Biography
Born Paris, France, July 31 1966.
Stefano has been one of the best-known commercial photographers of children and babies for decades. He began taking photographs at the age of 11 in 1977, shortly after the loss of his father. To this day, he uses the camera daily to frame and give order to the world around him.
A turning point in Stefano's career came in 1992 when Vogue Bambini began commissioning him regularly. This relationship lasted until the magazine's demise in 2018. In 2013, Stefano's photography was featured in an entire issue.
In 1994, Stefano started shooting for Gap Kids and BabyGap, contributing to global advertising campaigns uninterrupted for over 25 years. Major publications, advertising agencies, and globally known brands have worked with him. Benetton, Uniqlo, and Armani are just a few of the brands he has collaborated with.
In his photography, Stefano tries above all to lead from the heart. Whether accessing his intimate and tender vision of children and babies or shooting in the Indonesian forest, Stefano is nimble in his working ways; at home directing on large video sets or shooting by himself. He enjoys using a whole gamut of different cameras, films, and technology as changing tools to constantly challenge his way of seeing.
Although Stefano's career is well-established in commercial advertising photography, his urge for unencumbered expression is now being focused on documentary, and fine art projects. His last exhibition, "In Cerca Della Retta Via," was carried out with the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture as part of the Lunigiana Land Art festival in 2022.
Statement
Through the viewfinder, I aim to capture fleeting moments that are heartfelt and give them a new lease on life. My photographic style combines a variety of techniques to create images that are both spontaneous and carefully composed. I'm inspired by balance and poetry in my images, whether through capturing movement or highlighting small details.
My creative process is guided by intuition and a desire to show what is significant to my sensibility and being about the people and situations I photograph. I'm drawn to projects that explore themes of childhood and relationships, seeking to convey the emotions and experiences that shape us in these formative years. I approach each project with a blend of initial research but ultimate improvisation, striving to capture images that are both authentic and visually striking. Ultimately, my goal as a photographer is to make order of the world around me and share my perspective with others. I believe that my images can evoke powerful emotions and memories, creating connections between viewer and subject.
Education:
London College of Printing, London Ba (hons) Photo Film and Video
Holland Park School, London
Scuola Europa, Milano
Shows / Awards:
2022 The Agent's Club Photography Awards : Winner "Documentary" Category
2021 Documentary Family Awards, Judges’ choice
2021, Dab Art, “Art in the Time of Corona” Curated group show.
2021 SCORE, SFVacc “Models in Motion”, Juried group show.
2020 Academy Art Museum, Easton MD. Juried group Show “New Photography II”
2010 Communication Arts Award Winner Fashion Editorial
2007 Pitti Bimbo, Florence. Solo Show “La Famiglia”
2004 Daikanyama Gallery, Tokyo. Solo show
2000 Museum of Childhood, London
Solo show “1000x2000: Photographing the future”
1990 [i’xi:z] London. Solo show “Bodyscapes”
1988 ICA, London. Juried group show “Young Contemporaries”
Books:
1000by2000: Photographing the future. Museum of Childhood, 2000
M.i.l.k., with Intro by James McBride, Headline 2002 (Single image)
A Boy Called Happy, Vogue Bambini 2013
Nightmares, 2015
Professional:
1993-2019 Vogue Bambini. Fashion stories for the magazine.
1996-2019 Baby Gap and Gap Kids advertising campaigns.
2010-2016 Benetton Kids advertising campaigns.
Other selected clients: Aprica Armani Burberry Carters Chicco Conde Nast DKNY Dolce e Gabbana Esprit Famous Footwear FCUK Gap Huggies Il Gufo JCrew Joe Fresh Johnson Martha Stewart Microsoft Missoni Moschino Nike Osh Kosh OVS Pampers Ralph Lauren Replay Sisley Target The Children's Place Traveller UNICEF Uniqlo Upim Vanity Fair Vogue Walmart.
Teaching:
2019 Green School, Bali, Indonesia. High School photography class.