Cesare Bonazza has photographed Hollywood royalty for publication’s such as Cosmopolitan, In Style, Wedding Style, Hello!, Venice, OK!, and People, to name just a few. But he wasn’t always at the top of his game, and how he got there is a story with more twists and turns than Coney Island’s Cyclone.

          
     Born in northern Italy, Cesare knew he had a kinship with a camera the moment he saw one. Armed with his first Brownie camera by the age of seven, he was constantly ’snapping’ candid photos of his family friends. After the family moved to the unspoiled wilds of North Africa – a fresh canvas for pictures for the developing photographer – he knew he had found his life’s passion.

     Cesare’s career as a professional photo-journalist began in 1979 when he found himself on the war front photographing the killing fields of El Salvador, and later the political crisis of Romania, and the ravaging Kurdistan rebellion against the Khomeini regime.

            It was during that time, while shooting a feature story with actors Steven Segal and Kelly LeBrock, that he discovered his flair for working with celebrities in the privacy of their own homes.

           Before long he became known for his ability to capture the ‘everyday’ perspective not always examined in a high profile, celebrity lifestyle. His multi-page celebrity home layouts have been feature in numerous publications throughout both Europe and the United States.

            With a photographic style that has been described as ‘uniquely clean and simple’, Cesare has a rare subtlety for producing images that reveal an intimacy of mood, while at the same time exposing the varying textures of the environment, no matter what the venue. 
          

            Far removed from his youthful beginnings, he has succeeded in compiling an impressive portfolio of current events, fashion and celebrity layouts. His versatility and substance can be seen throughout his attractive collection of images.
 

          Over the years, Cesare photographed dozens of celebrities, some — like actors Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan and Jane Seymour — were easy to work with, some not so easy. “I only had one hour to photograph Sharon Stone in her home, so that was somewhat difficult because of the time constraint,” he says. “I had three assistants and three hours to set up, but only one hour to shoot. I was sweating bullets! It was a high-pressure job for me; I will never forget it.”

          One valuable lesson Cesare learned from that job was to always be ready, because anything can happen. “My Sharon Stone layout was gorgeous. The magazine gave me an eight page spread.”

     My goal is to create a good reputation for fine family portraiture for discriminating individuals who value, appreciate and absolutely love their family.  I enjoy going to homes and locations that hold a special place in the hearts of my clients.

     Cesare credits his many mentors along the way for his current success. “Without good mentors, I wouldn’t be here today. But the person who has made the biggest difference in my life is my wife, Veronica. She made the initial proposal to open the studio and photograph weddings and portraits. It was a natural and relatively smooth transition from photographing the stars ‘up close and personal’ to photographing families – after all people are just people.

     Although I still occasionally photograph a celebrity when a magazine makes known a request,” he concludes, “I have found a terrific niche that fits my personality and most importantly it suits my lifestyle.”