A honeymoon photo session in Bali has a way of freezing time — and nowhere does that more beautifully than the misty, jungle-wrapped heart of Ubud. This is the story of Tom and Pauline, two lovebirds who chose to celebrate their honeymoon right here in the green soul of the island: at the stunning Kamandalu Ubud resort, tucked deep into the valley with rice terraces above and thick jungle pressing in from every side.
I had one golden hour with them, and honestly? One hour was all we needed. From the very first frame to the very last, these two were pure magic — relaxed, natural, and completely wrapped up in each other. Working with a couple this genuinely connected is one of the great joys of being a Bali honeymoon photographer.
Take a look at our latest honeymoon photo session portfolio below — I hope it gives you as much joy to look at as it gave us to shoot.
Updated May, 2026.
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Why Kamandalu Ubud Is Perfect for a Honeymoon Photo Session
If you are trying to picture Kamandalu Ubud, imagine checking into a resort that looks like it was designed by someone who deeply loves forests. It sits on the edge of a lush valley in the very heart of Ubud, with a working rice terrace running along its upper boundary and thick jungle pressing in from behind the walls.
The trees are full and generous, the air smells green, and the whole property has that rare quality of feeling completely private even when the rest of Bali is buzzing. For a honeymoon photo session in Bali, it genuinely has everything.
The architecture is warm and organic — natural stone, dark timber, trailing vines — and it photographs beautifully in almost any light. My personal favourite spot is the open deck that juts out above the treeline, originally built for private jungle dinner experiences but secretly one of the best photography locations on the entire property.
When the surrounding trees are in bloom, you get a wash of deep orange and green behind your couple that no editing trick in the world can fake. As a local Ubud photographer, I have shot at Kamandalu more than once, and the location never gets old. The light changes, the blooms shift, and every session tells a completely different story.
Tom & Pauline’s Honeymoon Photo Session in Bali
Here they are — Tom and Pauline, the lovebirds. They are humble, easy to direct, and had this wonderful quality of making me feel like a friend rather than a stranger with a camera, almost immediately. We clicked within the first few minutes, and from that point on the session just flowed on its own.
This is what I always hope for: the kind of relaxed, genuine energy that shows up in every single frame without me having to manufacture it.
Passion and Intimacy — The First Frame
This is the very first photograph from the session, and it set the tone for everything that followed. You can feel the connection right away — the way Tom and Pauline hold each other is quiet and unhurried, like two people who have been together long enough to know there is nowhere else in the world they would rather be. Pure love, honestly. As a photographer, this kind of genuine intimacy is exactly what I chase.
I love asking couples to simply close their eyes and breathe together — no pose, no direction, just presence. Something about that specific moment, foreheads touching and eyes closed, always draws out a depth of feeling that no amount of choreography could ever manufacture. The camera just catches it, and the image becomes something they will look at for the rest of their lives.
Wonderful Sunshine and the Golden Hour
The weather cooperated beautifully that afternoon. The sun was generous through most of the day, and as it began its slow descent toward the valley ridge, the light went through that gorgeous transformation every photographer quietly waits for — from harsh and direct into something soft, golden, and deeply flattering.
There is a quality to late-afternoon light in the Ubud valley that feels almost cinematic: the jungle diffuses it, bounces it off the leaves, and wraps it around your subjects in a way that is nearly impossible to recreate artificially.
For a honeymoon photo session in Bali, this was the perfect window. The soft contrast made the editing process feel intuitive and natural, and the film look I always reach for on couple sessions came through almost by itself. Timing your session around golden hour in Ubud genuinely changes the photographs — it is the first thing I tell every couple who asks me when to book.
If you would like more guidance on timing and the best spots across the island, I have written a full guide to the best photo locations in Bali.
The Words Game — Drawing Out Genuine Emotion
This is one of my favourite techniques in any couple session, and it sounds deceptively simple — because it is. I ask them to play a little game. Questions like: Who said “I love you” first? Or: Who is the better cook? Or: What was your very first thought when you saw each other today?
These small prompts do something wonderful: they take the couple’s mind completely off the camera. Suddenly they are laughing, rolling their eyes at each other, leaning in, pointing fingers — everything you want in a photograph but can never force. For Tom and Pauline, it was an instant unlock.
