Moorings 514 Power Catamaran in Corfu, Greece

Behind the Scenes of a Photoshoot in Corfu

September 09, 2020 4 min

Editor’s Note: This post takes you behind the scenes on a photoshoot in Corfu, Greece. Follow along as Adam Rohrmann, multimedia specialist for The Moorings, shares his itinerary as well as tips for creating some of the most memorable vacation photos.

We landed before noon and headed to Corfu Town for our first photo opportunity. On the first day, we decided to forgo the drone and take videos and images with my Canon 5D. We walked around Liston and Corfu Town through the day and well into the evening. If you want the best view of the city and sunset, wind your way up the city streets for 30 minutes until you reach a high vantage point. The city lights up at night but quiets down after dinner.

Speaking of dinner, the food in Corfu amazes the palette. Although Corfu and Greece are renowned for Souvlakia or “meat sticks,” our group devoured the fresh seafood. Savory delights like grilled octopus melt in your mouth and make for Instagram-worthy shots.

It’s no surprise that the trick to capturing the best sunrise is to get up early. On the second day of shooting, we planned to visit the Old Fortress then start sailing to the Blue Lagoon in Sivota Mourtos. Bolstered by a rocky promontory, the Venetian fortress made the perfect backdrop for stunning images and video. Since drones aren’t allowed in this area, we headed back to the boat to take footage of the yachts leaving the harbor. When shooting from a boat, it’s essential to have a gimbal or camera stabilizer to avoid fuzzy vacation photos.

Pro Tip: Before you bring and use a drone, read up on Greece’s restrictions regarding drone use.

In May, the temperature can be moderate to cool with few to no rainy days. With high temperatures near 75 degrees F and lows in the mid to upper 50s, we needed jackets when under sail. From the time it took to sail from Corfu to the famous Papanikolis Cave, we were able to experience breathtaking views that you can only find in The Mediterranean.

Although you can no longer swim inside the Blue Lagoon, you can still capture its magnificence by boat. Take your dinghy inside and witness the turquoise-blue bounce off the water onto the walls of the cave. The Caribbean-esque water reminded me of The British Virgin Islands and St. Martin. If you’ve ever sailed in the Caribbean and love the bright turquoise water, you’ll fall in love with sailing in Greece.

We anchored outside the cave and put all our toys in the water. We had kayaks and snorkeling gear. A mix of work and fun, the models had a great time exploring the underwater life before joining us back on the boat for dinner.

Man swimming outside the Blue Lagoon in Corfu, Greece

We were up early again the next day to see the sunrise. Drinking orange juice and coffee in our pajamas from the upper deck, we gazed at the 360-degree panoramic views. In one direction, we saw ancient rocky coastlines, and in the other direction, there was nothing but blue water. We headed out into the blue water for an hour or two sail to Parga.

Another not-to-be-missed Venetian castle sits in Parga. From the top of a hill, the castle overlooks the city and shoreline below. The view is worth the long, steep walk to the top. If you get tired, don’t worry. There’s a cafeteria with seating and a gift shop located inside. We continued the stone trails, walking among the cypress trees until we worked up an appetite.

After another delectable meal of the day’s catch, we headed back to the boat to prepare for the next day. We had a packed schedule. First, we planned to check out Voutoumi Bay on Anti-Paxos and then set sail for Gaios. If you’re looking for a sheltered bay with even more clear turquoise waters, you’ve anchored in the right place.

When in Gaios, get a slip on the harbor wall. Gaios is where you’ll find the infamous statue of Georgios. Explore this waterside village and dine ashore. We ate at Mediterraneo and strolled through the city until the moon illuminated our way back to the boat.

The next day we made a short sail to Lakka on Paxos before saying goodbye to Corfu. About eight nautical miles south of Corfu, some beaches surrounding Lakka bay are only accessible by boat or on foot. Bordered by olive groves and cypress trees, the fishing village boasts several beaches, some with white sand and others pebbled. We enjoyed lunch al fresco at Pounentes, which specializes in oven-fired Greek delicacies. Full of pizza, moussaka, and king prawns, we headed back to the base just in time to catch our transfer to the airport.