Annalisa is an adventurous soul who loves nature and whose curiosity has led her to explore and travel all her life. She's passionate about storytelling as a way to connect with people, recognising that throughout the ages, we have relied upon stories to keep our cultures strong.
Her passion for motorbikes led to the exploration of obscure country lanes all over the British Isles where she grew up. Later, she had a go at learning to fly hang gliders before deciding she'd be better off with an engine and started exploring the countryside from the air in an old Cessna.
In her twenties, she sold up everything to go around the world for a year -- something she'd dreamed about since she was small. “Are you mad?” some said. "Where will you sleep?" they asked. It was a good question, because online anything hadn’t been invented yet, so word of mouth was the main source of information, and writing letters kept you in touch with those you cared about.
Others thought she was brave and wished they could do the same.
“Make up your mind and set a course” she told them, it’s easy really.
Setting off first to Africa armed with her camera and a small backpack, she travelled on a shoestring around Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. Hong Kong was next, which was still under British rule, before taking the train across China, where she rode around Beijing on a bicycle for a month or two in the cold, staying in the only hostel for Westerners near the Temple of Heaven. The adventures continued in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, America and Canada.
"It's the best thing I've ever done…the kind of adventure that builds self reliance and character…although I didn’t think it at the time. I was just following a dream!”
In 2007, while living in New England, her best friend roped her into volunteering to start a farmers' market. A self-confessed food snob, it didn't take long before she was involved in the local food scene, helping to run a small farm that she got certified organic. People loved her beautiful produce and learning how to use and cook with seasonal ingredients to make the most of what was available.
It was at this time that she fell in love with video, while working in her full-time job as a photojournalist for a small daily newspaper. She made it her focus to help organisations use storytelling to create a better understanding of their mission or services. She's learnt her craft by trial and error in the field, and from the incredible teaching faculty at the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) whose professional development workshops are held at the University of Syracuse, New York and the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College. While serving as the NPPA's Regional Chair for New England, she also created a training workshop for visual journalists held at the The Boston Globe headquarters in 2016.
Annalisa rediscovered her love of flying in 2015 when she bought her first drone. She is a fully qualified CAA PfCO, GVC and A2CofC pilot (trained by Flyby Technology) and a self-shooting Producer/Director. Her interviewing style is relaxed and informal, putting the subject at ease in front of the camera.
Experienced in all aspects of story development from concept to on-site shoot management and post production edit.
Annalisa is available for assignments anywhere in the world.
