Stefano Santucci puts his identity into his work and reflects his vision and sensibility in his photography. His aim is to evoke emotions with style led images, that defy trends. Being a film photographer, he develops and prints every single image in his own private studio. Stefano Santucci's work has been published multiple times internationally including in Vogue and Condé Nast Traveller. He is based in Florence, Italy and travels worldwide.
Tell us about your business!
I’m an Italian film photographer and darkroom printer. I became a full-time film photographer in 2011 when I founded my Studio (@photosantucci). My style is documentary with a touch of editorial. I like documenting weddings, prefer style over trends and have a gentleness in my approach.
What would you like couples to know about you?
I do not describe myself as a traditional photographer. I don't like following trends either. I aim to look for truth and honest couples with a story to tell. I am a very calm and not at all intrusive person, in my photographs I like to follow a precious silence, a slowness of certain instants, and have a very calm approach. People often tell me that I am a figure who brings tranquility and well-being. For me, being relaxed and calm while working is an indispensable constant for bringing home an excellent job.
My work is about telling your authenticity and capturing the excitement, the surprising moments, the moments unplanned, and the moments that perhaps you do not even remember.
My style is documentary and editorial. I work to create a beautiful, artistic, natural visual story of your day and your love. Because this is so important, I’m just going to say it directly: I’m committed to the sensibility of your day. As a result, there is a great deal of serendipity.
Where are you based?
I’m based in Florence, Italy where my Studio and my darkroom is.
Do you travel for weddings?
Yes, all around the globe.
How would you describe your style?
I’m a documentary film photographer with a touch of editorial. Being a film photographer, I develop and print every single image in my Studio and I oversee every work of my Studio. I try to have a timeless style giving to my couple ethereal pictures.
My commitment to you is that I will always look for authentic, natural, and beautiful moments and that I will do everything I can to make you happy and comfortable, and barely even noticing the camera. I will ask you to be yourselves and never look at me. I love candid moments.
What is your most memorable career moment?
Every time someone recognises me and truly sees me with a deeper connection.
What inspires you?
Love. I often hear incredible love stories. They are timeless, and they span the centuries. Think back to the master works of the great Renaissance painters. Their subject? Love. Always love. What distinguishes the good from the great? I believe it comes down to one thing and one thing alone: the uniqueness of the sensibility and the willingness and commitment to treat each couple – and each story – as something completely different, extraordinary, and, well, unique. I bring this to my work. I bring this deeply personal way to the stories I tell about love.
What motivates you to do what you do?
Books, artists from other businesses, stories, the design of old objects. Photography is a difficult yet very simple discipline. You have to listen to yourself, make silence within yourself and get to know you better every day. I believe that only by accepting the world and making an effort to see the beauty in every corner you can truly be able to open ourselves to the infinity of light, or to the light of infinity.
How would you describe your working style?
I’m a calm and easy person to work with, I have a slow approach. This is also why I shoot on film. I don’t like to pose and I prefer to work alone and with a team that shares the same approach and style.
Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?
I shoot both, primarily on film.
Do you have custom packages to suit individual needs?
My offers cover every need and of course I can also customise my services for every individual.
What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?
Film photography and darkroom print. Among the many reasons that push me to use analog is the importance I give to the error, to the mistake. After 40 years I learned to be very fond of my mistakes, they are the most intimate thing to entrust to a saint. Even more than wishes. In error, we reveal our true nature. The mistake unmasks the facade. I never pretended to be a technical or perfect photographer. Or being a perfect human being. But I always hoped to find the beauty in the search, in the process towards an end. The mistake is the best testimony of this path.
For this reason on film, you may not find some perfect sharp or technically immaculate images, but pictures with a soul. And a story. Every time I work in the darkroom I am always amazed by the development of an image and by the fact that each image is born from water, and thanks to the water. I see something anthropological in this. As I see very interesting the fact that the same lens that allows you to catch an image if oppositely attached to the enlarger, can allow you to print it.
Where would you love to travel to for work?
Japan. I’ve been there for a vacation and I fell in love.
Who is your dream client?
Someone with a gentle delicacy, with style, elegance, curiosity, shyness. Someone who has suffered and managed to see beyond the surface.
What is your advice to couples getting married?
Do not consider the wedding a bride only thing - please make the event around grooms too and let him actively participate and carefully choose his/your vendors. He might be pleasantly surprised to see that those old clichés no longer exist!
