Osteria Maria

When you first walk into Osteria Maria, you instantly feel at home. This charming Italian restaurant (located at the entrance to Skyline Drive in Virginia) is the brainchild of Head Chef and Owner, Biagio Vignola . Upon entering, you’re greeted by one of two hostesses; the first, Biagio’s mother, Christina, the second, his wife, Elena. Instantly, you feel welcomed into their family, and throughout your meal, that warm hospitality is offered again and again.

They invited me to photograph an event for them, and I leapt at the chance. After talking with the family, we decided that I would approach the shoot with a documentarian “fly on the wall” aesthetic. After a six-hour shoot (and being fed some incredible food), I walked away with these photos, my finest work to date. I edited the kitchen shots in black and white to convey the soul and emotion of a fast-paced kitchen. The interior shots were edited in color, to convey the familial warmth that envelops every aspect of Osteria Maria.