Paolo Cencioni - Photographer
If you lived in an open-air museum, wouldn't you want to capture each and every single detail?
That’s the vocation of Paolo Cencioni, a talented photographer living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Rome. Discover how he started, the challenges that he sometimes faces, and the passion he holds for the art of photography.
How did you come to do what you do?
Quite naturally, actually. I was still in university when I found a part time job for a magazine, « L’Isola », as a nightlife event photographer – this was a long time ago, before social media such as Facebook and Instagram started booming. I remember using a very small compact camera to shoot. This lead the way to what I am still doing today.
What's the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part of my job is that I’m able to meet with all kinds of people, from actors and musicians, to CEOs of important firms. This is absolutely the most fun of my work. Precisely, I'm a scene, portrait and corporate photographer; which means that I'm supposed to capture the best portrait of people, ranging from jazz musicians to public figures. I'm also working with Théâtre français de Rome and Fondazione Ducci for whom I shoot on a regular basis.
What challenges do you usually encounter?
This can vary depending on the type of assignment I’m working on, but often the challenges reside in capturing the true essence of the “subject”.
It's one thing to take staged pictures, but it's far different if you have to create something from nothing. For example, when shooting a play, you must constantly engage with the actors.
However, when working on a corporate commercial for a law firm or a big company, you are creating something natural yet professional, that should also be self-explanatory. In order to achieve this, I usually have to act like a movie director, and give precise directions to the people I am photographing.
What's your typical day like?
My typical day is watching news, because I can always use as inspiration something from my archives, as a memory or linked to that day. Then, I focus a lot of time on networking with past and potential clients that have offers and/or new projects.
Where do you find your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from many directions: music, travels, memories… The bigger the mix the better in order to get inspired!
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Ahaha that could sound funny but sometimes in my spare time, I shoot street photography and then gather this material to make personal exhibitions. My last exhibition was about collection of all my street Leica monochrome shots in one collection called “Palcoscenico”. So, I guess I’m also a photographer, even in my spare time.
What’s your go to track or album at the moment?
Hans Zimmer compositions! When I listen to them, I feel free-minded, not thinking of this strange period. The pandemic has made a serious impact on my photography, especially since theater plays and events have been cancelled. So, music allows me to escape and think about new ideas.
Any exciting news you’d like to share with our LIDO fam?
Well, I've got something…! It's called “Incontri, attraverso il labirinto di Fes el Bali”. It is a collection of shots taken on my Moroccan journey; a black and white vision of the day life in Fes, through streets and people activities.
Check out Paolo’s work on Facebook & Instagram!
Photos courtesy of Paolo Cencioni Photography©
