the SESSIONS
Every commission begins with intention. I photograph food and the people who shape it, chefs, artisans, institutions, capturing the process, rhythm, and atmosphere that define their world. My work is anchored in the kitchen, how food is sourced, handled, plated, and remembered. This is where the image begins.
I shoot in both digital and film, depending on the story, and I work closely with each client, on location, inside kitchens, alongside teams. What I create isn’t promotion, it’s preservation. A visual record of the unseen work, the tension, the quiet repetition behind every dish.
These sessions are built on instinct, trust, and time. From market to mise en place, I document everything that brings a meal to life. If you’re here, you already understand the value of what’s real. Let’s begin.
A Practice of Precision and Taste
Projects executed in Renzo’s studio or a controlled environment, ideal for artistic or commercial purposes. These include packaging shoots, visual essays, or archival work—carried out with precise lighting and Renzo’s distinctive visual tone.
— Studio Commissions
Still-life photography of ingredients, tools, or culinary products—captured for brands, makers, or publications. Focused on form and material, these sessions are rooted in realism, never over-styled, always tactile and intentional.
— Ingredient & Object Studies
Commissioned coverage of kitchens in motion—chefs at work, teams in rhythm, the story of a service unfolding. These sessions preserve the real atmosphere of culinary life, combining movement, texture, and light to document process with depth and clarity.
—Culinary Documentation
Tailored photo sessions for chefs, cookbook authors, and hospitality creatives. Captured in kitchens, homes, or on location, each portrait reflects the personality behind the work. These sessions are cinematic, honest, and grounded in the world of food.
— FEATURED IN
— Giulia Ventresca Executive Chef, Milan
“Renzo doesn’t just photograph food—he captures the soul of the kitchen. His sessions felt effortless, but what he delivered was sharp, editorial, and emotional. I’ve worked with a dozen photographers. He’s the one I’d call again.”
—41.9028° N / 12.4964° E
“There’s a richness to his work that you don’t often see in commercial shoots. He saw the beauty in the chaos of our prep kitchen and turned it into art. Our site’s never looked better.”
—41.9028° N / 12.4964° E
“Renzo’s images made the feature sing. It was like the dishes were telling their own story. He has that rare ability to photograph flavor—and memory. That’s not something you can fake.”
—41.9028° N / 12.4964° E
““We hired him for a shoot and came away with a full campaign. The way he interprets place, plate, and purpose is masterful. He works quietly, but the impact is loud.”
—41.9028° N / 12.4964° E
BEFORE THE LENS
Every commission begins with precision. I start by gathering the full landscape of your world, who’s involved, where we’re working, and what matters most to preserve. From kitchens to gardens to private workshops, I ask specific, pointed questions that guide how we approach the shoot. This isn’t prep for performance, it’s groundwork for depth. We clarify purpose, location, rhythm, and light, all before the first frame. That foundation ensures everything I deliver feels studied, not staged.
01. Vision & Groundwork
A PRACTICE IN THREE MOVEMENTS
IN PRACTICE, IN RHYTHM
My sessions unfold with deliberate pace. I move through the environment quietly, observing how stories take shape in gesture, repetition, and atmosphere. I use both film and digital formats depending on tone, but always work in response to the space, not over it. Whether it’s the weight of morning light, the precision of plating, or the silence between collaborators, I document what holds tension. It’s about seeing what’s there without interruption, and recording it with accuracy.
02. Documentation in Real Time
BUILT TO ENDURE
Each commission is carefully curated. Within three weeks, you receive a fully edited gallery and, when relevant, access to archival options, contact sheets, tangible proofs, or analog scans. I don’t batch-process images. Every frame is considered for weight and clarity. What I deliver is structured and exact, built to last and meant to be understood not just now, but later. This is work you can return to. This is memory, held in print.
03. Final Review & Delivery
By Flavour
BY FLAVOUR
13.4932° E
“Ciao. I’m Renzo Leopoldo, photographer, traveler, and lifelong student off the plate. My work is dedicated to documenting cuisine not as trend, but as truth: a reflection of culture, memory, and the skill behind the scenes. I collaborate with chefs, artisans, and institutions across Europe to create images that preserve the story behind each dish.
When I’m not on the road, I’m home in Italy, testing light in the kitchen, refining recipes, or studying the way food moves from the hands to the lens. This archive is part work, part devotion. If you’ve made it here, benvenuto.”
