Roses, and other portraits

This one is about portraits of Masha. I photographed a lot more on that day. And then I was not sure what to do with them. Cause when I look at them, something feels off. So much so that even those I liked felt tainted.

Usually it is either about the person whose portrait is made. Or about the edit. Or about the mood. Or pose. Or expression. Or some trend which is fashionable now. Or the overall message. Or the photographer. It can be just one or all of these things, it does not matter. The picture does not touch you anymore. I learned my lesson here.

Piú letti

3 reasons to have your family photos in Villa Giulia park

Immagine
Villa Giulia is a park in historic center of Palermo. It has its origins in 18th century and is remarkable for its perfect square shape with diagonal alleys dividing the park in different sections. Marble statues and fountains, a sundial, shady alleys and open spaces, and wide variety of trees and shrubbery make it a popular spot both with locals and tourists.  If you'd like your family photos to have lush green background with a touch of special Sicilian atmosphere, this park definitely should be considered. It ticks all the boxes - plenty of space, nice surroundings, easy access, lots of options for things to do during your photo shoot to get natural and emotional images (anyway we don't do posed photos on the benches or next to flowering shrubs!).  Here are my top 3 reasons why villa Giulia is a great location for family photo sessions. Reason 1  Lots of space and diversity. The park has an alley with Ficus trees, a little bamboo forest, a hill with cacti and succulen...
Leggi l'articolo »

Outdoor family portraits with baby - Capo Gallo, Palermo

Immagine
This photo-session has been kept under wraps for a while because the photos were Christmas gift, presented as gorgeous custom-made album. That's why now in the middle of winter I am posting some warm and sunny summer photos. This baby stage when they sit but cannot yet walk, is absolutely adorable to photograph. Your little one is so expressive and active, yet mostly sits still - making it an easy job for both the parents and photographer :-). I do not recommend to have only outdoor sessions with young babies, before they master sitting, especially in colder seasons. Warmth and quiet of home create better atmosphere for young babies, to capture simple moments of life, holding and comforting your little one, and all the sweet details. When they confidently master sitting and first steps - then its perfect time for outdoor family photos. Little Greta was happy to play with her parents and be carried around and show her cheeky smile and funny faces. W...
Leggi l'articolo »

Many faces, one girl

Immagine
Here is a small part of our photographic adventures with my daughter. One could think there are just so many ways to photograph the same face - yet, every time something new appears.
Leggi l'articolo »

Botanical Garden

Immagine
I was not planning to photograph today. I've counted yesterday, there are 16 sessions I have to edit. But it was a lovely sunny day, which was a major point because I've started recently experimenting with direction of light in my photos, and I need sun for it. So I was looking for a nice place where I could take some pictures and have sun behind the children. We ended up in Botanical Garden after school. The good point, I found this place. The bad point, we were too late, the sun was behind the trees already. Another bad point, these children run away and always in different directions, and never listen, and I had nothing to bribe them with (Matteo at least :-). Another bad point, the battery in the camera was dying. So all the major disaster factors present and accounted for :-) And then I come home and upload the photos and whoa. I am the only one who knows how dirty her knees are on the picture at the top :-)
Leggi l'articolo »

Family portraits on West Sands, St Andrews

Immagine
Always windy and always beautiful West Sands. Especially with moody dramatic sky as we had on this summer evening when we met for family photos with Carolanne and her kids. I suggest evening time for photo-sessions so that we have the best light - strong midday sunshine is not good for portraits. As always on nice days, there were some people around - walking dogs and jumping in the water and playing. West Sands is huge, so we easily have found a spot for ourselves. The family is moving away from St Andrews, so they wanted some nice professional photos to remember their time here, and West Sands is one of their favourite places. It was beautiful warm summer day - perfect combination. Outdoor family photo session is never about posing - it's about doing things you like in your favourite place. So many options and enough space or all of it - walking on the beach, collecting shells, playing in the shallow waves and splashing, playing with sand and making sand clou...
Leggi l'articolo »

I luoghi migliori a Palermo per fotografare la tua famiglia

Immagine
Ville storiche e parchi di Palermo Dove faremo la nostra sessione fotografica è una delle domande più frequenti che ricevo dai miei clienti. Da un lato, è bello farlo in un luogo che abbia una qualche importanza e significato per voi, come un parco che frequentate, dove tuo figlio ha un posto preferito per nascondersi o il suo 'albero da scalare. Ma forse stai cercando qualcosa di nuovo, perchè il vostro parco preferito è chiuso per lavori di manutenzione o semplicemente non è adatto come location per uno shooting fotografico perché è piccolo o presenta altri problemi. Quando si sceglie una location per le foto di famiglia, ci sono diverse cose da considerare: quanto è grande il luogo, se offre diversità di sfondi e possibili attività, ma anche quanto sia facile da raggiungere, o va evitato in alcuni orari perchè troppo affollato. In questo articolo, parlerò dei miei parchi e giardini preferiti di Palermo che sono perfetti per una sessione fotografica di famiglia. Villa Trabia  è u...
Leggi l'articolo »

Photo a day - January

Immagine
Published on 13th of February 2024 This January has been... different. It should've been great, we had a trip planned for New Year, my brother was expected to visit with his family, Mara and Matteo have their birthdays in January too. It turned out not quite what we planned and expected. The trip to Sila had to be cut short because everyone got ill, which turned out to be Covid, which as a consequence affected also Mara's birthday and made the time with my brother and his family a bit less fun too. On the other hand, it felt like my body and my mind needed this slow time after busy and stressful December, there was a lot to reflect about, a lot of rest and quiet. It's ironic that Covid became the answer to this, oh well. The January photos reflect this slow time too - we stayed at home or visited grandma's garden to collect oranges and to play, we baked and built pillow forts, planted bulbs for spring, read books and baked some more. Cookies and muffins are usually what...
Leggi l'articolo »

Photo a day - February

Immagine
Published on 25th of March 2024 This February did not feel like February at all. We were hoping to find some snow and were treated to spring-like temperatures and lots of sunny days instead, slow weekends spent outside collecting oranges or playing hide and seek in a giant blooming rosemary shrub, climbing trees, collecting rocks and even some splashing in the sea. Yes it was warm. We went to Scotland to take care of some personal matters, came back with a new cough, as if recent Covid and other cough and ear infections etc etc was not enough. I made a sweater for Mara and realized I've miscalculated the size, what I hoped would last also for autumn is just right for now. She is growing so fast, which makes me both sad and proud. Still loving her dinosaurs and playing hide and seek (the laundry basket is apparently an excellent hiding spot!), discovering 'big kids' Lego and liking it a bit too much, and trying to keep up with her big siblings.   Like what I do? Get in t...
Leggi l'articolo »