A sun filled Italian adventure preserved forever
Storyteller: Rodrigo Enriquez, Australia
Rodrigo Enriquez snapped many stunning photos on his journey overseas, reminding us that travel photography is about slowing down and noticing the small details that make a place unforgettable. While exploring Italy’s Amalfi Coast, he captured the charm of sun-drenched pool sides, sweeping Mediterranean views, and vibrant beach scenes. Wanting to bring these memories to life beyond his camera, Rodrigo created a Premium Photo Book with MILK. In this blog, explore the inspiration and stories behind his most-loved shots, and why holding his memories in print means so much to him.
What format did you choose to create your keepsake and why?
I decided to go with the Premium Photo Book in a Large Portrait format. A majority of the photos I had taken were in portrait as this enabled me to use the pages to their full extent. There are a handful of landscape photos that are featured in the book which covers both pages in full of my pictures of summer in Italy.
Why did you create your keepsake?
Technology has made everything accessible within the palm of our hands through a screen, it’s become almost nostalgic to have that physical sense of touch turning over a page or feeling the weight of a book in your hands. Creating this photo book has brought life to my work and being able to live through that experience every time I go to pick it up. I can once again admire the colours just as I experienced it when I was travelling through the Amalfi Coast.
What image do you love most from your keepsake?
It’s never easy picking out a favourite image of your own work, but upon looking through my book, the poolside photo of the Santa Caterina hotel would be a particular favourite. The photo features people laying on sun beds soaking in the midday sun facing the Mediterranean Sea. It was one of the first photos I took while I was there, and I had instantly thought "That would look nice printed out and framed on a wall" which I will do soon.
Do you have an interesting story behind a single shot in the book?
The story behind the photo on the first page of my travel photo book will probably be the most memorable for me as it was on the last day of my trip. I wanted to capture the moment the red umbrellas were put up without any people in it - which is impossible during peak summer in Amalfi. My friend mentioned that the umbrellas start to get set up from around 8:15am, and my ferry was due to leave at 9:00am which I couldn't miss as I needed to catch a flight back home.
Time passed, and it became 8:45am. The people working at the venue were still setting up. My luggage was still back at the hotel as I also had to check out before leaving. I rushed back to my hotel grabbed my luggage and quickly ran back by 8:55am. The umbrellas were all set up and I had about a minute to get the shot as I could see my ferry pulling up to dock from the other side. I adjusted all my settings, took a few shots hoping I got something in both portrait and landscape. Without having time to go through the photos, I quickly put my camera away and rushed towards the ferry which luckily, I made just in time!
What does your keepsake mean to you and your family?
Being able to pick the book up whenever I want and have something to show my family and friends when they come over is something I’d feel so proud of doing. It’s also a very simple and minimalistic design that it would look well on my coffee table. This travel keepsake is I can have forever and hopefully will last me my lifetime and more. As time goes by, it’ll be a precious book that features travel photos of moments in the past from my trip to Italy, and anyone that picks it up will be able to look through and experience the same memories I had as well.
What inspires you to take photos in general?
I always find myself so interested in learning something new and the possibilities are endless with photography. Whether is through shooting or editing I’ve always been curious on how some photos were shot or what was used to create the end result. It has always fascinated me how a photographer’s work can be so different to the next - as their photos are just a representation of how they see the world through their camera lens. I think it’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with it, and I think as long as I am inspired to just go out and shoot for myself then I’ll be doing this for a long while.
What inspires you creatively?
I spend quite a lot of time in the creative space whether it’s at home or at work. Creative inspiration for me has come from going on runs or walks just keeping the mind active without forcing it out. Looking through other photographers work, watching movies or even listening to music also triggers my mind to gather some ideas for my creativity. Everything then blends in and eventually you create your own style of shooting and/or editing.
What bit of advice would you offer to someone creating their own MILK memento?
I’d say you should experiment with the different layouts and features that the MILK Design Studio platform offers. Try pairing up photos with different shapes or colours to see what works. Choose a fabric cover that reflects your memories well and consider where you’ll display your photo book or album when it’s done. Most importantly, have fun and take your time with it!
Rodrigo’s travels remind us of how travel photography has the power to hold not just images, but the specific emotions and stories that come with them. His MILK keepsake is more than a travel photo album—it’s become an heirloom that allows him to relive Italian sunshine and share those moments with loved ones for years to come.
