Kitchen Wishes Interviews: Gabriele Bellesi, official photographer!

“I Love Capturing Moments to Remember — Glances and Spontaneous Instants.”

The contemporary catering of Kitchen Wishes is, of course, deeply tied to the world of food —
but as everyone who knows us well can tell, it’s also much more.

For years, we’ve been creating events that engage all the senses and blend different artistic languages.
For us, Kitchen Wishes means collaboration, creative exchange, and the meeting of minds.

From set designers to photographers, multimedia artists to musicians,
the Kitchen Wishes collective has grown over time —
always expanding to offer new emotions and perspectives.

Today we’re talking with Gabriele Bellesi, friend and collaborator of Kitchen Wishes,
and the creative eye behind many of our photographs.

How did you become a photographer?

“Ever since I was little, I’ve expressed my creativity through freehand drawing.
I’ve always loved to draw — my dream was to become a comic book artist.
That passion was set aside (for now, at least) when I discovered the camera.”

“I don’t consider myself an overly ‘creative’ photographer.
I’m not fond of images that stray too far from reality —
something very common today with all the possibilities of photo editing.
I prefer a realist approach: I love capturing moments to remember,
glances and spontaneous gestures — frames in which everyone can see a piece of themselves.”

“Artistically, I’m closer to realism and reportage than to abstraction.
So creativity, for me, lives mostly in the framing —
I try to make it unexpected. I don’t like posed photos.”

Quick question: what is a “creative”?

“A creative person is someone who expresses themselves through their art —
and through it, builds a connection with others.”

How did you start working with Kitchen Wishes?

“My collaboration with KW goes way back —
I’ve known Giulia and Giulio since school.
The event I remember most fondly was my first wedding as a photographer,
in a beautiful villa in Chianti, ending with fireworks.”

“That day, a German guest flirted with me from morning to night —
but of course, I didn’t give in.
My professional integrity kept me from taking advantage of the photographer’s charm!”

(We’ll pretend to believe that one…)

What inspired you about Kitchen Wishes’ approach to catering?

“I fell in love with their beautiful sensorial approach.
It encouraged me to grow and to explore types of photography I hadn’t tried before —
experiences that expanded my technical skills.”

“Every Kitchen Wishes event is a new challenge —
a chance to improve and to connect empathetically with new people.”

Who are your influences or favorite photographers?

“My love for photography is linked to two important people in my life:
Maurizio, a photographer from the ’70s and ’80s who first inspired me to pick up a camera,
and Andrea, whom I see as a mentor and motivator —
his boundless passion for photography has been a constant source of energy.”

“As for famous photographers, I have many references:
Michael Kenna for his unique light,
Steve McCurry for his colors and journeys,
Sebastião Salgado for his love of nature and Mother Earth,
and Robert Capa for his famous line:
‘If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.’
And Capa really was close —
he was right there with the soldiers during the Normandy landings.”

For this interview, you chose a beautiful black-and-white portrait of Giulia and Elena.

What were you hoping to capture in that shot?

“I’ve taken many photos for Kitchen Wishes, but this one means a lot to me.
It captures all the creativity and chemistry between the two chefs —
playing with their silhouettes against the light.”

Thank you, Gabriele, and happy shooting from all of us at Kitchen Wishes!