Couples & Engagements
Night portraits centred on connection, with controlled light separating the couple from the surrounding darkness and star-filled sky.
Created for: couples, engagements, anniversaries and meaningful shared milestones.
Portraits Under the Stars in Mauritius
Night sky · Controlled light · Carefully planned
After dark
Night portraits shaped with light and the sky
Portraits Under the Stars is a specialist night photography experience for people who want something more atmospheric and technically considered than a conventional daytime photoshoot. The subjects are carefully lit while the night sky remains an important part of the composition.
When visibility, season and location align, the Milky Way may become part of the photograph. Its appearance cannot be guaranteed: cloud cover, humidity, moonlight and changing weather all influence what the camera can record on a particular night.
Every session is planned around a suitable dark-sky location, safe access, the forecast and the position of the sky. Kurt guides posing and expression, then balances controlled lighting on the people with longer exposures needed for the stars.
Maternity Under the Stars
Artistic maternity portraits that place pregnancy within a wider night landscape, using considered posing and carefully directed illumination.
Created for: maternity portraits, couples expecting a child and personal celebrations of new life.
Individual & Creative Night Portraits
Directed portraits for one person, developed around silhouette, colour, controlled flash and the scale of the night sky.
Created for: individuals, personal milestones and distinctive creative portrait concepts.
The story behind the portrait
A maternity portrait beneath the Milky Way
The photograph began with a spontaneous call for a couple willing to meet at La Prairie, on the southern coast of Mauritius, in the middle of the night. The aim was to create more than a technically impressive sky: the portrait needed to express intimacy, trust and emotion against the scale of the Milky Way.
The couple who answered the call were expecting a child. Their willingness to take part brought an unexpected layer of tenderness and new life to the original concept, transforming it into both a couple portrait and a maternity photograph.
Creating the image required a sufficiently dark and isolated location, careful positioning beneath the visible galaxy and controlled lighting on the couple. Long exposure, precise direction and patience were needed to balance the people with the night sky without losing either part of the scene.
The result reflects what these sessions are designed to achieve: an artistic portrait built around a personal story, created safely and carefully when the location, weather and sky conditions make it possible.
Plan around the night sky
Milky Way Portrait Session Calendar 2026–2027
Planning a portrait session under the Milky Way requires the right timing. The visibility and position of the Milky Way change throughout the year, and the Moon also plays an important role in how dark the sky will be.
To help you choose a suitable period for your session, you can view the approximate Milky Way portrait session calendar for 2026 and 2027 below.
Choosing the composition
Some sessions are planned for a vertical Milky Way panorama, where the couple or subject appears more prominent in the final image. Other sessions may be planned as a wider Milky Way arc panorama, where the sky looks more dramatic but the subject appears smaller in the frame.
Planning note: The timings in this calendar are approximate. The final shooting time may vary by up to two hours before or after the indicated window, depending on the Moon, weather conditions, cloud cover, exact shooting location, and the type of composition planned. The final schedule will always be confirmed closer to the session date.
Planning after dark
Portraits Under the Stars FAQs
Practical information about sky conditions, locations, safety and preparing for a technical night portrait session.
Can you guarantee that the Milky Way will be visible?
No. The Milky Way depends on the season, its position, cloud cover, humidity, moonlight and local visibility. Sessions are planned carefully, but natural sky conditions can change and a specific celestial result cannot be guaranteed.
How are dates and times selected?
Potential dates are chosen by considering the moon phase, expected Milky Way visibility, weather and access to the location. The final start time may be late because the sky must be sufficiently dark.
What happens if the weather changes?
Conditions are checked before the session. If cloud, rain, strong wind or another safety concern makes the planned result unrealistic, the session may be postponed or adapted in consultation with you.
Where do night portrait sessions take place?
A suitable location needs a sufficiently dark sky, manageable artificial light, safe access and a composition that works after dark. A coastal or inland setting may be considered only when it meets these night-photography requirements.
How should I prepare for a night session?
Wear practical footwear for reaching the location and bring a warm layer, water and any personal essentials. Clothing for the photographs can be discussed separately. Because some exposures take time, you should also be comfortable remaining still when directed.
How is safety handled during the session?
Access, terrain, tides where relevant, weather and practical visibility are considered before confirming a location. You will receive preparation guidance, and a session will not continue when conditions are judged unsafe.
Client experience
An Unforgettable Evening Beneath the Milky Way
A client’s experience of the patience, planning and atmosphere involved in creating portraits under the stars.
Latcheemoona Katelyn
My photography session beneath the Milky Way will remain an unforgettable memory. Kurt’s professionalism and remarkable patience made it possible to create incredible photographs while fully enjoying a truly magical evening.
Night portrait packages
Choose Your Portraits Under the Stars Experience
These specialist packages allow time for controlled lighting, careful positioning and technically demanding portraits created around the visible night sky.
Rs. 7,000
01
Essential
- 1-hour session
- Up to 2 outfits
- 1–3 professionally retouched photographs
- 1–2 lighting setups
- Private online gallery
Rs. 12,000
02Popular
Classic
- 2-hour session
- Up to 4 outfits
- 3–5 professionally retouched photographs
- 2–3 lighting setups
- Private online gallery
Rs. 15,000
03
Signature
- 3-hour session
- Up to 6 outfits
- 5–7 professionally retouched photographs
- 3–5 lighting setups
- Private online gallery
- Extended consultation & planning
The final number of photographs may vary depending on the complexity of the poses, lighting setups and creative direction. Some images require significantly more shooting time than others.
Plan for the night sky
Plan Your Portrait Under the Stars
Tell the studio who you would like photographed and the milestone or creative idea behind the session. Suitable dates and dark-sky conditions can then be discussed.