Gradisca Portento is an Italian photographer who creates bespoke wedding imagery through artistic wedding storytelling. In the interview with Bride Lifestyle, she shares the behind-the-scenes of taking breathtaking destination wedding shots, her journey and inspirations in the field of exclusive bridal photography.

Gradisca Portento

First photo

At the age of 11, with a toy camera.

Inspirations

Fashion photographers, especially Sarah Moon and Paolo Roversi for poetry, Peter Lindberg and Helmut Newton for drama, Steven Meisel and Herb Ritts for plastic elegance.

Favourite wedding photographers

Danilo and Sharon, La Dichosa and Ramone Wed.

The key to distinctive destination wedding visuals

Elegance in event design and chemistry between the bride and groom.

The thing to do for fun

Strumming her electric bass.

What initially drew you to photography, and how did you discover your passion for wedding photography?

I took my first photograph at the age of 11 with a toy camera that I still proudly own. Since then, photography has always been a part of my life as a passion and as a tool to search for beauty. My arrival in wedding photography stemmed from my intention to redefine the language of photography, a need shared by many colleagues who, like me, wanted change.

Who are the photographers you’re looking up to?

My great source of inspiration has always been fashion photographers and their ability to fascinate and enrapture my senses. Sarah Moon and Paolo Roversi for poetry, Peter Lindberg and Helmut Newton for drama, Steven Meisel and Herb Ritts for plastic elegance.

In wedding photography currently, I like Danilo and Sharon, La Dichosa and Ramone Wed, and what inspires me is their ability to pioneer very different but extremely contemporary styles.

Over your 10 years in the field, what changes have you observed in wedding photography and how the trends have evolved?

One of the great benefits brought about by digital photography has been the possibility to experiment, and this has given rise to constant fashions, trends and evolutions not only in post-production but also in the way the camera and lenses are used.

From photojournalism to tilt and shift, from cross-processing post-production to Wess Anderson’s symmetries, from the immoderate use of wide-angle to bokeh with 1.2 apertures. And then from super saturated to desaturation to the hipster trend that wanted everything to be toned in warm earthy colours. And then to the northern European moody declinations as opposed to the typically American light and airy and the editorial styles in which black and white dominates. And I could go on for hours.

And what has stayed with you in terms of wedding photography trends?

Because I am a curious person, I rode all the trends a bit, eliminating from time to time what I did not feel belonged to me. It was like leafing through a flower petal by petal. And each step left something behind that served to create my point of view.

How has your style or perspective evolved over the years as a wedding photographer?

The evolution of my style has only ever been dictated by my curiosity and never by economic ends. I preferred the niche to something more commercial. My style went from wanting to “turn the ordinary into the extraordinary” to wanting “not to be for everyone”.

Can you share a moment from your career that left a lasting impact on you?

A basic moment in my career was when I realised I could say “No” and choose the type of wedding I wanted to shoot.

Are there any specific venues in Italy that hold a special place in your heart for wedding photography?

Italy is a very diverse country in which a multitude of places coexist, each with its particular characteristics. Thus, it is impossible to have just one place in the heart. About my photography, I love open-air museums, I love the historical residences that crowd Italy from north to south, and I adore all the spaces and buildings created by our great masters of architecture. I do not have a favourite city or region, but I can say that, on average, I work a lot in Tuscany and Apulia.

What do you find fascinating about weddings that allow you to stay excited and interested in exclusive bridal photography?

The thing I consider important to keep my enthusiasm alive is an accurate design of the event: Italy is the undisputed home of elegance, and I no longer tolerate a lack of it.

Another very important thing is the chemistry between the bride and groom: I like to talk about their way of being together.

Are there specific cultural aspects of Italian weddings that you find particularly interesting to capture?

The few Italian couples I photograph are fairly free of territorial traditions and cultural legacies. They usually live abroad or belong to families whose dogma is sobriety. The only distinction may be in the type of religious ceremony depending on the creed they belong to and the type of rite in the Catholic Church it can be Roman or Latin (Ambrosian).

I am very fond of photographing traditional regional objects that give my images a more appealing twist: the Apulian pumo, the Neapolitan red horn, the Matera cuccu, and the Sicilian teste di moro.

What inspires you personally and professionally?

To recharge and keep the embers of creativity burning, I organise styled wedding shoots for myself and for fellow photographers, videographers and wedding planners who want great material for their professional wedding portfolio, I participate in workshops of all kinds, organise one-to-one mentoring for photographers, create content also for brands and small companies, work on personal interdisciplinary projects including visual arts and fashion.

Just for fun, I strum my electric bass and, when I can, I go to lessons once a week.

Maybe you have some interesting upcoming projects?

Yes, I have so many things in the pipeline. I can't wait!

But let’s talk about it in 2024.

Italian destination wedding photographer: Gradisca Portento

Interviewed by Renāte Berga