The Ecuador Andes wardrobe challenge is range. Quito's colonial centre is at twenty-eight hundred metres and best photographed at dawn, when it is cool and sometimes misty. Cotopaxi at the high access road is at forty-seven hundred metres, cold, windy, and intensely bright. Cuenca is a city at twenty-five hundred metres with a mild, spring-like climate year-round. The same outfit that photographs well in Quito's plazas will not keep you warm at Cotopaxi, and the same layering system for Cotopaxi will be unnecessary in Cuenca's afternoon warmth.

Couple in elopement attire on a high-altitude Andean hillside with the snow-capped Cotopaxi cone visible behind them and the volcanic scree in the foreground — Cotopaxi at the high refuge approach: the temperature can be below freezing with significant wind. The wardrobe needs to handle this and still photograph well.

Quito: Colonial and Cool

For the colonial centre of Quito, the dawn sessions are cool, between twelve and sixteen degrees Celsius. A wool blend suit or a structured coat over a dress reads well against the warm-toned stone architecture. The cobblestones are uneven; low heels or dressy flats are better than stilettos. The colour palette of Quito's centre is cream and warm ochre stone, which rewards clothing in deep tones (navy, burgundy, forest green) or strong white contrast.

Cotopaxi: Cold and Bright

At the parking area below the refuge, temperatures are often between zero and five degrees Celsius with significant wind. A technical base layer, a wool mid-layer, and a windproof outer shell are mandatory for function. The photography approach is to wear the technical layers in and out of the location and use the dress or suit for the photograph itself, changing in the car. No one has ever been comfortable at Cotopaxi in a dress without a coat and the photographs show discomfort clearly.

Couple in elopement attire standing at high altitude in the Ecuadorian Andes during their elopement with the volcanic terrain and clear sky surrounding them — The approach at Cotopaxi: warm technical layers for the walk, dress or suit for the portrait itself, back to layers between setups. The photographs show comfort or discomfort clearly at altitude.

Cuenca: Spring-Like and Walkable

Cuenca is the most forgiving of the three environments for wardrobe. The climate is mild and consistent, between fifteen and twenty-two degrees during the day. A suit or dress that works in a city context photographs well against the colonial architecture and the Rio Tomebamba. Footwear that can handle cobblestones and a brief walk along the river is sufficient. For the Barranco promenade at golden hour, light and flowing fabrics catch the afternoon breeze well.

Arman

Destination Wedding Photographer

Vancouver · Medellín · Worldwide