Framed: Raw Advice from Behind the Lens

Milan-born, Sydney-based photographer and designer Andrea Francolini brings over 20 years of expertise to capturing high-profile maritime events, superyachts, and the Sydney to Hobart race.

A winner of the International Watersports Photography Awards, Andrea also runs a commercial studio for executive portraits, architecture, and branding. Off the water, he is the founder of My First School Pakistan, supporting rural education in the Nagar Valley.

Here’s how Andrea’s story began...

The Profile: In Conversation with Andrea Francolini.

Hometown roots? Milano, Italy, in the early '70s. I’m probably the only Italian you know who doesn’t like coffee, soccer, politics, red wine, or olives—and no, I was not kicked out of the country!

Tell us about your technical foundation? I went to school in New York and Geneva, then started working when I moved back to Italy in the early '90s. I started out as a graphic designer, and photography was just a weekend thing—until it completely took over my life.

What brought you to Australia, and when? I landed here in December 2000 looking for work. One suitcase and one camera bag—which was heavier than the suitcase, of course. Australia is still a place where you can make things happen if you’re motivated; there is so much opportunity here. Europe, unfortunately, is an old continent.

Favourite cheap eat? A couple of great dumpling spots in Enmore and Newtown that don’t break the bank. I also recently discovered some fantastic Chinese places in Campsie—the kind of spot where you’re the only Caucasian person in the room. Always a great sign.

What keeps you going? Curiosity. I want to see things, and I want to travel a lot more. Taking pictures lets me step into people’s lives. I’m lucky because while I shoot professionally, photography is still my hobby. When I’m not working, I’m almost always working on personal projects, which are usually completely different from my commercial work.

Variety is key, and I love experimenting. With digital, it’s easy—if you don’t like it, you delete it. But it takes time. I’ve worked on projects for six to eight months trying new things, only to set them aside for another six months before starting over. You have to try and be willing to fail. If you don’t fail, you never learn or evolve.

Advice to young photographers? Shoot RAW, not JPEG, and stick to your ideas. Young people often think it’s too easy, and if they don’t get immediate results, they quit. It takes years to build a career, a style, and a reputation.

And stop giving your pictures away for free! You’re ruining the very market you’re trying to make a living from. If someone wants your picture, it means it makes them look good—so why shouldn’t you get paid for it?

Favourite thing about Sydney? Where to start?

Sunrise on a winter morning in Bondi when the light is crisp.
The winter light around July and August cutting through the CBD streets.
The Northern Beaches in winter—no tourists.
Sydney Harbour at any time of day. The light in Sydney is always unbelievable.

Best Australian-fusion or savoury dishes in Sydney? My absolute favourite used to be Longrain, great food, great cocktails. Unfortunately, they closed. Now that I’m getting older getting more mature, LOL. I prefer simple, clean flavours. Sushi is the perfect example. It’s like pizza: I once challenged a friend to order a pizza with a maximum of three toppings, with tomato and mozzarella already counting as two. She struggled, but once she tasted it, she could actually appreciate every single ingredient

The best photography lines you’ve ever heard?

Get closer.
Don’t take the same picture twice on the same day.
Get out of the car and shoot.
Try again.
Painting with light.

Favourite kitchen tool? I love knives, especially Japanese ones. I love the shape, the design, the balance, and how they feel in your hand. My favourite is my Nakiri, a classic straight-bladed knife, like a small cleaver, perfect for everyday use.

What is My First School Pakistan?

In 2011, I founded My First School Pakistan, an Australian registered charity dedicated to improving primary education and schooling conditions in remote villages across northern Pakistan, including the Nagar Valley.

It started when a photographic trip opened my eyes to classrooms without basic desks, books, or supplies. What began as buying pencils and books for 70 kids grew into building classrooms, funding furniture, and sponsoring long-term education.

It’s about giving children in Pakistan a real chance, and returning there every year to see the tangible difference it makes is easily one of the most rewarding parts of my life.

Through photography print sales, fundraising, and annual visits, the initiative equips bare classrooms with desks, books, and structural improvements to give local kids a brighter future.