I LOVE Models Management was created by the love for model management after many years of successfully guiding the careers of male models on an international level.

The staff at I LOVE MODELS MGMT combines years of experience in the modelling profession and their goal is to continue to do so with professionalism, enthusiasm and passion.

The male model-only agency director, Patrizia Wassermann, is a veteran of more than 25 years of experience in the male modelling business, representing icons such as Andres Velencoso, Simon Nessman, Werner Schreyer, Roch Barbot, Baptiste Radufe and Filip Hrivnak and this season's new campaign boys, Cheikh Tall, Francisco Henriques, Piero Mendez, Salomon Diaz and Xavier Buestel, among numerous other male stars.

I LOVE's goal is to remain at the forefront of the industry, managing and creating successful models and at the same time giving personal attention to both models and clients.

Fabio Costì is a fashion, beauty, portrait and advertising photographer based in Milan. He studied sculpture at the Art Academy of Naples and discussed his degree thesis in photography. His work has featured in numerous private and collective exibitions since his early years as an artist and photographer.

His interest in the field of fashion photography brought him to Milan, where from the beginning he cooperated with fashion brands and magazines. He is highly appreciated for his creative approach to photography.

Fabio teaches 'Photography Language' at IED College in Milan and also works as an art director for Boutique Agency, also based in Milan, taking care of brands like Roberto Cavalli, Bikkembergs and Luisa Spagnoli.

Major companies and magazines he has worked with include Golden Lady, Alviero Martini, Metradamo, Hetregò, W&F Bird, Nexy.co, Winonah Milano, Moreschi, Andrea Incontri, Cielo Venezia 1270, Bronzallure, Elle Japan, Men's Health Italia, Vogue Italia, POSH, Maxim, Fahion Trend, Flamboyant, TO2W, Marie Claire Indonesia, Sorbet and Cosmopolitan Italia.

With more than 10 years of experience in international productions, Lule Production is a full service company based in Italy with a focus on photography as a commercial medium.

The company manages all aspects of a production, from accommodation to specifc location scouting. Finding the best models for a shoot is also a speciality.

For each production the company chooses only the best and most qualifed professional freelancers, creating a team of professionals that works in unison. A successful combination of advertising and fashion is its hallmark.

Silvia Gerzeli is a freelance make-up artist and hair stylist based between Florence and the Italian lakes, working across Italy and internationally. She specialises in fashion make-up and hairstyling for photo and video clients.

Her passion for make-up means her portfolio is constantly growing thanks to the many collaborations she is involved in. She also focuses on special effects and body painting and continually studies new techniques, with regular trips to London and across Europe to work with local professionals to learn about the latest styles.

She collaborates with Lui Magazine as an art director and teaches at a renowned make-up school in Florence and Rome.

Silvia is extremely diligent and precise and "absolutely loves" her job! She appreciates the many different facets and genres that allow her to provide clients with the very best results - not only concerning make-up and hair, but also through her presence on set.

Welcome to Showcase Italy, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, photo and film production and service companies, location scouts, photo post production companies, make-up artists, rental studios, equipment rentals and casting agencies currently working out of Italy.

You can find more creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production in our Rome (Photo / Film) and Milan (Photo / Film) directories.

Companies including Armani, Campari, Vogue, Prada, Maserati, Dolce & Gabbana, Alfa Romeo, Furla, L'Officiel, Shell,  Bulgari, Gucci, and Elle, among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure not to miss our recommended events:

• 7th edition of Festival Fotografico Europeo, from 17th March to 22nd April in Milan and surrounding towns.
• Milan Design Week from 17th to 22nd April. 
• Magnum Manifesto: Guardare il mondo e raccontarlo in fotografia - photography exhibition, until 3rd June in Museo dell'Ara Pacis, Rome.
• Steve McCurry. Icons - photography exhibition, until 3rd June at Castello Visconteo, Pavia.

Our cover image was shot by Valerio Mezzanotti for Marni. A story by Stefano Roncato, creative vision and production by .Toggle(Off).

Amazed.by is a full service photo, video and event production agency with over 15 years' experience working throughout Europe.

The company offers customised services for each client including art buying, casting, event production, location scouting, logistics and transportation, permits and carnets, insurance, crew selection and coordination, lighting and equipment, digital tech and retouching services, props and set design/building, location vehicles and prop cars, catering services and budget management.

Clients include Giorgio Armani, Prada, D Squared, Moncler, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Chloe, Liu Jo, Vogue Italy, Vogue Japan, and The Wall Street Journal.

''Food is an important form of communication, expression, seduction and the foundation of relationships.

Food is welcoming but also sharing roots, belonging and identity.

Food is always a story that needs to be told, carefully and wisely to express its value and uniqueness.

It takes a particular talent to draw out the value of food whether in a recipe or a photograph.

Maria possesses those necessary skills to take simple raw ingredients and transform them into a cohesive narrative.''

While studying for his Master's in photo-reportage at the John Kaverdash Academy in Milan, Nicola Ughi made the decision to become a corporate photographer.

His professor showed him a beautiful portrait - 'The man with the bricks' by August Sander, a German photographer from the 20s - and Nicola fell in love with it, deciding that portraiture must be one of the main skills of his profession.

Today, Nicola shoots many portraits for business purposes as well as individual clients. "I consider it one of the best ways to fix the identity of a person," he says.

Paradisiacal seascapes, age-old mountain villages, rolling hills, a billowing volcano, Arcadian pastures, abandoned country villas, bustling metropoli, Greek theatres; these are just a few of the reasons why so many directors choose to send their teams to produce in Sicily.

With a mix of international and local crews, Etna Productions has reached the perfect balance of pairing knowledge of Sicilian territory along with the needs of visiting international clients. The company is able to assist with all components of production – from location scouting and production management to model castings, research, permits and budgeting. The variety of locations offered by Etna Productions surpasses all expectations.

2017 saw the company successfully organise catalogue shoots, film documentaries and editorials for international clients including Urban Outfitters, Walbusch and Oriflame, to name just a few.

"No matter the job, we’re ready for any challenge!"

As a former basketball player and always passionate about sports, Sabrina Conforti began to photograph athletes and entered the world of rugby in 2008. Known internationally, Sabrina has worked for Adidas on Danilo Gallinari’s campaign, for an Italian tour by Jonah Lomu (former All Black), and with Javier Zanetti across a range of shoots.

Sabrina has created a unique style which has helped her to make her way in a predominantly male profession. She is the author of numerous series published in Sportweek and has been following the Italian National Rugby Team for 10 years. Sabrina has also been the official photographer of the Crédit Agricole Italia Group for four years.

Her significant portfolio includes cooperation with the Mondadori Group and Discovery Italia.

Sabrina's greatest strength is empathy, which encourages her subjects to open up and bare themselves in front of the lens. She offers an innovative and personal style - in her shots, there is all the elegance and lightness that distinguish her.

Sabrina's skills and knowledge allow her to manage all phases of a photo shoot, from creative direction to post-production.