A Dream 15 Years in the Making: Photographing Northern Italy

Wheels up at 5 am to get a place in line to shoot this popular location amongst photographers, Podere Belvedere in the Val D'orcia, Tuscany. All the photographers around agreed that the conditions this day were some of the finest.

It has been a dream of mine since I first visited Italy in 2010—15 years ago—to one day return and devote myself entirely to capturing the beauty of this extraordinary place through my lens. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to refine my craft, to study light, composition, and storytelling, and now I finally feel ready to do this country justice with my photography. This trip is the culmination of that dream: a two-week photographic excursion through Northern Italy. The journey begins with a weeklong workshop with The ICONs, followed by a solo road trip through some of the country’s most iconic and breathtaking regions.

I’m currently writing this from Villa Morgana in Buonconvento, Tuscany. It’s a stunning luxury villa with seven bedrooms, two guest houses, a large pool, and more amenities than I can count. It’s the kind of place that feels like a movie set, except it’s real, and I get to live and create here for a week.

The workshop is led by two of the world’s top landscape photographers, Ryan Smith and Marco Grassi. I’ve studied under Ryan multiple times, and everything he does is first class, but this experience takes it to another level. We have a private Michelin-star chef preparing three incredible meals a day, a chauffeured van taking us to curated photography locations, and a group of 12 passionate photographers all sharing in this adventure.

Today marks the third day of the tour. So far, I’ve photographed seven amazing locations, enjoyed seven unforgettable meals, and made new friendships that I know will last beyond this trip. And the best part? I’m just getting started.

From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the colorful villages of Cinque Terre, the alpine drama of the Dolomites, the elegance of Lake Como, and the timeless romance of Venice, this journey is everything I’ve dreamed of, and more.

Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing more images (when I can get better wifi), stories, and behind-the-scenes moments as this unforgettable adventure unfolds.