Emanuela Cauli - Professional Sports Photographer

Emanuela Cauli is 44 year-old sports photographer from Milan, Italy.

@emanuela.cauli on Instagram

“I started taking pictures at 6 years old and haven’t stopped since.  I always knew I wanted to become a photographer, I don’t think there was another job that I ever truly considered growing up. I always recognized myself through photography. I mostly photographed landscapes at the beginning, but I reckon it was a simple type of photography where I yet had to find the perfect combination that was for me. I always had the passion to capture the moment.

Born in Milan, I didn’t travel a lot when I was young, but I always loved windsurfing and watersports in general. I began with analog cameras but to be honest the digital camera made me regain that connection with photography. During that period I fell in love with a man and slowly began to connect sports with photography, windsurf in my case. This was the beginning of everything. When I did my first interview for the school of photography of Milan at 18 years old, I didn’t get in. It was a program that accepted a maximum of 60 people, with more than 200 requests per year. After that happened I kinda stopped taking pictures and started working for my family’s business. 

I eventually did go to a photography school though, The Italian Institute of Photography, because I felt the necessity of improving with digital editing , starting from a raw file to try and achieve the best outcome of a shot. For me, it’s the emotion that shooting these sports gives me, and the ability to capture such amazing moments that you can later relive with my shots. This truly fills me with emotion.”

What do you like so much about sports?

“During my life I have passed through many happy and sad moments, honestly more sad than happy, but in these years I have learned to take care of myself. I learned how to do yoga and meditation, which are the things that let me regain myself when something is disturbing me. Sports in general, from cycling to walking, going to the mountains, etc, have helped me so much. But being in the water and practicing sports like windsurf or surf are the main two elements that allow me to detach from reality. 

In the future I would love to create an association where I can spread knowledge to other women of how wonderful sports are and how positive everything is about them. Really. How it can help you get out of difficult situations in your life, and by implementing a routine you’re not only doing good to your body but also to your mind."

What's your advice for someone who would like to become a sports photographer?

"For anyone considering this same career, my biggest advice is to fare la gavetta (italian for “pay your dues”). Work hard to establish a foundation for yourself and obtain good results from there. Once you have all of the tools necessary to achieve something mixed with your passion , you then have the capability to rise on this pyramid. All of this helps you grow but also understand where you want to arrive. Yes. its dedication, but in this field you have to distinguish yourself. If you take the same pictures everyone else is taking and you don’t transmit your passion through your photographs, something is missing. You have to make a difference.”

How do your photographs stand out in the professional photography industry?

“My pictures distinguish themselves because of the energy and vitality they have. At least this is what people tell me and what I mainly want to spread. I want to transmit strength, positivity and the fact of smiling in front of life’s situations. Seems that I manage to transmit these things through my shots. At the same time I challenge myself because, in order to achieve this, you have to get out of your comfort zone.

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In the future, I plan to remain in this field of watersports and continue connecting with people through my photography. I would love to be able to shoot in a world cup event in the near future and overall increase my presence in other sports camps, competitions, and who knows, maybe even some brands.”

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*Emanuela’s pictures have been featured in various magazines, including 4Windsurf, Surf Magazine (Germany), Boards (Switzerland; her picture was on the cover!), Wind News, and more.

On Instagram: @emanuela.cauli