PHOTOGRAPHER FABIO BOTTIROLI
Photographer & Producer · Near Milan
FABIO
Bottiroli
On outsiders, collective process & the resistance to quantity
From sportswear
campaigns to the
power of the frame.
- Based
- Near Milan, Italy
- Discipline
- Photography & Production
- Background
- Marketing · Sportswear · Campaign Production
- Portfolio
- bottiroli.myportfolio.com ↗
- @fabiobottiroli ↗
Fabio Bottiroli did not arrive at photography through a fine arts degree or a family of image-makers. He arrived through a sportswear brand's marketing department — sitting in on campaign shoots and lookbook productions until something clicked and refused to let go.
Based near Milan and working across photography and production, Bottiroli carries that self-made origin into everything: a deep respect for outsiders and underdogs, a belief in the collective over the individual, and a refusal to let the pressure of content volume diminish the quality of the frame. We spoke with him about his creative process, the photographers who shaped him, and why this year is about escaping the comfort zone entirely.
Inspirations & Influences
Fabio, thank you for joining us today — tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences.
I'm mostly inspired by outsiders and underdogs — people without any initial credit who prove themselves able to subvert predictions and earn credibility and recognition.
Since I don't have a proper artistic education, my first inspirations came from the photographers I had the chance to admire in action on sets. I particularly remember a huge artist, Andrea Massari, who sadly passed away a few years ago. In regards to international artists I am greatly inspired by Mert & Marcus, the never-aging class of Lindbergh, and the raw and sensual realism of Nan Goldin.
Creative Process
Tell us a bit about your creative process and things you are looking forward to this year.
I strongly believe in the power of the collective — therefore my creative process is always based on the interaction and contribution of all the professionals involved in the shooting. In these terms, each shoot becomes an occasion for sharing and enrichment.
The big purpose for this year is to escape the comfort zone and create more ambitious and challenging projects.
I hope we'll be able to create a sort of resistance — and keep quality and creativity at the core point of our productions.
— Fabio Bottiroli
The World
How has this year changed your creativity, or how you see the world moving forward?
I have had fewer chances to shoot, and this meant I had to try to make every chance valuable. Even if I miss the freedom of investing hours improvising and jamming, on the other hand it pushes me to focus more on the preparation of the shoot and on the expected result.
Icons
Who do you consider to be an icon of our time?
I'm not really into global icons, as I'm more inspired by everyday people. But I'm grateful towards those who use their visibility to highlight social issues and to demand equality and justice.
The Art World
Do you think the art world needs to change, and if so, how can it be improved?
I don't consider myself an artist, so I don't think I'm able to foresee or demand big changes. But I find it inspirational that many young artists are using their visibility to give voice to social issues and to really push society forward.
Talking about process — social media and the thirst for visibility push us to become content creators, giving priority to quantity over quality. I hope that we'll be able to create a sort of resistance to this trend, and manage to keep quality and creativity at the core of our productions.
Wellbeing
What does wellbeing mean to you?
I'm a busy person, and I love to be busy. Wellbeing means fulfilling the time I have with productive activities — whether photography, music, sport, or reading — without sacrificing relationships and social commitment.
Referenced & Revered
I
Andrea Massari
The first photographer Bottiroli watched in action. A huge artist, now gone — never forgotten.
II
Mert & Marcus
The definitive fashion image-makers. Glamour, control, total mastery of the frame.
III
Peter Lindbergh
Timeless class. A humanist eye that never aged, never chased trends.
IV
Nan Goldin
Raw, sensual realism. Photography as intimacy, as testimony, as love.
On Quality
"Social media and the thirst for visibility push us to become content creators — giving priority to quantity over quality. I hope that we'll manage to keep quality and creativity at the core point of our productions."
