Authentic Film Photography in Tivoli and Rome: Elena and Davide’s Anniversary
Some couples feel like they’ve known each other across lifetimes. That’s the kind of energy Elena and Davide bring into a room—not loud or performative, but warm, grounded, and unmistakably real.
Elena is from Puerto Rico, now working as a model in Rome. Davide is Roman through and through—a passionate chef, pizzeria owner, host of cooking classes, and the kind of person who could teach you how to taste life, not just eat it. Together, they embody a beautiful mix of cultures and calm—a balance that feels timeless.
I met them at their home in Tivoli, a quiet, charming town just outside Rome. The plan was to photograph their anniversary, captured entirely on 35mm and 120mm film. But first—pasta. Always pasta.
Davide was cooking pasta alla gricia, a Roman classic, and insisted we all eat before even thinking about the camera. In Italy, food isn’t a pause between things—it’s the center of gravity, the heart of the day. And in that kitchen, with wine poured and conversation flowing, I saw who they were before I ever took a frame.
Elena and Davide have a rare quality: consistency. Whether alone or together, they radiate the same energy—calm, present, open. There’s no shift in tone, no mask to manage. Just two people who have fully arrived into themselves, and into each other.
It made photographing them easy. Natural. Honest. We wandered around Tivoli, capturing the softness of home, the rhythm of a day shared. Then we took a drive toward the coast, chasing golden light and sea breeze in Fiumicino. The city faded behind us, and the beach welcomed us with wide skies and wind-tousled hair.
Davide isn’t just a great cook—he’s a true ambassador of Italian hospitality. He runs a beloved pizzeria in Rome’s Prati district, teaches Italian cooking classes, and hosts visitors for immersive food and lifestyle experiences at Villa Proietti in Tivoli. Whether you’re craving an authentic pasta-making day or just a peaceful escape from the chaos of Rome, his villa offers a one-of-a-kind local experience rooted in slow living and real connection.
What I loved most about this shoot wasn’t the setting—though Tivoli’s countryside charm and Fiumicino’s beachy calm were stunning. It was their energy. Their trust. The unspoken rhythm between them that made every frame feel lived-in.
Whether it was Elena brushing her hair back in the wind or Davide casually tossing a joke mid-frame, it was all real. And that’s all I ever want to photograph.
