A Photographic Journey Through Rome: Capturing Beauty on a Whim
In November 2019, right before the world flipped upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic, my good friend John and I decided to take a spontaneous photography trip to Italy. The plan was simple—explore Rome, Venice, and Milan and capture the beauty of each city. Well, Italy had other plans for us. After some pretty wild weather and flooding in Venice, we ended up staying in Rome the entire time. And honestly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we never made.
Rome has this way of pulling you in and making you feel like you belong. From the moment we landed, the vibe was perfect. To give you an idea of how spontaneous this trip was, we didn’t even book an Airbnb until we were on a layover in Amsterdam! Thankfully, it was off-season, so we found an amazing spot right next to the Vatican—less than a 10-minute walk to the Pope’s window.
Rome in November was different. It wasn’t packed with tourists, which meant we could just roam the streets and soak in the city’s beauty at our own pace. We hit all the iconic spots—Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain—but without the usual chaos. Every corner of Rome felt like it had a story to tell, and we were there to capture it.
Since we were going to be in one place longer than expected, I thought, “Why not set up a photoshoot?” So, I jumped on ModelMayhem.com and sent out a few messages. Lucky for us, we connected with Alessia—a stunning model with dark blonde hair and these sultry, captivating eyes. She looked like she walked straight off the pages of an Italian fashion magazine. Just what we needed to match the elegance of the city.
Instead of shooting around the city, we decided to take advantage of the cool vibe at our Airbnb. The place had this old-world charm mixed with a modern twist that made it perfect for the look we were going for. Alessia’s style and the aesthetic of the Airbnb clicked so effortlessly that every shot felt organic. The whole shoot felt like it could have been for a high-fashion editorial, yet it was laid-back and intimate.
This spontaneous photography trip reminded me that sometimes the best experiences are the ones you don’t plan. We didn’t expect to be in Rome the entire time, didn’t have a model lined up ahead of time, and didn’t even know where we were staying until the last minute. But Rome embraced us, and everything fell into place. There’s something freeing about letting go of control and just letting the journey unfold.
What started as a minor setback ended up being one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. The photos we shot with Alessia remain some of my favorite work, and the entire experience felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Sure, we missed out on Venice and Milan, but Rome gave us so much more than we expected. From wandering the streets freely to that unforgettable photoshoot with Alessia, this city has left a mark on me that I can’t quite shake.
One of the unexpected highlights of the trip was meeting other travelers from around the world. We ended up having dinner with some of them, sharing stories and laughs, and building connections that are still strong to this day. It’s amazing how travel has a way of bringing people together in ways you don’t anticipate.
For anyone thinking about visiting Rome, I’d say go in the off-season if you can. The city opens up in a whole new way when you’re not fighting through crowds. You get to see it for what it really is—a place steeped in history, beauty, and endless inspiration.
I know I’ll be back, hopefully to finish what we started. But for now, I’ll carry these moments with me, thankful for a trip that didn’t go according to plan, but ended up being perfect in its own way.
Also, be sure to checkout out Alessias’ nude gallery. This was the shoot that sparked the idea of “Room Noir” in my mind.
All travel and BTS photos captured by Jasphotos.
