The Wine Doors of Florence project changed me as a photographer. I picked up my first camera at a yard sale when I was 10 years old: a Kodak Instamatic 100 that loaded with 126 format film cartridges. Freezing time onto a piece of paper was fascinating to me and I had the camera until 126 format film could no longer be found. I remained a serious amateur taking elective courses in college creating a presence on portfolio sites while maintaining careers in other artistic endeavors. Then, as a wine educator with a penchant for travel, I would shoot vineyard visits and events for the requisite social sharing. 

When I arrived in Florence in 2013 for graduate school, I discovered the wine doors. The wine doors were completely ignored at the time, and I could escape the pressure of mass tourism and enjoy alleyways and these historical artifacts all to myself. This is where I started to come into my own as a photographer. Although it started as a photographic treasure hunt, I began noticing people’s indifference to the wine doors. This indifference came in the form of simply walking right past not understanding what it was, all the way to flagrant vandalism. I always questioned what I had to say as a photographer but then it finally clicked. I need to educate viewers about the wine doors and demonstrate their importance through my images as a cohesive project.

Every street and documentary photographer I ever studied began to inform my practice. When I was able to take the concept seriously, serious work arose. I sold my first prints and had my first exhibition. With images of 147 wine doors, I wanted to take the education further into book form so I enrolled in a critique and book-making course. Images I thought weren’t worthy of seeing the light of day, were classmate’s favorites. After culling, sequencing, printing, cutting, sewing, and gluing, I held years of work in my hand and it was invigorating. However, I knew the work wasn’t finished. As a fervent supporter of artisan food and wine producers, I’d originally conceptualized a guidebook that not only provided education about the wine doors but supported these producers along the way. 

The last phase of this project now begins. I return to Florence this fall to finalize this guidebook. Although the wine doors had a burst of publicity during COVID, they are no longer the forgotten relic I photographed 8 years ago. However, there is much to be discovered in archives, libraries, and on the street shooting their newfound popularity. To bring this book into existence, I have launched a Kickstarter campaign. The rewards for the campaign are many. I have continued my bookbinding work and have 4 copies remaining of the handmade edition. Fine art giclée prints and posters can adorn your walls and the guidebook - one year in the making - can be preordered.