Genuine smiles, real laughter, moments of tender teasing. This is what I love to see in every couple photoshoot I am part of: a connection that is coaxed out gently, with the right question at the right moment, rather than manufactured with a stiff pose. It makes the whole session feel more like a game between two people in love than a photoshoot — and honestly, that is exactly what it should feel like.
Jungle Vibes — Kamandalu’s Hidden Gem
Kamandalu Ubud is surrounded by a kind of serenity that very few resorts manage to create. The rice terraces run along the upper edge of the property, and the jungle presses in from behind the walls — all of it lush, layered, and quietly alive. For guests looking for a peaceful honeymoon escape, it is ideal.
For a honeymoon photo session in Bali, Ubud is exceptional. Green leaves cover nearly every surface inside and out, which means your backgrounds are naturally rich and textured without any extra effort from me or from you. My personal favourite location on the property is the open deck that floats out above the treeline, designed for private jungle dinner experiences but equally perfect for a couple session.
It gives you that magical treehouse feeling, elevated above the canopy, with the whole valley stretching out into the distance. When the surrounding trees are in full bloom, the backdrop of deep orange and green looks entirely painterly — the kind of image that makes people ask which filter you used, and the honest answer is: none.
The best time to shoot the jungle deck is in the morning, when the sun rises from the eastern side and sends soft, warm backlit light cutting through the canopy from behind. It is a glow that the afternoon simply cannot match. For more locations like this one, take a look at my round-up of the best pre-wedding and couple photo locations in Bali.
Planning Your Own Honeymoon Photo Session in Ubud
If you are dreaming of your own honeymoon photo session in Bali and Ubud is on your radar, here are a few honest, practical notes worth knowing before you make the call.
Time of day: Late afternoon into golden hour (roughly 4–6 PM) is the most universally flattering window for any couple session. Ubud’s jungle-filtered light is especially generous in those final hours before sunset. For jungle and rice-field locations like Kamandalu specifically, a morning session starting around 7–9 AM is equally beautiful — the eastern light creates a soft, warm backlit glow through the canopy that feels effortlessly cinematic.
What to wear: Think simple, breathable, and color-coordinated rather than perfectly matching. Soft neutrals, earthy tones, and muted pastels photograph beautifully against the deep green of the Ubud jungle. Avoid very busy patterns or prominent logos, which pull the eye away from the faces. A flowy dress for her and relaxed linen trousers for him is a classic pairing that never fails.
How long do you need? One hour is genuinely enough for a focused resort session like Tom and Pauline’s — especially when the connection is already there. Two hours gives you the freedom to move between two or three different spots on the property and capture both the golden-hour warmth and the quieter, shadier morning-light look.
When to book: Ubud resorts fill up fast, especially in peak season (July–August and December). Book your photographer and confirm resort access well in advance to secure your preferred date and time of day.
| Session Type | Approx. Duration | Approx. Cost (IDR) | Approx. Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resort honeymoon session | 1 hour | See current packages | See current packages |
| Multi-location honeymoon session | 2–3 hours | See current packages | See current packages |
| Full-day honeymoon experience | Half or full day | See current packages | See current packages |
For the full pricing breakdown and what each session includes, visit my
Bali photography pricing and packages page or browse the
wedding and couple photography packages. When you are ready, just
get in touch — I would love to help plan your session.
If you would like to complement your session with a short film, we also offer
Ubud wedding videography
— photographs and moving images together make for the most complete memory of the day.
Final Thoughts
And that is the end of Tom and Pauline’s honeymoon photo session at Kamandalu Ubud — one golden hour, one beautifully connected couple, and a set of frames I am genuinely still proud of. It might have been a short session, but the joy we shared during it was enormous. One hour really is just enough for a truly intimate honeymoon photo session in Bali when both people are relaxed, open, and completely themselves.
Thank you for visiting our portfolio and blog. If you have any questions about booking your own honeymoon photoshoot, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can also read what past couples have said on our reviews page. And if you are also planning an engagement session on the island, our ultimate guide for engagement photo sessions in Bali is a wonderful place to start.
Cheers.
— wynprmn
