I met Martina in early 2013, via a mutual friend. At the time I was working on a photographic women’s project about their strengths and she bravely accepted to be part of it. We all have points in our body that we don’t appreciate (weak points?!) and this seems to be an almost universal established law. Said that, I don’t think that Martina has many 🙂 She is beautiful, even today. She has very expressive eyes, a nice, agile body shape and has a witty, strong personality! Marti, enjoy this memory!
Based on my experience, I can say that if children don’t want to do something, it’s better not to insist and keep asking them. That November afternoon of 2012, Adele and Cloe, the daughters of Alice (a dear friend and a videographer), were not in the right mood to pose in front of the camera. At the beginning, fairly for shyness, it seemed to me that they did not want it but also that…they did want it, just for a short time! So I had to adapt to their wishes, and chased them around Parco Ducale for an hour or so! They both ARE beautiful but not only that, they are clever with many talents. On the other hand, having a super mum, the result could only be astonishing! Adele was a beautiful, elegant, calm but also very quick observer whilst Cloe was the smiley rebel who would forcefully lead and engage you in her games. And still has today this buoyant optimism! Enjoy these memories!
During a portrait session, we normally get the best shots at the end of the shooting, as the beginning represents the awkward phase. The selection is a struggle for me and I don’t enjoy that part of the work. I never had the habit of culling backwards and I still don’t do that today however, for once, I have forced myself to go against my natural instinct of visually narrating Francesca’s session from start to finish and uploaded the tail end of our shoot. Enjoy these memories dated November 2012 and her beautiful face features!
Laura Fabiano has been in women’s clothing business since 2009. She still is into it, which is really remarkable. You can find her shop in via Nazario Sauro 35/A in Parma. Having a sales activity nowadays is a tough reality, however Laura manages to do what she does in her own business thanks to her proverbial tenacity and passion. She really goes “above” the business, putting her heart into the choice of clothes and accessories. I had the pleasure to take some portraits of her 2012/2013 collection in Cittadella, back in September 2012. With the involvement of two beautiful models (Thanks, Francesca and Viorica!) the shooting was a success.
This is the photo that struck me most of these sisters shooting. It will be because of its taste of a time gone, which is not so far away, it will because of Sara’s liveliness, of her spontaneous expression, of her curls flying in the air, of the speed that this imae generates, yes, well, the girls seem two fairies. Its title will be “Long live childhood”!
Sara and Martina are the daughters of my cousin’s husband from an earlier marriage and are, in an extended way, part of my family. In the summer of 2012, they were respectively 9 and 13 years old. I was struck by their liveliness, friendliness and their acrobatics skills: it seemed to me that they had NO limits in their flexibility! Sara was extremely lively, Martina was very sensible and was teaching her sister artistic gymnastics. Enjoy their photos, and copy them if you can!
About that August evening of 2012, I remember that we got a beautiful golden hour light. It was warm, but not crazy hot. The year before, I had taken some photos of Matilde, so she had asked me if she could invite a friend of hers. I said yes and the 3 of us met at Parco Ducale. They were 17 years old at that time. I like taking pictures of young people because, usually, they pass on to me their fresh enthusiasm for life. Having said that, I remember that both of them had a strong character 🙂 Enjoy their photos!
I met Anne in 2009, during a Master’s course in Poitiers. We have stayed in touch ever since. She can be loquacious, she is cute, she has a stature of a tiny ballerina but she has a big personality. I have always admired her fearless, relentless vitality. She is a blue-eyed babe who has two babies now! She came to Parma to visit me in 2012, and we organised a portrait session in the city center (with Parma’s glorious summer sky, at its best) where she captured my attention with her meaningful expressions. I know that I shouldn’t say that (Malraux ladies!) but I I have a soft spot for her!
Below the welcoming committee…
My favorite shots below, I don’t mind if they are blurry!
City center
Photographer and subject together (it looks like the lens cap has not been removed!)
When I imagine true love, Laura and Filippo are one of the couples that come to my mind. Going through my photo archive, I didn’t realized how many pictures I took of them, over the years. Maybe it’s because I like them both individually and it’s also good to have them together! We gathered a summer evening in a field just outside of Parma. About the rest…well, enjoy their pictures!
Beautiful Laura!
and a snappy memory together with the photographer!
