This project was developed for Patronato Italiano, a non-profit organisation based in São Paulo that operates as a community and activity centre for older adults, with a strong connection to the city’s Italian community. The visual work was produced to support the organisation’s communication efforts, increase public visibility, and contribute to engagement with potential institutional and private supporters.
The project also documented events and activities in which the Italian Consulate of São Paulo was present, reflecting its institutional support and ongoing relationship with the organisation. This context required a careful balance between institutional representation and the everyday social reality of the space.
One of the main challenges was portraying ageing as an active, social, and engaged process, while maintaining a respectful and credible institutional tone. The imagery needed to communicate trust and legitimacy to external stakeholders, without losing the warmth and intimacy that define the organisation’s daily activities.
The photographic and video approach prioritised observation of real interactions: workshops, cultural events, informal conversations, and moments of exchange between participants. The work relied on natural light, minimal interference, and a discreet presence, allowing gestures, expressions, and relationships to emerge organically.
The resulting content was used across communication channels to convey the organisation’s social role as a living community hub, highlighting its capacity to foster inclusion, continuity, and dignity in later life.
