It’s a partnership that works. Photos: (L) Geraci, (R) WSL
For those looking to get into surf photography, becoming the full-time filmer of a Championship Tour surfer is a dream come true. It’s a dream that Tommaso Geraci, a 26-year-old surfer from Rome, Italy, was ready to give up on. Then he got a call from Italy’s top surfer, Leo Fioravanti. Leo wanted Tommaso to travel with him on the tour and Tommaso didn’t have to think about saying yes.
For the past two-and-a-half years, Tommaso has been Leo’s go-to filmer, attending nearly all the CT stops and building an impressive CV for himself. He’s learned loads about photography on the fly and got to experience all the highs and lows that a CT surfer goes through during a season. We had a chat with Tommaso to hear about what it’s like to have the perceived dream job of an aspiring surf photographer, and get a glimpse into the life of a filmmaker on tour.
How did you get into surf photography and videography?
I’ve surfed since I was eight years old even though we don’t have many waves in Italy. At 18 I got into photography, but I didn’t think about surf photography for at least the first year or two. Then I started shooting some surfing sessions and from then I started dreaming about surf photography full time as a job. It was really hard because we don’t have many swells in Italy and I had to sacrifice my surfing sessions to shoot, try to sell some photos, and learn more. After a while Roby D’amico, the only semi pro surfer from our area noticed me and asked me to film him instead of taking photos. I understood that the only possibility was switching to filming because there was more market for that. That’s how I really started doing some paid stuff for surf content.
How did you start filming for Leo Fioravanti?
I met Leo for the first time three-and-a-half years ago. I was in France to film Roby (D’amico) and the Italian junior surfing team. Leo, who is a good friend of Roby, invited us to his house in Ericeira to spend a few weeks with him. It was the year after COVID, the tour and every competition was off and Leo was in Portugal training without a filmer (his go-to filmer at the time was Tomo McPherson). I spent almost one month with Leo and Roby filming every day. After that I went back to Italy and finished my studies in design and filmed with Roby. In the meantime, Leo was in Hawaii preparing for the next season. After the Australian events around April of 2021, Leo called me and asked me if I wanted to start working with him on tour. Obviously, I was super excited and I accepted. I had just graduated one month before. It was a very difficult moment of my life because I was giving up on the surf photography dream and starting to think about something more doable in Italy.
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How often do you shoot Leo? What other work do you do?
So far we’ve done two-and-a-half seasons together. I’ve only skipped three competitions, I think, so we spend a lot of time together. We could always stay together, but we both think that, especially for me to make it as sustainable as possible, it’s also important to reset, go back home, spend a couple of weeks with family and friends, and rest a little bit. So, for example, usually after Margaret River there is a one-month gap before the next event and instead of following Leo I go to Italy to reset. It’s the same thing now before the start of the season. He has been in Hawaii since mid November and I’m going there at the end of December for the start of the season. Now I’m in Italy eating pasta and pizza full time (laughs).
So I don’t really have the time to find and do other jobs. It’s happened before that a friend called me to do a fashion shoot or a Red Bull event for other sports here in Italy, but those extra jobs can only happen if I stay at least one month at home.
What have you learned by working with a CT-level pro surfer?
I think that every pro surfer obviously is different, but from Leo I learned that everything he has he really earned. He is a real machine. He works hard every day to be his best version and achieve his goals. And I like his positive attitude.
What has been the biggest highlight of working with Leo?
I would say firstly, the win at the Challenger at Ericeira the year when we didn’t make the cut and Quik dropped Leo, and the second place at Pipe this year. Unfortunately, he didn’t win but it was amazing to feel how close he was to doing it.
What has been the biggest challenge of working with Leo?
At the beginning everything (laughs). I didn’t feel ready to take on that role. I didn’t have enough experience and I was scared, but only a fool would have refused. However, Leo immediately showed trust in me and this helped me a lot. He is very demanding, but knows how to manage the relationship with the people around him very well, in my opinion.
What has been your favorite project you’ve worked on?
Leo is super committed to reach his competitive goals so the team’s energy is also somewhat guided by this. For this reason, I don’t think I have yet made a video project that satisfies me that shows my full level of creativity and Leo’s level as a surfer. But I’m sure the time will come for this, too. Now, we want to win!
Any good stories of traveling with Leo?
Leo is a neat freak. Anyone who has traveled with him can confirm this. On the other hand, his girlfriend Sophia and I are different, so let’s say that he often picks up after us.
Does filming with a pro surfer pay the bills?
It’s not easy to make it all add up because the costs of equipment and maintenance are very high when you film on the beach 365 days a year. But I can say that in my case, I’m succeeding. I definitely want to try to earn more in order to build something for my future, but I am confident about the future. At the moment I’m paying the bills, nothing more, but at least I’m traveling the world and doing something that I love.
Who pays you? Leo’s sponsors or Leo directly?
I have a daily base paid by Leo and then Leo helps me to find extra budget from the sponsors to produce projects and content for them.
What tips would you give to someone who dreams of working in pro surf photography?
If you really dream about doing this I would say make sure that you are not doing this for the money because it is not going to work! But if you really like it and you want to make it, just try it. Don’t be influenced by people who think it’s impossible or it is a bad idea. It is not something that comes in one week. Keep trying. If I made it from Rome in Italy, I think anyone with a little bit of luck and hard work can do it.
