The work doesn’t begin with the shutter. It begins with method, patience, and the right tools. This is a living list — materials I’ve tested, systems I return to, and references that sharpen the way I work. Whether you’re documenting for publication or preserving a private archive, these are the elements that support precision, intention, and endurance.
The Implements of Practice
RENZO LEOPOLDO
A guided workbook used by Renzo to define the objectives, tone, and rhythm of a session. Includes space for notes, references, and logistics.
Client Briefing Workbook
A fillable worksheet to help chefs and creatives document their workflow with intention—ideal for building a repeatable, personal archive.
Archiving Your Culinary Process
A pre-commission guide outlining what to expect, how to prepare your space, and what Renzo looks for when arriving on location.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A SESSION
A care guide for physical prints, covering safe handling, UV-protective framing, and museum quality materials. Helps ensure your final work lasts decades.
Print Handling & Framing Basics
A checklist for securely archiving digital files post-session. Covers external drive formats, file naming, cloud backup, and long-term image preservation systems.
Backing Up Your Visual Archive
A printable guide for handling, storing, and preserving contact sheets created during your session. Includes tips on temperature, flat storage, and protective sleeves.
Caring for Contact Sheets
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A printable framework for organizing your visual goals across a session—used to plan transitions, key details, and pacing for both digital and film capture.
A structured worksheet for collecting visual inspiration, client references, and editorial notes that shape session tone and style.
A post-session worksheet for reviewing what worked, what didn’t, and noting visual, editorial, or technical insights to carry forward into future planning.
A follow-up template to organize image delivery notes, presentation method, and client preferences before final curation.
A printable form to document space details, ambient light patterns, and technical considerations for both film and digital work.
A step-by-step planning sheet used to confirm shoot logistics, timeline, and technical prep. Designed for clarity and ease before every session.
the SESSION TEMPLATES
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the RENZO TOOLS
Classic, rugged, and water-resistant — built for decades. Worn leather meets function.
Renzo’s kitchen must have. Razor-sharp, perfectly balanced, crafted in Seki City. He uses it with the same discipline as he does his camera.
Ultra-light but stable, for precise composition in natural light. Packs small, built like art.
Renzo’s walkaround camera. Lightweight, discreet, but powerful with beautiful film simulations. His trusted companion while traveling.
For sessions that require full-frame power and depth. This combo is studio-grade and ideal for food, portrait, and environmental scenes.
A compact full-frame camera with cinematic depth, perfect for candid street scenes and editorial portraits. Elegant, timeless, and intuitive.
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the RENZO TOOLS
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the STUDIO LOCATIONS
A hidden gem in the Marais. Ornate interiors, stone courtyards, and Baroque details create a dramatic, timeless backdrop.
Hôtel de Sully — Paris, France
A secluded artists’ retreat set in the rolling hills of Tuscany. Wild olive groves, soft light, and terracotta walls. Perfect for slow shoots where time feels paused.
Villa Lena — Tuscany, Italy
A 17th-century English home turned private creative haven. Mossy gardens, antique interiors, and soft, foggy mornings.
The Cotswolds House — Oxfordshire, UK
A moody, minimalist farmhouse surrounded by pine forest and fig trees. Raw textures, candlelight, and a wabi-sabi spirit.
La Granja — Ibiza, Spain
the SIGNATURE PIECES
Worn across the shoulder, always packed with film, notes, and quiet tools.
06. The Utility Satchel
Inherited. Mechanical. Keeps imperfect time but never leaves his wrist.
01. The Vintage Watch
Heavyweight wool, classic charcoal. Designed for winter light and long walks.
04.Parisian Overcoat
Open collar, raw edge hem. Worn slightly creased. Lives better with every wear.
03. Archive Linen Shirt
Tapered Italian cotton. Cropped at the ankle. Worn with loafers or boots. Quiet authority in motion.
02. Roman Walking Trouser
Double-breasted, tailored wool. Cut for presence effortless with a white tee or crisp shirt.
01. The Milanese Blazer
COLLECTED THINGS
