What to expect, what is included, and a few honest tips before you say yes to a flying dress photoshoot in Santorini.
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Thinking about a flying dress photoshoot in Santorini? You have probably seen the photos online. Someone stands on a white staircase in Santorini, wearing a big colorful dress that looks like it is flying in the wind, with blue church domes behind them.
You do not need to be a model to get photos like this. It is a real activity that you can book, and it has become very popular on this Greek island. Here is what usually happens, step by step.
What Is a Flying Dress Photoshoot?
You wear a long dress with a very wide skirt. A photographer and an assistant help you. The assistant throws the skirt into the air at the right moment, and the photographer takes the picture. This is how you get the “flying” effect.
Most of these photoshoots happen in Imerovigli. This is a village with narrow streets, blue domes, and beautiful views of the Caldera sea. One popular option is run by the company White House Tours, and you can book it through GetYourGuide. It is a private experience. This means only you and your group are there. No strangers join the session.
How Does the Day Work?
First, one day before your shoot, you send the team a WhatsApp message. You tell them which dress color you want.
On the day of your shoot, a private driver picks you up, usually from Fira. The driver takes you to a private room where you can change clothes and check your hair and makeup. This is nice because some other companies only give you a van or a public toilet to change in.
After that, the photographer takes you to some beautiful spots nearby. You do not need any experience with modeling. The photographer tells you how to stand and when to smile. This helps even shy people feel comfortable.
There is also a bonus. During the shoot, the team films short videos with a phone. Right after the shoot, they send you these videos using AirDrop. This means you can post them on Instagram or TikTok right away. If AirDrop does not work on your phone, they send you a link instead.
When the shoot is finished, the driver takes you back to your hotel or to Fira. This is helpful because you do not want to walk up all of Santorini’s steps and hills in a big dress.
Your final, edited photos take a little longer. They usually arrive in three to four days. You get them through a download link, from a service called SwissTransfer, and this link is sent to you on WhatsApp.
What Is Included, and What Is Not
Your booking gives you a ride there and back in an air-conditioned car. It also gives you the dress, a photographer, and an assistant who works with the dress. You get a private room to change in, the raw phone videos right after the shoot, and about fifty edited photos a few days later.
Some things are not included. Nobody does your hair or makeup. There are no extra props or styling. You do not get printed photos, only digital files.
Changing into a second dress is not part of the package, and food, drinks, and tips for the team are also not included. If you want your body retouched in the photos, or if you want to plan a marriage proposal during the shoot, both are possible, but you have to pay extra for them.
Who Should Maybe Skip This
This activity is not for everyone, and it is good to be honest about that. You will walk on uneven ground, cobblestones, and many steps.
Because of this, it is probably not a good idea if you have trouble walking, if you use a wheelchair, or if you have heart or breathing problems.
It is also better to wait if you have had surgery recently. If any of this is true for you, message the company before you book. They can tell you honestly if it will work for you.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes are the most important thing. Santorini has stairs and rough stone streets almost everywhere.
It can also be windy, so bring something for your hair, like clips. Sunglasses help with the sun, and you should also bring water. A small towel is useful too, because it can get hot.
About what to wear under the dress: most people wear nothing, because it looks better in photos. If you want to wear underwear, choose something skin-colored with no visible lines.
What Guests Say
This photoshoot has a very good reputation. It has a perfect five-star rating, from more than one hundred verified reviews.
Many guests say the same thing: the team made them feel relaxed and comfortable, even people who normally do not like having their photo taken.