I watched them.
I waited.
I wasn’t looking for perfect poses.
I was looking for them.
We had been walking along Yorkeys Knob Beach for just a few minutes. Matteo wasn’t only one of the people in front of my camera.
He was also a professional photographer.
As I watched them, I remembered the day I first met Matteo at Rusty’s Market.
I met Matteo at Rusty’s Market.
He had come looking for a job as a barista, at the same place where I had already been working for more than a year. During his first few days, I was the person helping him settle in.
That’s how our friendship began.
Not long after, I met Cristina. They had only just started dating.
For a while, they left Australia. Even with the distance, we never lost touch.
When they came back, during one of our catch-ups, I asked if they would like to do a photoshoot with me.
They said yes without thinking twice.
Then I asked if they already had a place in mind.
The answer came straight away.
Yorkeys Knob.
I wasn’t surprised.
I knew how important that place was to them.
Our first attempt didn’t go as I had imagined.
The sun came out too late, and we didn’t have much time before sunset.
So, a little disappointed, we left the beach with the promise that we would try again.
A few days later, we met again, this time directly at Yorkeys Knob Beach.
We arrived almost at the same time. I picked up my camera and looked around.
The sky was perfect.
So was the time we had.
“Let’s go,” I thought.
Without knowing what was about to happen.
I walked with them.
I let them decide where to go, how to move, and what to do.
Rather than directing the photoshoot, I simply watched what naturally unfolded between them.
I wanted to understand the way they were together before I photographed it.
Only after a little trust had grown between us did I start suggesting a few ideas.
I didn’t tell them what to do.
I suggested.
And at the same time, they suggested ideas to me.
From that moment on, it became a constant exchange.
Looking back, I think it was an experiment for all three of us.
I was photographing a professional photographer. It was a challenge.
And I’ve always liked challenges.
I knew I would have to wait for the right moment.
After all, it was something I had already learned while photographing in completely different situations.
All I had to do was watch.
And wait.
But every time I managed to capture one of those moments, I felt an enormous sense of satisfaction.
The Greatest Gift
The following week, Cristina invited me to Matteo’s birthday.
I knew it would be a simple and intimate evening.
I arrived a few minutes late.
As soon as I walked in, Matteo said:
“Look at your photos.”
I turned around.
They were there.
Resting on a chest of drawers.
Inside picture frames.
I stood still.
My first thought was:
“Are they really mine?”
Instinctively, I put my hand over my mouth.
My eyes kept moving from one frame to another, almost looking for confirmation.
A tear rolled down my face.
Until that moment, I had only ever seen my photographs on a computer screen.
This was different.
They had become part of their home.
They had become part of their lives.
The most beautiful part was that I hadn’t even chosen which photographs to print.
Cristina wanted to surprise Matteo and, because I was completely absorbed in work at the time, I had simply given her all the photographs on a USB drive.
She was the one who chose the images.
Had them printed.
Had them framed.
Until then, I had always looked at my photographs through the eyes of the photographer.
That evening, for the first time, I looked at them through the eyes of the people who had received them.
And I finally understood what a photograph can become.
Their Experience
After they received their photographs, Matteo and Cristina sent me these messages. I’ll let their words speak for themselves.
Matteo
I first met Floriana while we were working together during my very first experience in a bar in Australia.
From the very beginning, I was struck by her creativity, her sensitivity, and her smile — qualities that make her a truly special person even before being a photographer.
As a photographer myself, this time I found myself on the other side of the camera, together with my girlfriend, for a beach photoshoot.
I can honestly say that our expectations were not only met — they were far exceeded.
Her photographs captured much more than simple images.
They captured emotions, spontaneity, and genuine memories.
Every time we look at them, we truly feel as if we are back in that place, reliving those moments.
A huge thank you to Floriana, not only for her talent, but above all for the wonderful person she is. ❤️
Cristina
There are people who take photographs, and there are people who capture emotions.
Flo belongs to the second group.
It was my first time in front of a camera, and I was afraid I would feel awkward.
Instead, with a rare kindness and gentleness, Flo made us forget we were being photographed.
It was just us, the sea, the wind, and our love.
When we saw the photographs, we realized she hadn’t simply captured our smiles.
She had captured who we are.
Every image brings us back to exactly how we felt in that moment.
It is a gift to turn a single moment into a memory that will keep making your heart beat faster for years to come.
Thank you for giving us something that goes far beyond beautiful photographs. ❤️
Spirito Creativo 