—Ποιανού δουλειά σας έχει επηρεάσει περισσότερο ως φωτογράφο;

—Susan Stripling.

—Πώς ξεκίνησες να ασχολείσαι με τη φωτογραφία;

—In 2004 I got a digital camera for Christmas, back when digital cameras weren't attached to every device. I was facinated with how you could freeze time, and then view the past later. I couldn't set it down. A few years later I shot my first wedding, fell in love with it and 10 years later have shot over 200.

—Έχετε φωτογένεια;

—Sometimes... If I've gotten enough sleep and have a glass of wine or two

—Ποια είναι τα πιο σημαντικά στοιχεία μιας καλής φωτογραφίας κατά τη γνώμη σας;

—A moment. For sure. If it doesn't have this it's not worth remembering. After that, certainly lighting and composition go a long way.

—Σας αρέσει να ταξιδεύετε;

—Absolutely. We have traveled all over the world taking photos!

—Τι σας αρέσει περισσότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—I love that every weekend I get to be a huge part of someone's "most important day of their life."

—Τι σας αρέσει λιγότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—Crazy church ladies that force me to shoot from 100 feet away in the balcony during the ceremony.

—Πώς αντιμετωπίζετε την κριτική;

—I love it. As long as it is constructive it is one of the biggest gifts you can give to me.

—Ποιο θα είναι το μέλλον της φωτογραφίας;

—More and more instant gratification. A one month turn around average for a wedding will turn into a day.

—Τι σας ανησυχεί και γιατί;

—I've found that the energy I've wasted in the past on worrying about things was better spent on just doing what I was supposed anyway. No regrets. No fear.

—Τι το ιδιαίτερο υπάρχει στο φωτογραφικό είδος στο οποίο εξειδικεύεσαι;

—The father of the bride that has never cried in public before. The look on the groom's face when he sees his bride for the first time. The uncle that doesn't normally drink is dancing up a storm on the dance floor.

—Με ποια κριτήρια θα πρέπει ένας πελάτης να επιλέγει φωτογράφο;

—First of all, it's important that the bride and groom identify themselves with the photographer and his work, the choice should be made by whether they consider he is the one who's worth recording their lifetime memories. Then, they should absolutely watch an entire wedding shot by the one they chose. I like being approached by future weds who know a thing or two about photography and who got their mind set on what they really want.

—Πώς ξεκίνησες να ασχολείσαι με τη φωτογραφία;

—I started taking pictures in 2000 and shooting weddings in 2008. At first, I didn't want to do weddings, I thought it would diminish my work. But I started anyway and found the most challenging environment, I discovered that no matter what type of photography you do, you can always reinvent yourself and find new ways to tell a story. Especially when you meet extraordinary people all the time :)

—Έχετε φωτογένεια;

—I consider I ain't, but it so happens that on occasion some other photographer catches the good/bright sight of me.

—Ποια είναι τα πιο σημαντικά στοιχεία μιας καλής φωτογραφίας κατά τη γνώμη σας;

—First & foremost, the people involved and their mood (if you're shooting people), then the light (I began ”seeing” the light after years of shooting) and the decisive moment. I don't agree that the quality of a photograph is not important, but it indeed comes in second after the feelings it produces.

—Σας αρέσει να ταξιδεύετε;

—So much that if it would be possible I would be traveling all the time.

—Τι σας αρέσει περισσότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—The diversity – today I'm shooting a wedding, tomorrow a baptism, after tomorrow a concert, then a family portrait, a corporate event or some landscape. It's what keeps me connected all the time.

—Τι σας αρέσει λιγότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—Having too much to edit.

—Πώς αντιμετωπίζετε την κριτική;

—I'm all in for constructive criticism, don't like destructive one. That's why we're here on My Wed, right? To constantly learn from other photographers and document ourselves about where we are as wedding photographers. I, for one, would like to hear more criticism about my work and where to improve. Here's an idea: you could implement a section where each photographer could post one photo/week for critique :D

—Ποια πράγματα δεν επιτρέπονται σε καμία περίπτωση κατά τη φωτογράφηση;

—Getting in front of the photographer.

—Ποιο θα είναι το μέλλον της φωτογραφίας;

—I think it is constantly evolving and that we'll always see changes for the good. We'll always have trends that come and go, the important thing is to know who you are and do what you really like, not necessarily follow the hype.

—Τι το ιδιαίτερο υπάρχει στο φωτογραφικό είδος στο οποίο εξειδικεύεσαι;

—Oh, everything about it is special. I must admit I suffer when someone refers to it as a banality, thinking that ”real artists” don't do wedding photos. Special is meeting new people, seeing new places or facing new challenges. Besides war photography, I find it the most challenging type, you get to meet all kinds of situations during one day: different light every minute, you get to shoot outdoors and indoors, in plain sun or in the shadow of a tree/building, inside a cave or on a mountain top etc. etc. Need I say more?

—Πρώτον και κύριον – ποιόν μπορείτε να ονομάσετε ως τον καλύτερο φωτογράφο στην πόλη σας; :)

—I think that we all want to say ourselves but really the best wedding photographer is the one the best fits the style of what the bride and groom are looking for. But as far as artistic, creative, documentary wedding photography, it's got to be me ;)

—Με ποια κριτήρια θα πρέπει ένας πελάτης να επιλέγει φωτογράφο;

—Stay away from Pinterest and keep it real. Real is always better. Make sure they do research and spend the money. This is the ONE area you don't what to skimp out on. If the bride and groom set a budget and it turns out that wedding photographers cost more, well than it's time to change the budget as well. Don't try to work with it. Make sure you see at least 2 full weddings. Photographers only want to show you their best.

—Πώς ξεκίνησες να ασχολείσαι με τη φωτογραφία;

—It looked like a lot of fun! I wanted to approach it differently than your "traditional" wedding photographer. It really paid off :)

—Έχετε φωτογένεια;

—It depends on who's taking them.

—Ποια είναι τα πιο σημαντικά στοιχεία μιας καλής φωτογραφίας κατά τη γνώμη σας;

—Moment, Light and Composition.

—Σας αρέσει να ταξιδεύετε;

—I love it!

—Τι σας αρέσει περισσότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—Trying to make a picture. It's a challenge that is highly rewarding.

—Τι σας αρέσει λιγότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—I am very hard on myself and by far my worst critic. But it's this that keeps me pushing, improving my eye and making better photographs.

—Πώς αντιμετωπίζετε την κριτική;

—I like it. As long as it's coming from the right people/places.

—Ποιο θα είναι το μέλλον της φωτογραφίας;

—Hopefully more documentary and true to life. There are a lot of clichés that are so unnecessary.

—Ποια πράγματα δεν επιτρέπονται σε καμία περίπτωση κατά τη φωτογράφηση;

—Ruining moments to make something cheesy.