Noonu (South Miladhunmadulu) Atoll · Medhufaru
Soneva Jani photographer.
3 shoots on the island, every frame made there. Golden hour, unhurried, gallery in 48 hours.
- Atoll
- Noonu (South Miladhunmadulu) Atoll
- Island
- Medhufaru
- Transfer
- seaplane · 45 min, speedboat · 60 min
- Villas
- 98
- Brand
- Soneva
- Travel fee
- US$780
- Sessions from
- US$320
Soneva Jani, on the island of Medhufaru in Noonu (South Miladhunmadulu) Atoll, is 98 villas across the island, enough to choose a quiet stretch of beach for the session. Honeymoon, wedding, proposal or family — a session here is an hour in the soft light, unhurried, with the photographs in your hands in forty-eight hours.
The 3 shoots below were photographed at Soneva Jani; the most recent in December 2017. Every frame is from the island itself — no stock, no other resort standing in.
The travel fee to Soneva Jani is US$780, always quoted on its own line, so the package price is the package price.
Shoots at Soneva Jani.
The light at Soneva Jani.
At Soneva Jani we start about an hour and a quarter before sunset on the western beach, move through the shallows as the light turns gold, and finish on the over-water walkway once the lights come on. The northern atolls get slightly less rain than Malé in Hulhangu, and the light in Iruvai is as clean as anywhere in the country. Sunrise sessions are quieter still, and the water is at its clearest.
About the island
- 5.6 kilometre private lagoon surrounding the resort — described as "an awe-inspiring azure spectacle that inspires a sense of calm."
- Many villas feature slides from the top floor straight into the lagoon.
- Retractable roof to stargaze from the master bedroom.
- Island villas tucked into verdant greenery, steps from the white sand beach.
- Exclusive facilities including private pools, outdoor decks and direct access to the lagoon.
- State-of-the-art James Bond-inspired observatory (So Starstruck) with a 16-inch Meade telescope.
- First fully sustainable surfing programme in the world (Eco-Friendly Surfing using equipment made from recycled waste programme).
- Crab Shack voted the world's most romantic restaurant by CNN.com in 2019.
Sessions I photograph at Soneva Jani
Questions about Soneva Jani.
How much does a photographer cost at Soneva Jani?
Portrait sessions start at US$320 (Tropical Memories, 20–40 minutes) and run to US$4,250 for a full day with drone and a sunset cruise. The travel fee to Soneva Jani is US$780. Weddings are quoted on the ceremony.
Can I book an outside photographer at Soneva Jani?
Most Maldivian resorts welcome a photographer booked directly by a guest; a few have an exclusive in-house studio. I confirm Soneva Jani's current policy with the resort before you pay anything — usually within six hours of your enquiry — and if the island is exclusive I will say so plainly.
What is the best time of day for photographs at Soneva Jani?
The last seventy-five minutes before sunset, then the blue hour. Sunrise is the alternative if you want the beach to yourselves and the flattest water. Midday is for the drone, not for portraits.
How do you get to Soneva Jani?
Soneva Jani is a 45-minute seaplane or a 60-minute speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé. I book the same transfer through the resort and arrive on the day of the session.
When will we receive the photographs?
A sneak peek within 24 hours and the full edited gallery within 48 — often before you leave Soneva Jani. Every image is delivered in full resolution with a personal licence to print and share.
Which season is best at Soneva Jani?
Noonu Atoll has two monsoons: Iruvai (late November to early April) is the dry season with clear skies and still lagoons; Hulhangu (April to November) brings dramatic clouds, short showers and the best sunsets. The shoots on this page were made in Mula, Dosa.
Check your date at Soneva Jani