A couple photoshoot in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter might sound like a cliché, and in some ways it is. But it is also one of the most beautiful and diverse areas of the city, with many different spots located close to each other, making the shoot easy and fluid without long walks.

This winter session took place early in the morning, before the streets filled with people and before Barcelona Cathedral opened. I almost always shoot in the Gothic Quarter at this time, as nothing compares to the atmosphere of an empty historic center. In winter, the sun rises later and the city wakes up more slowly, which allows us to start later while still enjoying quiet streets and soft, flattering light.

Mariella and Dane traveled to Barcelona from the Philippines and chose a classic morning walk through the Gothic Quarter. During the shoot, we moved through some of the most iconic locations in the area, including Barcelona Cathedral, Pont del Bisbe, Plaza del Rei and the streets around Plaza Sant Jaume, near Barcelona City Hall. We walked, danced, laughed and moved freely through the streets, enjoying the calm mood of a winter morning. This shoot remains one of my favorite winter sessions in the Gothic Quarter for its simplicity, energy and ease.