In front of the lens
As a photographer and videographer who’s been capturing people’s stories for years in the heart of Florence, Italy, I’ve grown accustomed to being the one behind the lens. This all changed when I handed the camera over to someone else and learned to see things from another perspective.
In November, my boyfriend and I had the opportunity to pose for the amazing photographer Justina - or as she’s known on Instagram, @pinesandwines. She was accompanied by her boyfriend Matas, who is also incredibly artistic. As my boyfriend is a painter, he too is ever the observer, constantly being the one capturing instead of being captured. When Justina wrote about organizing a photoshoot, my boyfriend and I decided to step outside our comfort zones and let ourselves be the subjects for a change.
We began the shoot in my boyfriend’s art studio among all of his paintings, where the afternoon light crept in through the windows and cast a glow over the room. We danced around our living room, twirling in each other’s arms as if we were alone. We let the streams of sunlight tell us where to move, catching the rays on our faces and in our clothes. Our sweet dog Gala even joined us for a few photos. The whole scene was so cozy and warm, and we were truly captured in our natural habitat.
We then made our way into the streets of San Giovanni, where what was once a sunny day turned into a drizzly afternoon. Instead of letting the rain stop us, we embraced it - skipping, running, and dancing in the shiny streets and letting the misty air coat our clothes and hair. In several of the shots, I got to wear this lovely red dress from @lapetitealiceshop on Instagram, which perfectly matched the old-fashioned, wholesome vibe Justina was working to create in this photoshoot.
I feel like I learned so much from Justina during this photoshoot. The entire day felt like my boyfriend and I were simply spending time together, and we were just having fun creating. Nothing felt forced, posed, or contrived - thanks to Justina’s skill as a photographer. The way she sees a scene gives her images an ancient, mysterious, and whimsical quality that feels three-dimensional and full of emotion, and she’s incredible at capturing movement in her photos.
Not only did I gather so much knowledge from Justina as a fellow photographer, but I now have photos of my relationship that feel so raw, genuine, and authentically us - and we get to keep them forever. To me, that’s magic. I’m so grateful we got to spend the day together learning, playing, and creating, and I feel so inspired and recharged for the new year of projects ahead. Above all, I have a newfound sense of gratitude for the fact that I get to do this amazing thing as my work - capturing people’s stories and preserving them for a lifetime. I love love, I love documenting stories, and I love my work. Here’s to 2024.
