Looking for 2 days somewhere between Milan and Zermatt

Stresa, on Lago Maggiore. Its smack on the way between Malpensa Airport and Zermatt. You can get a bus directly from the airport to Stresa and skip going into Milan. From Stresa, pick up one of the EC trains to Brig, then the train to Zermatt.

I would highly recommend Oeschinensee to a photographer. Take the train to Brig and change there for a train to Kandersteg. This will be a one-hour detour from your route to Zermatt; simply return to Brig two days later and catch the Zermatt train there.

You can stay in town ( a nice small town) or at the mountain inn up at the lake ( which what we do). A cablecar will take you up.

http://www.oeschinensee.ch/

I left it n German so you could see the photos on the opening page. You can switch it to English the menu at upper right.

Another place with great photography opportunities is Bettmeralp, a tiny car-free village perched high above the Rhône Valley. From the ridge behind town ( accessible by hike or gondola) you will see the Aletschgletscher, longest glacier in Europe. It starts up on the Jungfrau area and heads south, then west.

Bettmeralp would be a shorter detour than Kandersteg. From Brig, take the train heading east up the Valley two stopsn( 15 minutes or less) to Betten. Board the cablecar there for the ride 4000 feet up to Bettmeralp. there may be "fall special" on lodging, or even a cow festival.

https://www.aletscharena.ch/destination/orte/bettmeralp/

Thank you both for the response. I plan on making a decision today. I will follow up. Thanks again for taking the time

Definitely Stresa, on Lago Maggiore. One of my favourite places.