I have known Maria since… I think it was 2011. She is also from Parma and is a vibrant artistic young woman. She is brilliant, she is incredibly forward thinking and has an inspiring impact on me. Over the years, I have taken several portraits of her and it always was fun. The theme of this shoot (dated August 2012) was Marie Antoinette 🙂 Don’t ask me how and why we chose that! Probably because we both were impressed by the movie by Sofia Coppola that had recently been released. And maybe, also because Maria was wearing a very feminine, elegant pink dress who gave her frivolity and lightness. The location was the dried up river bed of the river Parma. Enjoy these delightful memories!
I took some shots of Matilde in October 2011. At that time she was 15 years old (not far from turning 16). When you are at that age, your life is busy: there’s school, there are friends (of all types!), sport activities, your mobile is always in your hands and you can be grumpy, especially with your parents and siblings.Â
I was a teenager a long time ago but I still remember feeling neither one thing nor the other. Everything seemed complicated. Adolescence is a strange, delicate turning point. Childhood is behind you but the future is ahead of you and you don’t know where you belong. Dualism is extremely accentuated and is a typical trait of this phase of life: on one hand, you are carefree but, on the other, you need to be serious. You are too young to be involved in certain things but too grown up for others.
Matilde has always looked more grown up that she actually was. She has always been responsible, sharp and with clarity in mind. I was very happy to spend an hour with her and her auntie!
Sometimes things start one way and then the lead goes in another direction. This was the case! It had to be a “solo” portrait session that turned up into a group shooting! My idea was to take some shots of Margot (daughter of my friend Claudia), a sprint 8-year-old, sports enthusiast, in her after school, but unexpectedly a small, compact group of kids (who were on the playground) joined us! One point that fascinates me about working with kids, is that they are natural. Even when they are not laughing or playing, they usually have a catching, spontaneous expression. These images are dated 4/10/2011, it was a warmish late afternoon and the light was gorgeous. Enjoy these memories!
Bats-position, hanging upside down!
I have NO clue about how & why we skipped to this “shoes-off-show” part of the shooting! Whose idea was that?!
We jumped on a coach (filled with colors!) on Parma and headed to Livorno. The bride and the groom (my cousin Lara and her husband Sandro) hired a small coach for their guests! I have taken pictures to 5 weddings and I couldn’t miss this one, which actually was my first one as photographer!
Even though she doesn’t live from her art, Lara is a deeply talented artist (poetry!); she has a generous heart and has always been the beauty of our family! Sandro is from Tuscany so, by saying this, I have said it all about him!! He is funny, clever, open, friendly, active, ironic! And he loves Lara to pieces. Their wedding was a joyful gathering, intimate and simple, their guests being mostly friends, with just a few family members (granny included)! It was the only ceremony I have been to, where the guests asked the bride & groom…whether they could dress up, just for fun!! Once they changed their suits, they got really colourful indeed, each of them chose a mono-colour! As Lara told me years later: ” We wanted that day to be a party for everybody, we wanted each of us to feel important”.
Enjoy this beautiful memory!
Little tiger…tiny but roaring!
Now let’s add some color to the day! Jader: travestimento mode is ON!
Would that be a direct message?!
An happy couple
and the husband in color!
Germana, Lara’s mom!
Silvia before…
and after!
How did I manage to make this picture so cool?!
Unforgettable details
Sebastiano!
Two of the flower girls were the daughters of Sandro, the third one was his niece. They were STUNNING! So well behaved!
One of the shots that I cherish more: she is just perfect!
A very smiling wedding officiant
Nailed it!
Seconds after the ceremony
Let’s skip to colors again!
Love is in the air!
Portraits at the seafront
Kids randomly crossed along the seaside…and the posed! This one was selected by PhotoVogue, can you believe it?
The newlyweds and the stunning flower girls
Martina!
Lara, you are beautiful!
Sara!
I can see THEIR LOVE here
I love this photo pretty M U C H !
A delighted groom, convertible into flower man 🙂
Cute wedding favor
Happy Marisa
How could we possibly get that on the dancing floor?!
Happily blurry!
To finish, the fancy blue shoes of the flower girls!
It was a summer evening (pictures show 27/08/2011) and I had been invited to a concert as 2 friends were part of the group. I have random memories related to that event however, I recall that it was a success, fans were enjoyably entertained! I like the very colorful editing of some of these images without being too ashamed of my primitive technique 🙂
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 