Original, eclectic, lively and extraordinary. Nancy Fina’s pictures lie between surreal dream-like aesthetics, story-telling and the most intensely brilliant Pantone palettes. Creative ventures challenge her and it’s totally perceptible at a glance.

Thanks to her natural feminine sensitivity, Nancy seizes the mood and exasperates it to its best with humour and fantasy. Born in USA, made in Milan, she has a dazzling positive energy, united to an engaging breeziness: a balanced blend of her American joy of life and an Italian aesthetic taste.

Known as a fashion and ADV photographer, but also for her work on portraits and editorials, beauty and catalogues, her recognisable personal trait is given by her unmistakably unique style, that transpires on every image she puts her mind and heart to.

Through a harmonious use of light and colour, Nancy confers powerfully captivating and impactful images, intercepting the beauty instilled in each subject, truly capturing the essence and emotions within.

Nancy is one of the first female photographers in Italy, when the profession wasn’t considered a suitable business for women, and was still traditionally dominated by men. (In a photographic equipment store she was once told that seeing a female photographer was as awkward as seeing a female house painter!)

After over 25 years in fashion, lately Nancy prefers to commit to socially impactful communication that conveys profoundly important messages, with stylist Michael Dye.

Her intent is to express an outlook that acts as a fil rouge between ADV, fashion and social reality and translate it into compelling images. Hanging in the balance between dreams and social criticism, the themes she concentrates on are new aging, the LGBT community, global neighbourhoods and women-warriors.

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WHY
why and how did you end up in your career path?
I studied political science; my father’s dream was that I’d become the first female President of the USA. I graduated at University and worked in Washington a long time ago, when women were still expected to look pretty and write letters in nice handwriting. I hated it. I thought: “I have to go back to University, this is not for me”. I then ran into an artist friend, who was going to an art school which wasn’t as expensive as conventional education.
After a while I thought I was the worst artist on earth so I transferred to photography. It was much more fun and I liked it. When I graduated there was a job opportunity as assistant to a professional photographer. I went to the office to say I’d like to apply, when the employee took my hand and made it clear that, because I was a girl, this was destined to be a very nice hobby and that he wouldn’t suggest me as an assistant. That depressed me.
The next day was the last school day. A model came into the dark room asking me to take pictures of her. I used to take photos of rocks and nature, so I declined. She begged me to, so I said ok, but I didn’t have an idea of what I was doing and I’d never looked at a fashion magazine. We went outside and started taking photos.
I had no idea what to do next; I was broke and had no money. Then, after that episode, a woman called, telling me she’d discovered me. It was the biggest modelling agency in Boston proposing to pay me to take photos of all the models in the agency. So I spent the summer taking photos of them; on the beach, in the countryside, at night. She told me I should go to NY or Europe, and when I told her I have family in Italy, she suggested I’d come here. I started with model tests, then for magazines. People started calling me for jobs and one thing led to another.
I think I’m one of the very first female photographers here. Once in a photographic equipment store, I was told that seeing a female photographer was awkward!

WHO
how would you describe yourself in a few words?
I like to think that I’m positive. I have integrity, I’m a hard worker, I like solving problems and thinking of ideas, proactive, a fighter. No doesn’t exist as an answer for me.

WHAT
what is your source of inspiration?
That’s an interesting question. It depends and changes over the years. I’ve been a fashion photographer for a long time and now it’s sometimes boring. Right now what’s inspiring me is a picture that has some kind of social meaning. I like to have some value or meaning in an image. Feel who the person is and capture them. I’m also enjoying work on the body. I’m into stories of our times, new aging, global neighbourhoods, women-warriors. I want to give a message.

WHERE
where do you go to when you need a break?
My favourite place; my house in the countryside. A farm in the hills, Colli Piacentini, where I play with my animals, have my plants, see my friends, in nature. It’s beautiful, close and makes me happy.

WHEN
when and what will your next steps be?
When, is now. What, I’m thinking about it. The life of a photographer is difficult. There’s lots of people doing this job now and the money seems to have evaporated in Italy… I’m working on stories of our times. I feel very strongly about it. In life you have to do something you love and that captures you or you go nowhere. I’m also working on private portraits too. I like working with real people, the conversations are more interesting. As you see, every moment suits a different period in life.

**WILDCARD
You use a wide variety of colour in your photos. If your personality were a colour which one would it be and why?
Pink of course! Maybe because my parents never bought me all the Barbie stuff. It’s my happy colour, it reminds me of humanity and joy.