como, Sardinia, or the Côte d’Azur. There’s a beautiful contrast in these places between magnetic natural surroundings and elegant luxury.

So many European cultures take the time to appreciate what surrounds them – the big and the small – and it’s contagious.

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in Europe?

Is there a ritual, a moment, a feeling that lets you know you're really there?

Driving to the nearest Autogrill and having a cappuccino and cornetto at the bar.

After that first sip and bite, we know we’ve arrived.

What are you hoping to capture when you shoot in Europe – beyond the beauty?
Is it nostalgia, intimacy, story?

Europe has always held a sense of romance and nostalgia for us.

When we were young, we travelled there at Christmas and were quickly charmed by the magic and depth of tradition – so different from an Australian winter.

Over the years, that love has only grown. Experiencing the undeniable allure of a European summer – from a morning coffee by a waking lake, to the best spaghetti vongole you’ve ever had, to walking freshly painted cobbled paths on your way to watch a perfect Aegean sunset.

We recently got married in Italy, which speaks volumes to how much these places mean to us. They hold your heart captive and live in your memories.

We hope to capture that feeling of romance and nostalgia in every print.

Shooting as a duo – how do you collaborate creatively?
Do you each bring different things to the process, or is it more instinctive?

Yes, we’re different in our approaches – and that’s exactly why it works.

I (Carla) definitely have an eye for composition and more creative shots, as I come from a traditional art and photography background. Joel focuses more on the technical side and loves capturing dynamic, action-filled shots.

We’ve always worked instinctively together and share in the joy of nailing that perfect shot when all the elements align.

Do you have a favourite image from this trip – one that captures everything you love about this part of the world?

‘La Flemme’ is truly one of our favourites – a modern expression of the tradition and culture at the heart of the Provençal people.

We were staying in the gorgeous town of Saint Saturnin lès Apt and had just returned for an apéritif before dinner. As we wandered to choose a local spot, we looked up the street and saw a scene we couldn’t have staged better ourselves.

The colours, the flowers, and the feeling of Provence were all there – captured in one small, real moment. A man enjoying a glass of wine, smoking a cigarette, and watching the world go by on the most picturesque street.

The photo is titled La Flemme – a French slang word meaning lazy or “can’t be bothered” – perfectly capturing the laid-back spirit of that moment. It’s also the name of a song we discovered in France that we now love.

What do you hope people feel when they look at this series?
Are you inviting them to dream, to travel, to pause?

To be transported.

Whether it takes them back to a memory of their own or creates a dream they haven’t yet lived, our goal is to help people escape – even just for a moment – to places of unmatched beauty, history, and magnetism.

That’s our dream for this collection.

Thank you, Carla and Joel, for capturing the romance, flavour, and light of Europe’s charm – and for sharing that magic with all of us.