Fotograf Wendell Fernandes

—Er du fotogen?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Hvordan blev du en del af fotografiindustrien?

—Long ago, a close friend of mine was getting married and had no one to capture their day. I had a simple Rebel Canon XTi and I volunteered, I look back and from that point forward I fell in love with the stories of people and their lives more than the actual photographic work – It fascinates me how people meet and how they connect and grow into a lifetime together.

—Hvad er de vigtigste komponenter i et godt billede efter din mening?

—This is a tough question. There are so many things that can add up to a great photograph but I believe it all begins with a spectacular experience and interaction between the person registering those moments and the subject. Personally, I think this is the doorway to success and once this happens everything else will follow. People open up to you, they trust you, they trust your vision and creativity. A good photograph evokes reality, however blunt, drastic, romantic, rough it may be. Lighting, camera settings, location, ethnicity, culture, none of these things are as important as the actual naked reality unfolding before you.

—Elsker du at rejse?

—Yes I do. Originally from Brasil and now living in USA for 15 years, every chance I get, I do travel to know whats out there. I have been to various countries because of these stories and I believe being open to it, changes our mindset.

—Hvad kan du bedst lide ved dit fag?

—The fact that I can register moments that will live with them for the rest of their lives, this is impacting.

—Hvad synes du mindre godt om ved dit fag?

—Every profession has its stressful moments, but it comes with the territory, so I don't believe there is anything I can point out that is relevant.

—Hvordan ser fremtiden ud for fotografering?

—There is already a demand for true storytellers, and I believe this will continue to grow.

—Hvad er der specielt ved den fotografigenre, du specialiserer dig i?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Hvordan håndterer du kritik?

—Just like anything else, we can never grow if we don't listen and learn. From the "top" photographer to anyone beginning this journey now, we all began looking, learning from others. The secret is to be open, the next chapter will always teach us something else we need.

—Er der nogen tendenser inden for fotografering?

—Nowadays everything seems to be done from a recipe book which takes away from the stories that need to be told coherently. Pinterest and many other sites cooperate to this trend, but I believe it is in our hands to change this. The other trend is that every photographer is now a "Photojournalism" style photographer but their work shows no sign of it.

—Hvad bør kriterierne være for en kunde, der skal vælge en fotograf?

—They should look for "Storytellers" – Not because they mention this "photojournalism style" in their website, but because they are more humans than professionals. They care more about the couple's stories than their own photo artwork. Couples should "meet" face to face and look for signs that will give them the comfort they are talking to a person and not a business.

—Hvilke ting er slet ikke tilladt under fotograferingen?

—Pre-conceived notions and shots. I believe every location has a great amount of potential to look different even though you've been there many times before. "What fits the story of this couple, even though I've been here before?". This type of thinking will transform the way we shoot.

—Hvilke detaljer, der som regel går ubemærket hen, vil en fotograf bemærke?

—How light affects moments.

—Hvad påvirker værdien af et foto? Hvilke elementer indeholder det?

—Use of light, quantity of light is better than the quality of light. Also, lighting is probably a key element for moments to take place.

—Hvilken person kan være symbolet på det 21. århundrede efter din mening?

—The one who is unseen, the one who is invisible, the one not seeking fame. Since we learn from each other, the stories should be what drives us all.

—Hvem vil du gerne fotografere?

—An African couple that has absolutely no glamour, but an amazing story.

—Har du nogen professionelle tabuemner?

—Not really.

—Hvem ville du gerne fotografere sammen med?

—Anyone with a greater experience. Perhaps Cliff Mautner or Joe Buissink, would be a great learning experience.

—Hvad bekymrer du dig om, og hvorfor?

—Missing a moment. Inside an environment that you could never go back in time, my fear is to miss a moment that is important to the couple.

—Hvad har været det mest imponerende øjeblik i dit liv?

—Believe it or not, I think it was a day, when I was being taught to love my neighbor as myself, as it's mentioned in the Bible. I spent sometime with a very close friend, a second father to be, and I could not believe how much I needed to learn this and how this has shaped my life.

