I am hereby happy to publish two shoots taken in Parma in September 2021. I have known these 2 families for a while: their kids ARE terrific! The weather and the lighting were also perfect.
Let’s start with Arianna, Diletta & Davide: until a short while ago, Arianna was a child, and now she’s coming out with teenage expressions?! Thank you for trusting me in helping to provide these lovely memories! The video-teaser was taken with my iPhone 🙂
When I was at school there were so many diaries, pencil cases and notebooks with the beautiful, peaceful, dreamy images of children by Anne Geddes. For me she has always been a sort of magician, with a secret aurea surrounding her and her work. The type and quality of pictures she took are awesome, even although I prefer a more natural approach. I always wondered how she managed to work with very young children. I have had only 4 or 5 shoots with newborns and every time it was extremely challenging.
The cover of the issue of L’Uomo Vogue of February is of Anne Geddes. Feel free to browse through their website to check it:
Below, an interesting interview to the photographer:
Erica, Ewan’s sister (= the groom in the previous wedding post!), has two wonderful children, Florence & George, with her husband Mark. I was delighted to take some photos of this close-knit family. Actually their photo-session turned out to be an “epic one” because of : 1) the location which was fantastic 2) so were the protagonists+ 3) we had a PROPER summer day in Scotland! The kids were cooperative during the photo shoot, and the whole setting worked in our favor. I think it was one of the best photo-shoots I’ve ever done! Thank you, Bramhalls, for trusting my photographic skills!
Hey, check this out…They are framed!
Spending time with Erica is a pleasure. I don’t say this only because she is one of my friends. I can say this because I see who she is for real: an honest, generous, adventurous and brave soul with a strong sense of duty and a caring attitude towards people. Yes, I really like her. I also enjoy spending time with her little two extensions, “King” George & “dancing princess” Florence.
It started like this : she wanted me to take picture of her kids because she had a good feeling about me. So a couple of years ago she chose me over thousands of choices. She trusted me from the beginning and this moves me almost to tears. I admire her sense of reality and pragmatism and I see the deep love and bond she has with her family. Photography allows people to create networks and to discover families ties and I had the chance to get to know a good part of her family and, trust me, they are amazing, enjoyable people.
When last night she texted me with the picture of the prints of the kids, I was delighted first with the results themselves (they are good shots) but also with a sort of pride coming from the fact of having my photos hanging on their living-room wall where all their guests can see them.
Time goes by quickly but more than a few things make us happy and will be remembered : friendship, good shots and prints!
These sisters had both BIG personalities! One couldn’t stay still without not watching what the other was up to without being cheekily involved in it! I loved interacting with them and with their super-hearted momma and these few pictures do not really honor them!! Enjoy these lively, lovely memories dated January 2018!
Elisa, Mattia’s mum, is one of my best friends. It was something for me to see reflected in her 3 years old son some of her personality’s traits. Mattia was a young lively boy, very determined, extremely focused and perceptive. Whilst playing with the ball he was over the moon, as well as being at the presence of his adoring mum! Enjoy these loving memories dated October 2017!
During the dry summer season, it was a pleasure to take the camera in my hands to witness Adele & Cloe’s playful beauty and complicity. These girls ARE stunners, like their beautiful momma! A big Thanks to this family for braving July’s heat!
“Summertime is always the best of what might be” – Charles Bowden
Emma had grit and a sparkle! It was a pleasure to take some portraits of her, together with her caring momma Sara. Emma’s soul, daring, expansive and buoyant, came out real well during the photo session! Enjoy this beautiful memory.
Arianna wasn’t intimated by the studio (or maybe just the first 3 minutes!). She was into every.thing that was happening. These candid shots reflect her personality. It was a pleasure to experience the bond between her and her parents!
The 1st session you have in the studio can be challenging. Based on my experience with kids, less is more. After a few “serious presidential” headshots (with his super cute red bowtie!), Luigi was delighted to play with a clothes peg, which was of course a good solution to gain his attention!
Emi was a tiny bunch of love who already had clear ideas, and that included staying in her mom’s arms as long as possible! The studio experience, at first, is intimidating for babies, who need to be reassured (mostly because of the lighting, the flashlight and the backdrop) and made them to feel as comfortable as possible. During this short session everything went smoothly and Emi revealed herself as a beautiful, expressive princess! Thank you Tomomi for trusting my photographic capabilities!
Looking back at these photos dated spring 2016, I immediately sense the simplicity and the deepness of Diletta and Davide’s love, as well as their pride in little Arianna, who had realised that she was the centre of the attention and liked that! Enjoy these lovely memories.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to work in Parma for members of the Japanese community whose family was part of. On this occasion I took some portraits of this lovely in a park. Slightly shy at the beginning, during the course of our photo session Yukari discovered the taste of posing as a model and, at the end, she was clearly mastering it and was all smiles and self-confidence!
Momma’s whisperer!
I was delighted to admire and to capture (partially!) Emma’s vitality in the studio. After a few minutes of shyness, this beautiful young model took centre stage and the rest came of its own! It was also sweet to admire the connection between Emma and her mum Sara!
Zeno was truly a gorgeous child (and still is now!), one of those you felt like stopping in the street to compliment him! He was the son of an old time friend and it was a pleasure for me to take some photos of him in the studio. The session went well, he was lively and was into it. I don’t remember how and why, but more than to the Teddy bear’s, he’ d be attracted to the rugby ball and the Z! Don’t ask me why I set up a dark background for this service…Enjoy these beautiful photo memories!
Taking pictures of babies in the studio can be difficult. You can nor predict know how they will react, whether they will be relaxed or a little tense, in the mood to play or hungry or tired. This photo shoot was not exactly an easy walk, even though I don’t recall that Melissa (who was 5 months old at the time and has beautiful big, dark eyes) cried, in fact she lasted in a tulle veil for several minutes! Enjoy this beautiful memories!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 