“Migraine is often and incorrectly identified as a common, episodic headache when it is instead an extremely painful chronic condition,” says photographer Riccardo Budini.


A professional background in photography, an understanding of Migraine as a disease, and a passion for raising awareness come together in Riccardo Budini’s series Living with Migraine. With his talent and his lens, Riccardo translates the raw impact of this invisible illness into vivid, intimate photos that capture elusive realities of living with pain.

As a full-time documentary photographer based in Rome, Riccardo is used to capturing some life’s real and quiet moments. His human condition projects range from Christian pilgrims in Bethlehem, to the gentrification of Queens, to snow-speckled market-goers in Instabul.

But capturing life with Migraine was a project especially close to home for him: the main subject of the photographs is Mere, his sister.

We were lucky enough to get an interview with Riccardo to learn more about how a professional photographer captures an issue that is deeply personal, deeply impactful, and mostly invisible.

Interview with Riccardo Budini, photographer behind Living with Migraine

Angie Glaser: How did you develop the idea for your photo series Living with Migraine? Can you tell me a little bit more about the subject of the photographs?


Riccardo Budini: I started my career as a wire photographer a decade ago. Beside covering news and current affairs, I also developed slow paced and deeper projects, like Living with Migraine. The subject portrayed is my sister, who has suffered from Migraine since her adolescence. She inherited it from our mother, so I was in a unique position to understand the condition from up close.

In fact, when I normally approach a new human condition to document, as much as I sympathize with the subjects and no matter how long I work with them, I’d be lying if I said that I am able to fully and deeply integrate with her or his environment, personal history, and culture. That was not the case in Living with Migraine, and a deep, prior knowledge of that life helped a lot.

Angie Glaser: Your photo series captures truths about living with invisible illnesses such as Chronic Migraines. What was the turning point that pushed you to tackle this issue with your lens?

Riccardo Budini: I started this project with the very precise intent to tackle a specific issue: the lack of general understanding of Migraine. Despite not being directly affected by the illness, I felt I was inside this problem and well aware of its severity. Trying to photograph the true nature of the disorder and raise awareness about its consequences seemed, for me, a natural move.

Angie Glaser: What are common misconceptions about living with Chronic Migraine that you want to shed light on with these photos?


Riccardo Budini: Living with Migraine means living with an illness that can suddenly strike and keep you in check for days and nights. People know very little about the impact and some may even be skeptical when they first hear about it.

After completing the work, I had some feedback from a number of Mere’s acquaintances who previewed the series. They admitted they didn’t even suspect how tough it is for her. Some even said they could hardly finish seeing all of the photos. Mere received many phone calls of solidarity – this, for me, showed important early results.

Angie Glaser: What do you want to express in this series of photos? What is the message that you want to relay to the viewers?

Riccardo Budini: I wanted to describe the most significant phases related to Migraine and how the daily life of a patient can be adversely affected. While I tried to preserve as much as possible the dignity of the subject, I didn’t want to skimp on the portrayal of pain. Even though it may cause some discomfort to some viewers, I strove to produce an accurate representation in line with my experience and standards.

Angie Glaser: Why did you choose to include the relationship between Mere and her father in your photographs? How is that relationship impacted by her struggles with Migraine?


Riccardo Budini: There is a point in life where parents and sons reverse roles. That is often a necessary change, and it is not always easily to accept, especially for the parent. Mere cared for our father until his very last days; he passed away some months after I took the photos.

He was a central figure in Mere’s life so including his presence in the story was a natural choice. Also, it helped show how hard it is for loved ones to interact and give relief during an ongoing attack, no matter how much they might want to.

I also wanted to show that living with Migraine doesn’t itself excuse someone from other everyday burdens, like the sudden and frequent emergencies that occurred to our elderly father. On these occurrences, failing to rush to the hospital was not an option, and suffering a Migraine attack at that time would have been a serious complication.

Angie Glaser: What is next for you and Mere? Where can we see more of your work and connect with you further?

Riccardo Budini: Mere’s attacks have dropped from 100 a year to just 10. A few years ago, her doctors discovered she was affected by patent foramen ovale (PFO), a condition of the heart that normally causes no problems and remains undetected throughout life. But for a few Migraine patients, it can be a significant trigger. Clinical studies confirmed PFO for Mere and she underwent a minimally invasive heart surgery that permanently solved her PFO and really improved her migraines.


Her huge improvement encouraged Mere to realize the dream of her life: painting. So, to finally answer your question, I am now documenting her new life as a watercolor painter, as well as developing other professional assignments and documentary projects.

Living with Migraine from Riccardo Budini on Vimeo.

All images and video by Riccardo Budini are used here with permission. To see more of his incredible work, visit his website, or follow him on Instagram. Follow Mere’s progression with watercolors on her Instagram page.

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