Interview with Raphael Mazzucco: photographer and artist
STAFF EDITORIAL
INTERVIEW | Goyi Martín-Albo @gmartinam
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | Vernard Luvngrace Productions @vernardluvngrace
COPRODUCERS Steven Robertson Art @steventobertsonart ; Dave Burkhart @daveburkhart
Raphael Mazzucco is one of the world’s most influential fashion photographers and contemporary artists. Paris Vogue has featured Raphael several times, commenting that his style “exudes sensuality and charm.” Native of Vancouver, Canada, through layers of paint, photographs, and handwritten text, Raphael takes viewers on a documentary-style journey through geographic and emotional terrain.
How did you get started in the world of fashion photography?
After playing professional soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps, I modeled for a while in New York for the likes of Calvin Klein and photographers such a Bruce Weber. ( who years later became my neighbor in Montauk). I met many of the great photographers of the day in New York and I learnt so much from them. I eventually started doing photography when I returned to Vancouver and I would spend days in the dark room and learn so much from shooting with film. I absolutely loved the process and so it ended up becoming my full time career in the late 80s.
You have created iconic images for the most important magazines and brands worldwide: Vogue, Victoria Secret, Ralph Laurent, Guess, Vanity Fair or Sports Illustrated and portrayed renowned actors and celebrities including Lady Gaga, Pamela Anderson, Benicio del Toro, Antonio Banderas or Susan Sarandon and supermodels like Gigi Haid, Irina Shaik or Adriana Lima. Has your perception of fashion and beauty changed over the years?
My perception has never really changed but I know with social media and technology the standards seem to have changed in society. I still see beauty the same way as I always have. I like beauty to be raw and natural and I still approach each project with the same zeal and passion as I did 30 years ago. I am very fortunate to have travelled around the world well over a 1000 times to many beautiful different locations and be able to produce different works
Are there any shoots that you remember as particularly meaningful or challenging?
Shooting models in Africa for both Playboy and Marie Clare with lions nearby in the wild. Its always extremely risky. 
Your facet as a fashion photographer is joined by that of a visual artist capturing the human form in a context of amazing landscapes around the world such as Kenya, Australia or Vietnam.To these works now joins your project “Motherland” What does this work mean to you?
I’ve travelled all over the world to the most exotic, unusual, beautiful locations and countries. They were all alien to me compared to the place I grew up in which was Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Motherland is a homage to my home province British Columbia. It is so important to return to the place you came from. It was the first shoot I have done in the outer reached of B.C. I have lived in Lebanon, Connecticut for nearly 8 years now so I felt it was time to do a shoot in the province I came from. I still consider it one of the most beautiful places on earth.
When you face a new project, what is the first step in the creative process?
I dont have too many guidelines which makes sense as I’m constantly shooting in natural light. With natural light my first steps during a new process is always trying to figure out the right time to go to a particular location . For example Iceland was very important to shoot it in June as it allows you to photograph more than 12 hours at a time. Also, the temperature is more bearable then. Each place gives you a different decision to make. For Africa you dont want to go during the rainy season. I find it much more beautiful when the place is dry for shooting.
Has your perception of fashion and beauty changed over the years?
My perception of photography has never changed . I’ve always believed its an art form and can be shown in so many different ways which makes each photograph unique in their own special way
How do you see the future of photography and visual art in the next decade? What trends do you think will set the tone?
It’s hard to say what the future will hold with so many variations including AI and photoshop . It’s definitely a different world and I’m not sure if thats a good thing. However I think it will be however each artist wants to uniquely do their things around these different things.
