markvelasquez

First Italy Shoot of 2017

Added 2017-07-08 12:44:18 +0000 UTC

My photographer friend, Gregorio, whose wedding I am here in Salerno for, has been helping me find local models, the same way he did back in 2013.

I had my first shoot yesterday with two great ladies, Carola (20) and Francesca (21), who look like polar opposites but are quite similar in temperament. It didn’t hurt that they are best friends, went to high school together here in Salerno, and trusted me because Greg has worked with both of them for several years.

Carola, the dark-haired more stereotypical looking Italian, is a bit tougher, stronger, a bit more outgoing. Francesca, who goes by Dechi, is more shy, tame, but still smart, clever, and open-minded.

I had essentially kicked my mom and aunt out of the small B&B I had rented for us in order to do this shoot, and though they kind of teased me about that, they were supportive of me making the most of my time here. The place is small but timeless, set on the Via Dei Mercanti in the old, medieval downtown part of Salerno.

Greg had warned me that they both are very modest and shy, that they had never posed nude, and to not even think about asking them to wear something see-through or be in lingerie. “Sure,” I said, “no worries.”

But after a few minutes of talking to them, showing I wasn’t as macho or demanding as Greg is (even though it’s all a show and he’s a total pussycat), each girl easily felt comfortable in lingerie, trusted me to shoot some stuff in see-through things, and Francesca was brave enough to shoot some implied nudity in the bathroom. Gregorio was shocked and frustrated, but not in a terribly way. He simply couldn’t believe they’d do that for me and not for him.

“It’s easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar.”

These are just the screen shots, but hopefully you can see where I was going with the ideas. I'm thinking of making a book of just all these Italian models, and since I've been shooting dark and moody lately, I'm thinking of calling it "Chiaroscuro." Opinions? Thoughts? Let me know what you think!

Thank you all again for coming with me on this journey, it has already proven to be quite the adventure! More posts soon!