What I've learned so far in terms of just visiting (not from a photog point of view):
- try to speak Italian as well and as often as you can. They appreciate the effort, and it changes their attitude towards you immensely. Especially at restaurants, as this is where you'll have the most interaction. Hello, good afternoon, how are you, may we have, one/two/three etc, basic stuff goes a long way 
- there are TONS of tourists, so many that it makes it difficult to enjoy anything without tour busses of people running into you. Set out late afternoon, grab dinner, and after that the charm of the city really comes out. The Spanish Steps at night is amazing, and if you really want quiet amongst old stuff, wander around the Forum/ Capital Hill area. Indescribable.
- Water bottle. Bring a Nalgene bottle of some sort, as there are free flowing, fresh water fountains scattered throughout the city. We stayed hydrated without issue.
- if you are staying for long periods and want to save money, bring Woolite. I just did laundry in the hotel sink
- Pick pockets and peddlers. After all of the hype, I was really uptight at first about being robbed (carried money belt, never stood next to anyone, just generally paranoid), but within a day I relaxed. Unless you are in a huge, tight crowd, you should be able to see anything coming from a mile away.
- Food: can't really give you any specific places, as I was only in Rome for 2 days (but will be back there early next week). Avoid places right next to the big attractions, as they are more expensive. Going off the beaten path is hugely rewarding! If you order coffee, they give you a tiny cup of Espresso; order a Cappuchino to get a "normal" amount haha either way, the coffee here is amazing! Oh, and if you go into a place just for coffee, DO NOT sit at a table to be waited on, order it at the counter, otherwise you'll get charged more!
They charge you extra for ordering water with your meals. Don't ask me why, but i guess Europeans don't drink water at meals like we do in the US. So I find myself drinking a lot of fountain water haha
Photography tips:
- in general, pack light, as you'll be doing a lot of walking. I'm using/carrying my 24L and 50L 95% of the time b/c my girlfriend was too lazy to bring her 17-55, so she is using my 24-105 
It actually makes things nicer due to the decreased weight but I'm missing the zoom's versatility. Of course, at night she needs a prime, so I get stuck just using the 50L while she gets the 24, but honestly I'm loving every second of the photography traveling experience!
- just like for food, go off the beaten path to get some unique shots; this stuff has been shot trillions of times. This is the toughest challenge here, in my opinion.
- There'll conveniently be a tourist getting in every shot you take, so be patient for an opening.
- have at least 2 batteries. Extra memory cards. Delete unwanted pics at the end of the day.
- circular polarizers are very useful, as i assume a lot of shooting will be done in daylight. Also, shoot some shots for HDR: lots of charming alleyways and enclosed neighborhoods make for a blown out sky otherwise.
So yeah, it's going to be a shock at first, all the commotion and getting acclimated, but once that passes you'll have an amazing time! I am loving it here, don't want it to end. I've been in Rome, Florence (as I type this), day trips to Siena and Castellina in Chianti, and am going to Venice tomorrow on another day trip, before going down to the Amalfi Coast for some beach R&R
Ok, enough rambling, I gotta sleep!