—Hvis du var en animeret figur, en fiktiv person eller en person i en film, hvem ville du så være, og hvorfor?

—I never thought of that :)

—Hvem inspirerer dig i dit liv, og hvorfor?

—Jesus the man, my father and all my mentors in life.

—Hvordan definerer du succes? Hvordan måler du det?

—Complete peace and satisfaction even though I'm in the midst of a crises.

—Foretrækker du, at folk kan lide dig, eller at de respekterer dig?

—Liked. I believe respect comes after. We need to approach and be approachable first.

—Hvad er den største fejl, du nogensinde har begået i dit arbejde?

—I can't recall one now, but I hope I don't have anything later either :P

—Når du skal rejse, hvad tager du så med dig, og hvorfor?

—My Canon 5D III and a Sigma 35mm and 85mm. These are my go to lenses for getting a great shot.

—Er der noget, du ville ønske, du ikke havde købt blandt de tingester, som du ejer? Hvorfor?

—Not yet.

—Hvordan uddanner du dig selv til at tage bedre billeder?

—Magazines, mostly fashion and arts, and always looking to see greater experience photographers and what they are doing and why they are doing it.

—Hvis arbejde har haft størst indflydelse på dig som fotograf?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Hvad er det eneste, du ville ønske, du vidste, da du begyndte at tage billeder?

—"What do I do if I turn this dial to M" :P

—Hvad vil du gerne fortælle med dine fotografier?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Hvad motiverer dig til at fortsætte med at tage billeder?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Burde dine forældre have været mere eller mindre strikse?

—I think I received the best parenthood one could ever desire.

—Hvis du kunne gå tilbage i tiden, hvad ville du så gøre anderledes?

—Nothing. Where I am today is a result of the choices I made, I can only change the outcome by the decisions I make moving forward.

—Hvad med liv på andre planeter?

—Only God knows!

—Hvem er dine helte?

—Jesus for giving me life and enabling me to be a father and a husband and a better man than I would ever be without His love and mercy.

—Hvem har du ingen respekt for?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Hvad laver du i din fritid?

—Family time. I love spending time with my children and my wife.

—Hvilken side af dig viser du aldrig offentligt?

—Hmmm. I don't think I have anything that I don't mention. I'm a pretty open person.

—Hvornår er du helt tilfreds med dit arbejde?

—When I can see a moment, register it in a great light.

—Tror du på de traditionelle mande- og kvinderoller?

—Yes.

—Har du let ved at få nye venner?

—I do.

—Hvor vil du gerne bo?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Hvad er det dummeste, du nogensinde har indvilget i at gøre?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Er der liv efter ægteskabet?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Har du en yndlingsvittighed? Fortæl den til os.

—- Knock, Knock!
- Who's there?
- Nobody!
- Nobody who?
- ...

—Kan du lide hunde eller katte?

—Dogs.

—Hvem eller hvad hader du?

—Nothing really.

—Det bedste ved livet er:

—Spend time with the ones you love and care most.

—Det mest irriterende ved livet er:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Er der nogen ting rundt omkring, som du gerne vil ændre?

—Not really.

—Hvad vil du gerne ændre ved dig selv?

—I would love to be more handy when it comes to fixing up things at home :P

—Hvad vil du gerne ændre i verden?

—Gather all the rich and wealthy, and make an unbiased decision to change a country or a nation for the better. Implement better government and end poverty, one location at a time.

—Kan du give et par råd til de fotografer, som lige er startet?

—1) Focus on giving people a better experience than knowing "how to take photos". Being human is more important than being a "business person". Invest in yourself first, your personality and your character, then you can prepare for the business part.2) Study a lot, read, and be inspired by whats "not" photography related.

—Hvis nogle rumvæsner kom til jorden, og du var den første person, de mødte, hvad ville du så sige til dem?

—Before you take off – let's take a selfy...?

—Hvis du bliver spurgt, om du vil indspille en film, hvilken genre vil det så være?

—Drama.

—I morgen tager jeg ud og...

—Probably answer emails, prepare for a 2016 Wedding Convention presentation in Brasil and perhaps meet some event planners from recent weddings I've shot!