Light allows you to fundamentally shift how people perceive the person inside the image.
Lucrezia Bastoni
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Before she ever felt confident directing couples or teaching photographers around the world, Lucrezia Bastoni was painfully shy. The kind of shy that makes you want to disappear in a room full of people. So when her uncle asked her to photograph his wedding, her first instinct wasn’t excitement… it was quiet panic. Too many people. Too much pressure. Way outside her comfort zone.
But something unexpected happened.
After the wedding, Lucrezia walked into her grandparents’ home and saw a large print on the wall. It wasn’t a perfectly posed portrait. It was her father, her uncle, and her grandfather, laughing uncontrollably while pulling each other’s ears. A fleeting, ridiculous, deeply human moment. And suddenly it hit her: this is what photography can do. It can hold onto feelings. It can preserve connection. It can make moments last.
That realization became the foundation of her work.
Today, Lucrezia is a Rome-based portrait, proposal, and wedding photographer whose images feel cinematic, intimate, and quietly powerful. But what really sets her apart isn’t just how she uses light, it’s how deeply she understands what light communicates. Emotion. Psychology. Energy. Presence. Her approach is shaped as much by fine art theory and filmmaking as it is by human curiosity and empathy.
In this conversation, we go far beyond camera settings. Lucrezia opens up about learning to see anxiety as excitement, why being a good photographer means caring deeply about people, and how creating a meaningful experience matters just as much as delivering beautiful images. We talk about teaching as a path to deeper understanding, why fewer photos can sometimes say more, and how gratitude has fundamentally changed the way she shows up-for her clients and for herself.
If you’ve ever felt awkward in front of a camera, burned out by the wedding industry, or unsure how to translate emotion into imagery, this episode will feel like a friendly guide of how light can capture feeling.
Here’s some of what we get into:
- How photographing her uncle’s wedding changed Lucrezia’s relationship with people and with herself
- Why light isn’t just technical, but psychological, emotional, and narrative
- The difference between being a good photographer and a truly great one
- How empathy, curiosity, and “sonder” shape the way Lucrezia connects with couples
- Why experience matters more than perfection when it comes to lasting images
- How teaching helped Lucrezia refine her voice and rethink what success looks like
Lucrezia brings honesty, warmth, and a rare depth of thought to this conversation. It’s one of those episodes that lingers, not because of big dramatic moments, but because it gently reframes how you think about photography, people, and presence.
Enjoy the listen.
Q: One thing you’ve talked about is that photos aren’t just images, but memories of how people felt – how does that belief show up in the way you plan and shoot?
Lucrezia: I truly believe images have a soul, and that soul is shaped by how people felt when the photo was taken. Even a technically beautiful image can feel wrong if the experience behind it was uncomfortable or stressful. That’s why I focus so much on making my couples feel at ease and creating a positive, fun experience. When people feel natural, they move differently, their expressions change, and that emotional truth is what stays with them when they look back at the images.
Q: You started your photographic journey in Rome, but I’m curious – what first drew you to photography?
Lucrezia: Photography has been part of my life for so long that I honestly don’t remember a clear beginning. It’s always been a tool for self-expression and self-discovery for me. What really pushed me to pursue it professionally, though, was photographing my uncle’s wedding. Seeing my family’s emotional reaction to an image I captured made me realize the power of photography to preserve meaningful moments, and that feeling stayed with me.
Q: Looking back though, what do you wish you knew at the start going into that wedding that you know now?
Lucrezia: I wish I knew how much power I actually had over how I felt in that situation. For years I saw myself as a very shy person, so I assumed I wasn’t a people person and couldn’t handle something like that. What I realized later is that you can learn almost anything, even how to connect with people. Just because you’ve been one way for a long time doesn’t mean you can’t grow into something different.
🔗 Connect with Lucrezia Bastoni
🧭 What We Talked About
🎼 Early Journey / Origins
- Lucrezia (who also goes by Lou) grew up in Rome, where photography became a form of self-expression at a very young age.
- She studied photography and videography at the Fine Arts Academy of Rome, grounding her work in theory, psychology, and visual language.
- A pivotal turning point came when she photographed her uncle’s wedding – despite being extremely shy and terrified.
- Seeing a candid image she captured displayed in her family’s home made her realize the emotional power of photographs.
- That moment sparked her decision to pursue photography professionally, especially with couples and destination work in Rome.
📖 Philosophy / Vision / Storytelling
- Lucrezia believes photography is not just about light or composition, but about what light communicates emotionally.
- She approaches images as stories with a soul, shaped by how people felt during the experience.
- Her work emphasizes empathy, psychology, and mythology, drawing from fine art traditions rather than trends.
- She sees herself not as the center of the shoot, but as a caretaker of someone else’s memory.
- For her, a successful image preserves a feeling – not just a moment.
📷 Tools, Gear, and Behind the Scenes
- Works primarily with natural light, using it intentionally to guide emotional perception.
- Shoots with a silent shutter to keep couples immersed and avoid breaking candid moments.
- Thinks in galleries and sequences, influenced heavily by her background in videography.
- Prefers intentional curation over volume, delivering fewer but stronger images.
- Approaches editing with a minimalist mindset – removing what doesn’t add to the story.
🔁 Practice, Teaching, Platforms
- Lucrezia teaches through Great Big Photography World Prime Classes, focusing on light, emotion, and human psychology.
- Believes teaching is the deepest form of learning, helping her refine both theory and personal style.
- Encourages photographers to develop their own opinions, not just replicate techniques.
- Designs shoots as experiences, guiding couples with prompts rather than rigid poses.
- Draws inspiration from cinema, analyzing films frame by frame to study visual storytelling.
💬 Advice, Creative Strategy, or Challenges
- Encourages photographers to reframe anxiety as excitement, recognizing their ability to perform despite fear.
- Emphasizes the importance of gratitude as a grounding ritual before shoots.
- Believes being a great photographer means caring deeply about people, not just mastering gear.
- Recommends asking intentional questions to build genuine connection with clients.
- Advises photographers to embrace mistakes, discomfort, and vulnerability as essential tools for growth.
🌍 Influences, People, Brands, or Places
- Inspired by fine art photography, cinema, and visual psychology.
- References artists and thinkers who focus on emotion, perception, and storytelling.
- Deeply influenced by Rome’s layered history, architecture, and quieter, less-touristed locations.
- Draws lessons from unexpected teachers – including a surf instructor in Portugal who modeled presence and care.
- Frequently studies films as visual textbooks for composition, pacing, and emotional tone.
🔮 What’s Next for Lucrezia
- Expanding further into education, with a focus on helping wedding photographers work less and feel better.
- Developing programs designed to combat burnout and redefine success in the wedding industry.
- Continuing to collaborate with Great Big Photography World on meaningful projects.
- Committed to remaining a student for life, constantly learning and evolving.
- Focused on creating work – and teaching – that helps photographers reconnect with purpose, passion, and people.
