HELLO! I’M ENZO DAL VERME

Currently based in Milan, Enzo Dal Verme has been working in the photographic industry for over 20 years. His celebrity portraits and features have been published in Vanity Fair, l’Uomo Vogue, The Times, Marie Claire, Glamour, Grazia, Madame Figar, Elle, GQ and many other magazines.

By Greater Good Magazine and CSD

At what age did you start to become conscious of how diet effects animals?

I turned vegetarian when I was ten after an excursion in the mountains, where I met cows and spent some time with them because I was curious. Those gentle giants were peacefully chewing their cud in a large meadow and would occasionally moo and walk around - how could I possibly eat them? Next time I sat down and got a steak on my plate, I refused to eat it, and nothing has been able to change my mind ever since.

Tell us what inspired you to go full vegan back in 1983?

The London scene had quite an influence on me with those highly creative activists, places like Neal’s Yard and all sorts of initiatives. I visited often from Italy, and I got really inspired seeing people living in an ethical way, starting trends and basically making a difference with their everyday life. I was vegetarian, and I never really considered veganism before, just because I had never met any vegans. But, as soon as I discovered it, it made immediately sense, and I was wondering why I had not made an earlier connection.

Why do you think the plant-based lifestyle and veganism is so popular today?

What is happening is really incredible. When I turned vegan, I could not imagine that in my lifetime I could witness veganism going mainstream. Back then, it was something extremely unusual. I believe the Internet helped. Now, videos and information spread quickly. When a celebrity makes a statement, it goes viral in the blink of an eye.

One would be tempted to assume that humanity is becoming more respectful and compassionate, but I am not so optimistic. Certain vegans can be enthusiastic about a new plant-based snack, but not necessarily sensitive about the impact of their choices in general. Still, it is a start (with potential for improvement). On the other hand, certain meat eaters are now coming up with the most imaginative stories to defend their right to be selfish and eat what we know causes suffering, death, and pollution. Arguments like “animals are happy to suffer so that we can develop compassion” might sound like clear BS, but, yes, I have heard this too. The thing is: meat eaters seem to hate feeling responsible for all that suffering, and sometimes in very subtle or creative ways, try to make vegans seem wrong for their “extremism.” When you paint someone as wrong, you feel righteous and feed the triumph of competition, conflict, individualism and egoism that characterizes our times. I am afraid that a shift toward better times will require a lot more than veggie burgers, but I am happy for the spreading and flourishing of vegan businesses. Our economy needs to change. Money needs to be redirected from unethical businesses towards a more sustainable economy that respects humans, animals and the environment.

What defines you as a photographer today?

Photography has been my work for over 20 years. Looking back, I can see that my main drive has been to share something inspiring by putting it into a picture. I have had the privilege of photographing extraordinary people around the globe and publishing their stories in major magazines.

The reason I have been working mainly for fashion magazines has something to do with my yearn for subversion. I have succeeded in giving space to issues that normally do not match the latest lipstick color. My stories have been published right on those same pages, waiting to capture the attention of readers principally focused on cool fashion tips. And, I love that! I am also known for my celebrity portraits, and I have experience with commercial photography. I still get my biggest fulfillment knowing that my pictures could inspire someone or support a good cause. Recently, I felt the growing desire to know that my photography could motivate people to shop ethically. I love cooking, I love eating, vegan food photography was a natural step. I am particularly happy when I know that my photography can make a difference and inspire.

From where do you pull your creativity?

Finding creative inspiration has never been a problem for me. Everyday encounters, news, a chat - pretty much anything can trigger my imagination. The real tragedy is when all these ideas are screaming to be brought to life and my clients say, “we actually had something more conventional in mind.” www.vegan-clicks.com www.enzodalverme.com

What do you think is the next "big thing” for the vegan community?

Quality. Right now, we are all excited to witness the incredible expansion of the vegan market, but perhaps turn a blind eye to the fact that certain foods are hyper processed or do not guarantee ethical sourcing of the ingredients. Cruelty-free fashion is also a sector that is developing fast with new innovative materials, but it is struggling to keep up with the competition of unethical (or green-washed) fashion. Developing impactful and cruelty-free fashion brands is not a simple matter. Debate on how to improve things will continue to develop, and I trust it will lead to better quality in many ways. I would (selfishly) hope that ethical brands will soon start giving more weight to their communication too. Most brands limit themselves to using pictures to show products and are missing the opportunity to create a strong brand identity using visual communication. For food, better quality in communication would mean creating images that are very impactful, not only because the food looks delicious and makes your mouth water, but also because it is surprising, ironic and astonishing! Anyway, things are developing fast, and I believe that we will witness quality improvements in products, communication, networking and many areas.