Interview: Photographer Elisa Bonafè (Italy)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I’m an Italian girl of 29 years old and I’m a beauty and fashion photographer. But in my life I’ve followed many different paths: I’m a physician (which is currently my main work) and a metal singer.

How and when did you get into photography?

My love about this complex art is a long story. My work as a photographer started after several years as a glamour and conceptual photomodel. I was really bored about glamour pictures, but completely in love with pictures telling a story. Most of my favourite photographers and friends was happy to realize some of my projects, and this was my very first approach in thinking about the realization of a story through images.

During this period of my life (three/four years long), in some way I developed my photography tastes along with a strong interest in creative photography, first about portraiture photography, and later mainly focused on beauty & fashion images.

What does photography mean to you?

As someone said, photography is not a vocation, it’s an obsession.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

In all my works it's fundamental the choice of the model and to have the cooperation of a great stylist & makeup artist: we cooperate to reach the visual representation we have in our minds. My creative team is always full of joy because we love working together creating something new and unique. I love colors and all my images are full of details: I often work on beauty photography because in this field I try to reach perfect images, searching for real beauty in all its forms.

Where do you get inspiration from?

All my projects start with an idea I have in mind, taken from everything inspires me: a novel, an image, a film, a story.. which I freely transform since I've created a complete moodboard.

I don't have to spend my time in search for ideas: they come to me when I'm doing other things, often I wake up in the midnight with an idea about a project I was thinking around.

I love to create by my hands pieces for my photosets, and all of them don't require a lot of money.. often it's impossible to find the objects I need, so I have no choice than searching for the materials and realizing them directly.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

Sure, mainly because I have to think about a lot of details which is fundamental to be prepared on time. I like to think about all the art direction of the photoset.

Studio, on location or both?

I love working in my studio, because I use a lot strobe lights and I’m really confident in how to use them to reach a specific result. In some way, studio work is a little more “controlled” than location shoots. Obviously location photosets could have many different things that it’s almost impossible to re-create in a studio.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

Actually photography is my second work, even if I don’t consider it really a work – just because I love this job so much!

What has been your most memorable session and why?

I have beautiful and strong memories of many different sessions, almost everyone full of laughs and great people. The most recent I have in mind has been a crazy day shooting in a marble cave, and the most incredible thing is that my team every time follows my ideas finishing in dangerous situations.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

Nikon D810 for commercial jobs, fashion & beauty, with Sigma 35 mm and 105 mm.

For portraits I prefer to use my old Nikon D700 with a super simple Nikkor 50 mm lens.

I think that the most important thing is to use your equipment at his very best, before buying something different.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

I think that photography is such a large topic to deal with. For this reason, a new photographer has to take in mind that is impossible to know everything, and that is fundamental to keep studying forever and ever. There’s always something new to learn about lights, editing, composition, and about the market itself.

What do you think of our new magazine?

I think is really great to find a place where so many talented artists are showcased.

It’s wonderful to have the chance to read different stories and points of view, together with stunning images.

http://www.elisabonafe.com