Fotograf Chris Loneragan

—Zuallererst - wen können Sie als besten Fotografen in Norwich, Vereinigtes Königreich nennen? :)

—There are some amazing wedding photographers in Sheffield catering to all styles and budgets, but the best wedding photographer is subjectively the one that clicks best with the wedding couple and works hard to tell the story of their day. I hope that could be me!

—Sind Sie fotogen?

—No! Like many of my clients I echo the statement, "We hate having our photo taken!" For me it is about achieving a relaxed natural look, and I can only do that by chatting and laughing with my clients before I take their photographs. Everyone is photogenic and everyone has a visual story to tell – if I can capture something hidden within you ("love" maybe) then I will have captured a great image for you to treasure.

—Wie sind sind zur Fotografiebranche gekommen?

—I have been a keen photographer since winning a competition at the age of 14. As a grown up I shot for stock agencies and for fun until a family member asked me to take some 'extra' photos at their wedding in addition to their professional wedding photographer. Mine were at least as good and well received as the professional's and so I struck out offering my services for free until I felt confident enough to tackle a wedding for money. Over 100 weddings later I have a strong and successful wedding photography business.

—Was macht Ihrer Meinung nach ein gutes Foto aus?

—Light, composition, natural moments, minimal posing, a story to tell.

—Reisen Sie gern?

—Yes. I have travelled all over the world.

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am meisten?

—I love the speed and quick thinking required when photographing a wedding. There is a massive sense of achievement in producing images that couples love without spending a huge amount of time, sometimes none at all, planning and executing them.

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am wenigsten?

—I hate selling, but it is a necessary evil of the business. I would rather just shoot weddings!

—Was ist die Zukunft der Fotografie?

—Pretty much the same as it is now. Technology will change, but it isn't the thing that makes wedding images.

—Was das Besondere an dem Fotografiegenre, auf das Sie sich spezialisiert haben?

—Interpersonal relationships with clients. A wedding photographer is a friend, a counsellor, an assistant, a go-between, and a photographer.

—Wie gehen Sie mit Kritik um?

—Professionally on the outside, badly on the inside. It depends what the criticism is though – anything deserved makes me stop and think, and change and grow where necessary.

—Gibt es irgendwelche Trends in der Fotografie?

—Yes, but you don't have to follow them!

—Was sollten die Kriterien für Kunden bei der Wahl eines Fotografen sein?

—The personality of the wedding photographer and whether or not they like their images. Always meet for a chat and ask to see real weddings – in my opinion you should steer clear of photographers that just show images from styled shoots or portfolio building workshops as the real skill is in producing images in the pressure situation of a real wedding.

—Was ist bei Fotoaufnahmen strikt verboten?

—I have witnessed other photographers being divas and shouting at or belittling wedding couples and their guests.

—Welche Details werden häufig übersehen, die ein Fotograf aber erkennt?

—Hidden hand holds, fleeting expressions, laughing children – too many to list. Details like rings and flowers are obvious and should be covered as a matter of course.

—Was beeinflusst den Wert eines Fotos? Welche Elemente sind wichtig?

—A truly valuable image tells a story. A great photo will do this with perfect composition, focus, exposure and subtle editing.

—Was würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—I love shooting everybody.

—Gibt es für Sie in Ihrem Beruf Tabus?

—No.

—Mit welcher Ausrüstung würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—Annie Liebowitz.

—Was war der eindrucksvollste Moment in Ihrem Leben?

—The birth of my daughter.

—Wer inspiriert Sie in Ihrem Leben und warum?

—My wife is my art critic and muse.

—Wie definieren Sie Erfolg? Wie messen Sie ihn?

—Happy clients.

—Gefällt es Ihnen mehr, wenn man Sie mag oder wenn Sie respektiert werden?

—Respected.

—Wie bilden Sie sich weiter, damit Ihre Bilder noch besser werden?

—Constant practice and collaborative critique.