Shoot in The Alps is a film and photo facilitating company operating in the European Alps - France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia as a single geographic entity. The company handles everything from full production service, location scouting, casting of sports models, stuntmen, mountain safety experts and helicopters. And let’s not forget the warm cups of Espresso at 3800 metres!

A glacier in Austria might not be as accessible as one in Italy, and the snow in France might be deeper than in Switzerland... or everything could be just the opposite. Conditions change quickly in the mountains and a detailed and updated knowledge of the territory is necessary for a successful production. Shoot in the Alps will take clients exactly where their production needs to be. This knowledge is provided by a network of professionals who live and work in the region all year long.

For six months a year, clients can shoot their models while skiing on day one, and swim in the sea on day two. Shoot in The Alps has access to snow 365 days-a-year! The locations database incudes everything a client can think of: cities, forests, lakes, castles, beaches, icefalls, pastures, rural villages, high altitude - but accessible – icy peaks, and much more. The automotive industry will find amazing roads here, and fashion photographers will enjoy the mix between modern and historical architecture.

The team works with crews and suppliers from Milan, Geneva, Innsbruck, Munich, Zurich and Ljubljana, offering the best equipment and the highest level of professionalism.

Welcome to Showcase Italy, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, photo agents, photo and film production and service companies, location scouts, photo post production companies, studio and equipment rentals and hair and make-up artists, 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  Forbes, Porsche, Fendi, Elle, Coca-Cola, Four Seasons, Emilio Pucci, Grazia, Whirlpool, and Vogue, among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure not to miss our recommended events:

• 8th edition of Festival Fotografico Europeo, from 16th March to 28th April in Milan and surrounding towns.
• Milan Design Week from 9th to 14th April. 

Our cover image was shot by Elizaveta Porodina for GQ America, starring Donatella Versace. Production by Soloprod. 

"Pachira Location’s mission is to always provide the right location at the best price for all our production industry clients. We offer a tailor-made service to our clients and a trustworthy and continuous relationship with our location owners.

Thanks to the boost provided by new management, we have experienced a 40% year-on-year growth rate. Since 2005, we have kept on building a richer portfolio of locations in Milan, Rome and all over Italy. Our properties are the perfect set for commercials, stills, photo shoots, TV productions, films, music videos, press events, product launches and shoot and stay.

Our strength resides in offering our location owners complete training for renting their houses to production companies: we give them major insights about the industry and offer them the appropriate rental price thanks to an internally developed algorithm.

Passion drives all of our activities: we are crazy about interior design, cinema and creative communication. We are always oriented towards problem solving and we pride ourselves in helping our clients from the beginning to the conclusion of a project.

Check out our website to see our latest work with some major production companies."

Zero Tabletop is a production house founded by director and photographer Paolo Gandola, who is specialised in food and beauty shoots. Since 2013, the company has conceptualised a new idea for food based in beauty, appetite and a good dose of modern realism.

Paolo developed Zero as a factory that brings together different talents, giving them the opportuniy to use every kind of resource and technology to be able to experience and develop new visual languages and styles.

Zero's talented team of directors and photographers have completed spots this year for Italian and international brands such as Barilla, Coop, Ferrero, Galbani, Muller, Lactel, Aia, Nestlé, Parmalat, and many more.

Ten Artist is a production agency based in Milan, available for projects throughout Europe and offering full service including production budget management, location research and scouting, photo studio, light and digital equipment organisation, casting director, set design and props research, catering, crew and logistics coordination.

Clients include Emporio Armani, Armani Junior, Cesare Paciotti, Max Mara Studio, Rebecca Gioielli, Sisley Young, Goldenpoint, Corneliani, CC Collection, Pal Zileri, Lab Pal Zileri, Golden Lady, Fratelli Rossetti, Atelier Notify, D-Exterior, Frette, Violanti, Havaianas, Svevo, Met Jeans, La Perla and Filodoro.

Section80 is a service production company based in Milan.

"We craft the best solutions for any kind of project, and are fully oriented on quality by taking care of all stages in the production process."

Clients include Nike, Valentino, Campari, Versace, Jeep, Yamaha, Lamborghini, Bulgari, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rinascente and Swarovski.

Freelance international fashion imagery producer Azzurra Piccardi graduated in Fashion Design from the Faculty of Architecture in Florence and then specialised in beauty and fashion photography at the School of Visual Art in New York.

Visual communication is an integral part of Azzurra's production of images for the fashion industry. She aims to create emotions by using storytelling directed to the clients of the brand, and to find a dynamic balance between formal or conceptual beauty.

Azzurra collaborates with communication agencies and web clients including Braccialini, Sturlini, Helvita Suisse, Wella, Graziella, Ugg, Ascot Sport, Angelo Marani, Mano Swartz, Copenhagen Fur, Bramante, Saga Fur, Arezzo Wave, Afyda Antara, Pitti, Flower Couture, and many others.

She has a long list of awards and important publications, including the Prix de la Photographie de Paris (PX3), the International Photography Award (IPA), Vogue Italia and Elle, to name just a few. Some of her images are part of the new talent collection of Art + Commerce and Vogue Italia, indicate her as a talent to be discovered.

"We are 1806 Agency, where creativity, strategy and production live together in synergy. Our headquarters are in Milan and we have partners and offices worldwide.

Our aim is to achieve the best results through innovation and concreteness. For this reason, we are in continuous evolution and in search of the best worldwide talents, who perfectly fit any specific request.

We manage dedicated working teams on any kind of projects for our Italian and international clients. We’ve also developed our video production and directors representation departments.

We handle the entire production processes, from the creative ideas to their realisation, making sure to satisfy client’s needs and requests."

Antonio Schiavano is an advertising photographer specialised in beauty and cosmetic shoots, and is an expert in the so-called 'water in motion' technique.

His versatile and curious being combined with his rich know-how have enabled him to collaborate with brands like Alitalia, Avon, Davines, Lancome, Korff, Kraft, Rilastil and Trussardi.

His studio, a spacious daylight loft, is based in Milan, where clients will find a range of different spaces featuring design furniture perfect for creating a variety of different sets.

Location Master was founded by Stefano Biraghi more than 15 years ago, with the idea of giving the opportunity to anyone who wants to shoot in Italy and abroad to get the best support available for movies, TV shows, commercials, documentaries, reality shows, corporate, photo shoots and events.

During all these years, Location Master has created a huge network of strong connections with international gear rental, vendors, locations, authorities, constructors, theatres and much more, to allow even the impossible a reality. Location Masters works only with the best English speaking crew members, allowing easy communication between local crew and HOD's coming from abroad.

The company's location database contains a huge variety of options from the main cities including Florence, Venice, Milan, Rome and Naples, as well as villas, castles, country roads, deserts, mountains, coastal roads and cities, industrial architecture, ruins, modern architecture, museums, restaurants, dams, tunnels, lakes, glaciers, quarries, forests, luxury hotels, terraces and much, much more.

"We can source any request from the most demanding professionals."