Meet Marco
I work as a father. I create images by profession.
Marco Rizzo photographer
My name is Marco Rizzo, and I am a photographer and visual artist based in Venice, Italy.
I was born and raised in this extraordinary city, a place that continues to inspire me every single day. Living in Venice has taught me to observe light, appreciate silence and understand that every corner of the city tells a different story. Photography became my way of telling those stories.
Over the years, I have worked with museums, cultural institutions, luxury brands and international clients, creating both commercial and artistic projects. Every collaboration has been different, but they all confirmed one simple idea: Behind every face, there is a story worth telling.
That belief still guides every photograph I create today.
Photography as Personal Research
My work moves between two different worlds. One is dedicated to people. I photograph couples, families, solo travellers and anyone who wishes to preserve meaningful memories of their time in Venice. The other world is my personal artistic research.
Over the years, I have developed several long-term photographic projects, including Underwater City, a visual series imagining Venice beneath the water. This project has been exhibited in galleries, featured in publications and has become one of the most important chapters of my artistic journey.
Through these personal works, I explore themes such as memory, transformation, identity and the fragile relationship between people and the places they inhabit.
Even when I photograph a portrait, that artistic background is always present. I am not only interested in how people look. I am interested in how they feel.
Light Before Location
People often ask me which is my favourite place in Venice. The truth is that I rarely start with the location. I start with the light. Light changes everything. The same street can feel completely different at sunrise, during a winter afternoon or under the warm colours of sunset. Learning to observe light has probably been the greatest lesson photography has given me.
It is the element that transforms a simple portrait into an image that feels alive.
Every Photoshoot Begins with a Conversation
Photography has never been only about cameras. It is about people. Most of my clients tell me they are not comfortable in front of the camera. Many say they are “not photogenic.” I completely understand those feelings.
That is why I prefer to begin every session with a conversation rather than with photographs. We walk, talk and discover Venice together. Little by little, the camera disappears. And that is usually when the most genuine photographs begin to appear.
Beyond Photography
Throughout my career, I have collaborated with institutions, museums and internationally recognised brands, including Palazzo Grassi, Punta della Dogana, Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venini and Furla. These experiences have allowed me to grow professionally, but they have never changed the reason why I photograph.
Awards, exhibitions and publications are meaningful milestones, yet they are not what motivates me every morning. What truly matters is creating photographs that people will still love many years from now.
A Simple Belief
I believe photography has one beautiful purpose. To preserve emotions before they become memories. If, years from now, someone looks at one of my photographs and remembers not only where they were, but how they felt in that exact moment, then I have accomplished what I set out to do.
Many faces. Many stories. I look forward to discovering yours.
Marco Rizzo photographer
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