This series of portraits with Chiara was created in my studio in Zurich, in close collaboration with stylist Diana Korqaj. What unfolded was a visual conversation grounded in simplicity, quiet strength, and poetic presence.

Light played a central role in shaping the mood. While much of the series was created using soft, controlled studio lighting, I also embraced the opportunity to work with direct sunlight streaming into the space. This natural light added a spontaneous, tactile quality to the images – a perfect counterbalance to the calm and composed atmosphere. It infused select moments with warmth and rawness, enhancing the emotional tone without overpowering it.

Chiara’s presence in front of the camera is effortless and grounded. She doesn’t perform – she allows herself to be. Her stillness invites the viewer in. Diana’s minimalist styling choices complemented this beautifully, with natural textures and clean lines that align perfectly with the monochrome aesthetic.

There is a subtle poetry in the reduction – in the careful use of light and shadow, in the restrained gestures, in the space between expression and silence. The images are less about performance and more about presence. About capturing a moment that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

For me, Poetry of Light is a reminder that portrait photography isn’t always about creating something loud or elaborate. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet collaboration between subject, light, and space that the most lasting impressions are made.