Amongst all the photo shoots I’ve done to this family, this is one of my favourites and… Wow, I didn’t realise I’d used my Nikon F801s in so many sessions! Arianna was growing up fast in that period. She was always deeply connected to her parents and at ease in front of the camera but with new, different expressions. The B&W adds a touch of timelessness!
Lola and Fiona were born in Scotland to French mothers. Their mums, Valérie and Blandine, were my colleagues in the first call centre I worked for, after moving to Scotland in 2017. These two girls had never met before, but there was only a year’s difference between them and…I was looking for subjects to photograph! So we let the girls have a play session together and I tried to take some portraits of them. A few weeks earlier, I had bought a film camera, a second hand Nikon F801s (model produced between 1991 and 1994) in the legendary shop Cameratiks of Morningside and I was itching to try it out! The conditions to go for it weren’t ideal: it was winter time, I didn’t have the flashlight, I took most of of the photos indoors, with a low lighting and… I hadn’t read the manual!! Well, despite what could have been the ingredients for a disaster, the situation turned out in our favor: thanks to the manual use of the camera plus some wise editing, we made it! The girls tied up quickly and, apart from their charm and spontaneity, I was struck by Fiona’s interest in photography and Lola’s exuberant leadership!
Enjoy these beautiful photo memories. I wish analog cameras a long life!
These 2 shots below are my favorite!
It was a joy to have Irene & Francesca in the studio. The photo session ran smoothly, it was quick and we got lovely photos as results. Irene had the most beautiful blue eyes and was a curious bundle of joy. Congratulations Francesca and Massimo! What a privilege you have to be parents!
Slightly numerous are the occasions where these two sisters argue however, they certainly make up quickly and they both have a deep sense of fun! When I took these photos, we weren’t even close to carnival time, but it was great to admire their improvisations on the subject!
Carlotta was one of the first people I spoke to in our first year at university (back in 2002!)! We were in line to attend a course presentation and we just started to chat and we eventually became friends. Later on, we did the Erasmus year together, which was a milestone for our lives! Although we made different life choices, we kept in touch throughout the years.
It made good to see her realise her big dream, that of a family. Now Carlotta is the undisputed “queen” of her three boys, her husband and her kids. It made me real proud to be called on as a photographer to take some shots of her lively treasures! Pietro’s cuteness and his cheerfulness were an hymn to life, whilst Dario was the brother that everybody would have wanted to have, as being responsible, careful, affectionate and extreeemely patient!! Enjoy these lovely memories dated September 2018!
I admire photographers who empower their subjects, I just can’t. When I try to direct people while shooting, I realise that there is always something which I can not control. When I focused mainly on children’s portraiture, this became even more unpredictable. I basically follow the kids natural instincts and then usually obtain some good results!
“From his first steps to his biggest leaps, I’ll always be cheering him on” – Sirisha Sattoor
There is nothing like a follow-up shoot to apply the pressure on me to excel as a photographer. I had taken photos of Mattia already, in 2017 and in 2018. Now, on this occasion, he was 4 years and a half. I wasn’t really nervous about this one as Elisa, Mattia’s mum, she is one of my besties as when I am with her I get relaxed, however, this time I wanted to perform to get the same kind of result of 2017. Or better. Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud of this portraits serie. I find poignant and touching the purity and strength of the love between Mattia and his mum! Enjoy this loving, lovely photo memory!!
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!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 