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!
Massimo is the brother of Maria. I was looking to take portraits of a model in studio and she made his name. At the end, I was satisfied by the outcome and, during th shoot, I was impressed by his calm, humility and goodwill.
“The dandy should aspire to be uninterruptedly sublime. He should live and sleep in front of a mirror” – Charles Baudelaire
Giacomo was handsome and had an athletic figure. I had the pleasure to take some portraits of him in the studio and also outdoors.
“As I grew up, one of my strongest allies has been my sister” – Patti Smith
I have known Lisa and Margherita since they were little girls and it was a joy for me to take some portraits of them, back in March 2015. For being two sisters, they are different, not only in terms of age difference but also in their characters, but they do have points in common. They both love fashion and know what they want. I enjoyed spending one hour with them and their mum Mara!
His straight but also crooked whisker and his white tipped were his hallmarks. His name was Rotten and he was the cats of friends of mine. In the living room he felt like a king, even though he did not disdain sleeping with his owners. He was a curious, chubby pal, quite jealous of his masters’ affection. He was gorgeous and cuddly and this is how he is remembered.
Flavia was young but ahead of her age. I took a series of portraits of her in the studio, where she immediately felt at ease. I believe that from these shots she is able to thrill thanks to her artistic side emerges, her theatricality, her expressive force but also with her inner strength. Enjoy thee beautiful memories!
This was my the shooting, so far, where I photographed both mother & daughter in what seems to be 2 different sessions (adults + kids portraiture) ! The idea was to take some portraits of Olga but, since Vittoria joined us fully dressed, it was impossible not to give in to her convincing smile! Olga is a natural, elegant model (I loved her outfits!) but Vittoria also enjoyed being the centre of attention, so it was a double pleasure for me spending a couple of hours with them. We gathered in the city centre, then, we headed to the Parco Ducale!
Of Martina I remember her laugh and her flawless skin plus, she looked great in that red dress!
Of this Japanese model I remember that she exuded a discreet, noble charm. There was also some forcefulness in her gaze.
These photos were taken exactly 2 weeks before Matilde was born. And Silvia was still very active and in superb shape! Enjoy these loving memories!
My favorite below:
I have never been very strong with gemoetries but I must admit that, on this occasion, the Pilotta’s courtyard helped me to put the subject “in place”!
Rita is one of my favorite persons and I had the honor to take some quick shots of her on her civil ceremony back on 14/02/2015. I was disguised as an unofficial photographer, and I was even a guest!
I was looking for new models, and Paolo suggested Matteo. We met at Parco Falcone e Borsellino on a cold February morning (it had snowed quite a bit that year) to take some portraits. I have always seen the camera not only as a tool that allows us to obtain certain results but, even more, as a powerful medium that brings us face to face with other people (whether the photographer is able to empathize with the subjects he is working with) and makes the subjects captured discover aspects of their character that they do not usually reveal. And I believe that this was one of those cases!
“Adults play too — or should” -Julie Lythcott-Haims
I am attracted by the concepts of beauty and perfection, these two going together and to be meant as an aesthetic sense. I love harmony and am quite hard on myself on how to present a subject. But this is not everything to me. Talking about portraits, I often look at the work of famous photographers and these pictures can be perfect on the technical side but I will not really love them if there is not a vibrancy in them, if I can’t discover some “human” factor” hidden somewhere.
I do not think that I would take pictures if this wasn’t fun for me, if there wasn’t real joy in taking them. There has to be a playful side in taking the photo that makes my interest grow for the subject. Paolo is a reliable and very good natured person and I am happy he is also my friend. I have respect for him and he is only one of the few people I know who has a degree in Physics: this makes him look like a genius to me! He usually is quite serious, calm and peaceful so I was a bit surprised when he accepted to meet me and to have a shoot together.
Honestly I could not be more happy with the result: in these pictures you see a part of him that usually you don’t…since he was glad to go along with my idea of fun!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 