A dancer, an unexpected twist, and a farmhouse
I met Lucrezia—whom I called Luly back then so as not to confuse her with my other friend of the same name – during a photo shoot at Acquatica Park in Milan.
She made an immediate impression on me: spontaneous, bright, with that kind of energy that makes you think, “Okay, she’ll work well in front of the camera.” I asked her to model, and she accepted right away. Then, on the day of the shoot, reality reminded us that plans are fragile: her car broke down, schedules were thrown off, and the location was unusable.
Instead of giving up, we opened Google Maps and started looking for alternatives.
An abandoned farmhouse—isolated and rugged—became our makeshift set. It wasn't what we had planned, but it was perfect for turning chaos into something interesting.
The speaker wasn’t for background noise, but to set her free
Luly had arrived with a suitcase full of clothes, a sign that she really cared.
Yet she was strangely awkward, almost reserved, even though she was used to dancing Latin and working as a go-go dancer.
I realized it wasn’t a matter of shyness, but of context: an abandoned farmhouse isn’t a stage, and in front of a photographer, you feel naked even when fully clothed. So I pulled out the speaker—not to set the mood, but to give her a familiar anchor. I played sensual songs she knew well and told her to dance, as if she were in a club.
From there, she loosened up: her well-trained body resumed its natural language, and I snapped away, following the rhythm of her movements.
Seeing yourself in a photo changes everything
As is often the case with people who’ve never really posed before, the turning point came when she saw the photos.
For a young woman who believes in her own body but has never had an outside perspective to reflect it back to her, the impact is enormous: suddenly you realize that you can be seen, that you can express yourself.
She didn't feel ready for full nudity—at least not outdoors—but she wanted to try going topless or taking a few shots wearing just a T-shirt, creating a daring and playful “now you see it, now you don't” effect.
A small but crucial step. That experience left a lasting impression on her: a few months later, she called me back for the Valentine’s Day shoot, this time with a newfound confidence, undressing naturally and throwing herself into it completely. It’s proof that an impromptu shoot can open doors neither of us could have imagined.
“Thank you for your patience; it was really great and fun!”
Luly (Lucrezia)
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