She's an Italian photographer based in Paris. Her work focused on migrations, human trafficking and gender issues. For her work she has received support from the Magnum Emergency Fund, Open Society Foundation, Center National des Arts Plastiques, Le Septembre de la Photographie, Foto Gaspésie and the Institute of Italian Culture in Montreal. After a master's in literature and film and a decade-long career as a photojournalist, Elena published the book Pipeline (Schilt Publishing, 2014), which explored the sexual exploitation of Nigerian women in Italy. The book was selected as one of the best photobooks of 2014 by Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Perlino's images have been published on Newsweek Japan, Daily Mail, Fisheye, Causette, Jeune Afrique, Elle, Io Donna, Internazionale, Domus, Grazia, Rolling Stones, Max, GQ, Glamor, Gioia, D di Repubblica. Her work has been exhibited, among others, at: Visa pour l'image, Perpignan; the Institut des Cultures d'Islam, Paris; Maison de la culture Frontenac, Montreal, Canada; the Lawndale Art Center in Texas and the Objectifs Center for Photography, Singapore.