I love that kind of energy that this adventurous couple of siblings can bring into any environment! What a privilege it was to share a couple of hours with Caterina & her family. The joy of life can be seen in the eyes of these two lively “warriors! Enjoy this warm oil of gladness!
Irene was not yet four weeks old when Francesca, her mom and a good friend of mine, asked me to take some shots of her newborn princess in the little park near their house. What hits me about newborn babies is how fragile they are, how they completely depend on their parents or caregivers, even though I actually think they are resilient, strong and quite adaptable! As life is often uphill, I find it is a blessing to have the chance to experience a phase without any thoughts, based only on what we can feel, such as the loving touch and presence of our parents, and a deep sense of trust in them. This prepares us for the path of life ahead of us, and makes us courageous, like tiny & strong Irene!
Bree was about 10 years old when I took some shots of her, back in the summer 2018. She came with her parents, we met at Lauriston Castle, which always proves to be an outstanding location! I believe that Bree not only had gorgeous skin and hair tones with beautiful eyes, but she was also very much expressive and she had something unique. It felt like she was a protagonist of a fairy tale, there was something magical about her. I also reckon that the colors in the park and of the nature at Lauriston were equally striking… I wish all the best to Bree’s family, and little Bree-girl, do not forget that you are very much cherished, and that your momma loves you to pieces!
In August 2018 I did a trip up North, with my friend Catrìona to visit one of her besties, Alix, who was living on a farm in Caithness, the very North of Scotland. Back then Alix was engaged to a member of the Sutherland clan (they are now happily married!). When they say that the further north you go, the warmer and more welcoming the people are, I must say it is true! For a deep Southern Mediterranean soul like mine, Thurso was a spot “at the end of the world”. The nature was wild, practically there were no trees, just some bush species, as nothing really grows up easily up there. The land was flat, green, with sheep everywhere and the wind was the master! The Sutherland family hosted us and it was for me a pleasure and a honor to take some shots of the first two beautiful kids of Fiona & Kenneth (Alix’s brother and sister in laws)! It was good to see in their eyes the excitement, the sense of freedom that they had, as well as their joyful nature but also the deep connection that they had with their mum and dad! Enjoy these lovely memories!
I love this one, below!
How I loved this family! Wendy was a dear friend of Catrìona. We met at Granton beach to take some candid family shots which we managed to do! It was so good to see her happy with the ones closest to her. There are many words that come to mind when I think of these guys: warm, honest, steadfast, clever, loving and fun! I can just hope that they will bless Italy with their presence soon!
Whilst sipping my cup of coffee in the kitchen, this morning I thought about the wonderful people I have met and photographed over the last 16 years. There is something about the connection one can develop with his clients during the limited time of a photo session that seems to overpower the small talk one would expect from such a shoot. Perhaps it has to do with the fact of feeling comfortable enough to show your soul to someone for a moment and walk away less bound by the world. Or maybe it is just about showing and sharing moments with those who are the most precious to you. Back in the summer 2018, I had the chance to observe beautiful Fiona while playing and interacting with her parents and also to admire their deep bond. This family really holds a very special place in my heart and I am thankful that they really could express themselves freely in front of my camera!
On a sunny June day I took some shots of little Lola. We started at Granton Beach, then we found as strategic second location a backyard in the neighborhood! Lola was so full of live, perfectly dressed up like a young lady of the early 20th century, and Bladine was so fond of her daughter and is such a creative soul! We had fun and possibly also this allowed us to get home with some beautiful photographic memories!
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up”
I already had more opportunities to take some snapshots of Elena’s kids. She is a friend of us and she has had 5 boys over the years! They are all good natured, entertain themselves pretty well and for sure they keep the family environment running at full throttle! Enjoy these summer memories dated 2018! We love you, Elena, and you really are a wise and relaxed mom!!
In the spring 2018, Annasole had a baby brother, Martin. His birth was a good occasion to organise a little photographic catch-up in order to take some portraits of both of the kids. This indoor session was smooth: Annasole was kind of an “habituée” of the studio and honestly, there was no outcry from the side of the little one! Thank you Elisa & George for trusting my capabilities! Enjoy these lovely memories!
Ella, Milly & Pippa are the Fyfe sisters. I had the pleasure to meet them with their parents, Lynsey and Ross, in May 2018. They are friends of friends and we spent a couple of hours together at their place. I was touched by their warm welcome and to observe the mutual love and deep respect that the members of this lovely family had one for another. The girls were simply great, the 2 oldest were really sociable and pleasantly lively. I am delighted by the outcome of this session that and warmed my heart and was uncomplicated! Thank you Lynsey & Ross and for trusting my photographic skills!
Eva was a cute, attentive, inquisitive and calm baby. She had beautiful, big, deep blue eyes and she was astoundingly cherished by her parents and family who were very much fond of her! A big Thanks to the Cooper family for posing in front of my lens! Enjoy these lovely memories dated March 2018!
The precise memory I have of 3 years old Lola was of a very cute, tiny, lively, friendly, affectionate ballerina who could become transform quickly into a courageous warrior! She really had the capacity to engage and to lead other people in her games! I immediately had a soft spot for her and I believe that her pictures show pretty well her personality. Enjoy these lovely memories with a big Thanks to super Momma Blandine!!
Back to the years between 2015 and 2019, I was heavily interested in studio photography. I have also always liked that photography can bring people together and somehow create a sense of community. I asked the mothers of these young princesses (who belong to 3 different nationalities and all lived in Parma at that time) to take them to the studio and they enthusiastically agreed (the girls were quite driven about the idea too!). The fact that the older girls were together in the same class in primary school helped and in fact the outcome of this session was lovely!
Mattia is lucky, he has a good relationship with both his mom and dad. Although in different ways, his bond with his parents is deep, built upon mutual trust and love and you can notice it in the images below. It was good for me to spend some time with this family and to see them together in a state of ease! Enjoy these memories dated January 2018!
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!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 