A beautiful woman in white stares at the viewer with penetrating eyes. Another woman stands near a beach in a classic outfit, black and white, a violin and bow in her hand. An old wizened shoe cobbler eyes you leerily from his small shop. An overweight mustachioed man with what looks like paste dried to his face. These are some of the images of established Italian photographer Eolo Perfido.

There are three fields of photography he pursues - portrait, fashion, and reportage. He does his portrait and fashion business out of his studio in Rome. Work abroad is also an option when requested by the client. From time to time he also organizes reportage. The last photography reportage he's done includes going to the Sahara Desert for an American agency following the nomads. For GQ Russia, he traveled to Sicily to cover the modern mafia after the mafia boss, Provenzano, was captured.

When it comes to his main photographic concepts in portraiture, he likes to keep things simple, focusing on the subject and their feeling.

Lighting: "When I started to study photography I saw portraits I loved, such as ones done by Lindbergh and Avedon, they were done with a single light point. I began to understand that it was important to concentrate on the subject and less on the lighting.

Making subjects comfortable: "I love to spend time with the persons I'm shooting. I like to observe them because this is my way to understand their photographic potential and attitude."
Portrait direction: "I follow two directions. The first, I aim to capture the most intimate aspects of a person. The second, I try to make it illustrative."

His love of illustration started at an early age when he was inspired by comic book authors (Gimenez, Azpiri, Moebious, Otomo), movies, video games, and magazines. On black and white versus color photography - "I see more often the world in black and white. It is more graphic and can be very dramatic. Color, to me, is key when I do reportage to capture the beauties of this world."

Perfido wasn't born with the gift of photography. His talent bloomed later in life after a series of odd jobs, such as waiter and computer programmer, in a variety of locations, including London, Dublin, San Francisco and Las Vegas. At age 28, having always enjoyed beautiful images, something literally clicked.

"I helped a friend take some pictures of a girl," Perfido says from his studio in Rome. " I enjoyed that day so much. I started to think about photography constantly. After a few weeks I told myself, 'Why not try?'."

Perfido did try. And succeeded, having shot covers for GQ Russia, Vogue Russia, and a multitude of photography magazines. "In the beginning I was shy because I wasn't used to the kind of human intimacy photography can bring. But a change occurred in me, a change that helped me enjoy more of my life and to enjoy the people I'm with."

Although Perfido has photographed his fair share of stunning models for glamour magazines, he has also turned his attentions to the everyday person - the man you might see on the street driving by on his motorcycle, the girl at the coffee shop serving pastries, the postal clerk.

"When an expression is spontaneous and I am able to capture it in a shot, the resulting photograph is not simply an external aspect of that person," Perfido says. "It is something much more intimate. Doing portraits allows me to relate that to

others."
The opportunity to take pictures at 28 and realize your goal doesn't happen spontaneously. It takes time and dedication; something Perfido knew from the start. It took a few years of simply taking photos - lots of photos - and marketing himself. "The first commitment [to start taking photos full time] was very stressful but things have moved so quickly I can't believe it."

"Marketing is always hard," Perfido says. As of late he's been under contract through Sie Photo, in Rome, who manages and sells his work, freeing himself up in a way that he may explore his craft. "In a world full of great photographers, it is very difficult to set yourself apart." Before Sie Photo handled his work, Perfido would use targeted marketing, via e-mail and any other means, to show off his work and what he could do.

It's a business. No matter how much an individual is dedicated to their craft, to the creation of art, to making a career of it, the business side is always lurking about. Perfido doesn't shy away from it. "You can't or you won't make a name for yourself," says Perfido who believes that communication is the most important facet to the

business. "When I shoot for a customer or their creative agency it is important to develop a good degree of communication so that I understand their needs and fulfill them."

When he doesn't have assignments, Perfido is able to focus on his personal vision in regards to the shots he takes, and he continues to set the bar higher when it comes to career goals. He's hoping to have work published in Vogue Italia and National Geographic. "To do that, the only way is to continue shooting, to have discipline, and to enjoy my work."

Perfido's studio, Small Studio, has a team of six (seven including himself) and is what he's most proud of in regards to his professional career, a career that has brought him much joy. "The greatest reward is to meet people, to travel, to observe the world from a fantastic perspective." Perfido believes photography can change someone's life. It has changed his already. "I would love to teach more in schools," he said before he had to get back to work at his studio. "Not the technical side so much as to be able to share to the students that the human experience, all of it, can be captured in a single photo."

Related Links:

http://www.smallstudio.com

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