Φωτογράφος Graziano Guerini

—Έχετε φωτογένεια;

—mmm...I don't think so :D

—Πώς ξεκίνησες να ασχολείσαι με τη φωτογραφία;

—Probably in the same way of most of us: a friend asked me to shoot his wedding, then, since I had already a big passion about photography, after I saw that I enjoyed a lot to capture real moments, I decided to follow that path (step by step).

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

—I think there is not an exact answer, everyone likes a photo because of many reasons, also personal reasons given by personal taste.
Personally, using of course a good technique, I aim to capture always the emotions, the real moments, that's what really matters in a perfect service in my opinion.
And in the Creative Sessions I aim to create beautiful photos, so I take care of the esthetique by following my personal sense of taste, but always trying to give some emotions to the viewers.
Also controlling lights and shadows is very important, often essential.

—Αγαπάτε τα ταξίδια;

—Yes, I love to see new places and to change the wedding locations too :) shooting weddings in different countries, with different traditions, it's very interesting.
But I travel also just for myself, obviously.

—Τι σας αρέσει περισσότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—What I said before, shooting weddings in different countries, with different traditions, it's very interesting, and we often work between Austria, Italy and Hungary, but not only.
And this job allows me to meet new people, of course, and this is also a beautiful side of being a wedding photographer.
And being able to give to these people memories they will be joyful to watch in the future, well, that makes me proud.

—Τι σας αρέσει λιγότερο στο επάγγελμά σας;

—Maybe the marketing part, it's a ton of work which is hidden to the eyes of most of the clients, and to be honest is not so great and fun like shooting photos :) but that's part of this job too, and must be done.
I also don't like the envy and malice that some photographers have of others colleagues, I think everyone should just think about giving his best, and caring only about to improve, continuously.

—Ποιο θα είναι το μέλλον της φωτογραφίας;

—I don't know.
Let's see, let's work at our best, and let's be ready for all the developments in this profession :)

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

—To me, being the direct witness of great emotions, and not only: I'm the one in charge to capture those moments, it's a big responsability, and a honour too.

—Πώς αντιμετωπίζετε την κριτική;

—It depends on how much competent is who criticize me :D jokes apart, I'm always studying, always trying new things, and always following photographers whose works I love, and I'm always ready to learn from them.
There is always to learn something new, and there is always someone who can teach me something.
So, I usually accept critics if well reasoned, or at least I reflect on them.

—Υπάρχουν τάσεις στη φωτογραφία;

—Trends are going and coming continuously, but beautiful photos always remain, forever, and that's what matters.
I don't really care about trends, even if I take a look at them. But yes, definitely there are trends, like in about everything else.

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

—I always say to people: "look my portfolio, also the full works, and if you feel something when you are watching my photos, then I'm the photographer you are looking for".
My photos will be the only memories of their best day, they must be absolutely sure that my style fits perfectly with their taste.

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

—The photographer must not become the protagonist of the scene, and he/she must always remember that it's not his/her wedding, but the bride and groom's wedding.
In few words, the photographer must not be intrusive.

—Ποιες λεπτομέρειες που συνήθως περνούν απαρατήρητες μπορεί να παρατηρήσει ένας φωτογράφος;

—A lot of details.
And as we know, details are what make the difference.

—Τι επηρεάζει την αξία της φωτογραφίας; Ποια στοιχεία;

—Again, details: the light, the composition, a natural smile, real tears, perfect moments, emotions.

—Ποιον θέλετε να φωτογραφήσετε;

—I don't have a specific answer, in every people there can be a cool subject.

—Έχετε επαγγελματικά ταμπού;

—In wedding photography probably not.

—Με ποιους σας αρέσει να τραβάτε φωτογραφίες;

—There are so many great colleagues, that it's hard to choose just one name.
Probably Ben Chrisman could be the name, and Daniele Vertelli too.

—Τι σας ανησυχεί και γιατί;

—I'm quite skeptical about the global politics of the last years, I think the world is not going in a good direction.

—Ποια ήταν η πιο εντυπωσιακή στιγμή στη ζωή σας;

—When I married my wife.

—Τι σας εμπνέει στη ζωή σας και γιατί;

—No one, honestly I never had models and I never needed models.

—Ποιος είναι ο ορισμός της επιτυχίας; Πώς μετριέται η επιτυχία;

—About my job, a good measure is when many couples suggest me to other friends, it means I did my job as I wanted, perfectly :)

—Είναι προτιμότερο να είστε αρεστός ή να σας σέβονται;

—First of all respected, then if I'm also liked...perfect :D

—Ποιο είναι το μεγαλύτερο σφάλμα που έχετε κάνει ποτέ στη δουλειά σας;

—Sometimes I'm so concentrated about the work, that I forget the grooms' names :D luckily there is always my wife next to me to remind me the names

—Όταν πρόκειται να ταξιδέψετε, τι παίρνετε μαζί σας και γιατί;

—A camera, to take photos of course :D
And a list of good and trustworthy places where to eat...I'm italian :D

—Σε σχέση με τον εξοπλισμό που σας ανήκει, υπάρχει κάτι που εύχεστε να μην το είχατε αγοράσει. Γιατί;

—Probably there are some things which are not essential, but I use everything, some things more often than others, but no "regrets".

—Πώς εκπαιδεύετε τον εαυτό σας για να μάθει να παίρνει καλύτερες φωτογραφίες;

—Mostly I follow the works of other colleagues whose style I love, and compare my works with theirs.
Also the contests in the various wedding photography associations I'm member of are a good way to measure your level.
But as a wedding photographer with a photojournalist approach, I follow also the works of the big names in photojournalism: McCurry, Koudelka, Salgado, Güler, Erwitt and so on...there is a lot to learn from them, that is very useful at weddings.

—Ποιανού δουλειά σας έχει επηρεάσει περισσότερο ως φωτογράφο;

—Who made me discover the beauty of wedding photography, I mean, an artistic type of wedding photography, where emotions are mixed to creativity and both are perfectly in balance to each others, it was Ben Chrisman.
When I saw his works for the first time, I was amazed (and I'm still nowadays, I always follow his new works), he showed me something I never saw before.
Then of course everyone has to follow his path, and has to create an own style.

—Τι εύχεστε να γνωρίζατε όταν ξεκινήσατε να τραβάτε φωτογραφίες;

—That there is so much "hidden work": marketing, emails, equipment cares and upgrades, etc...a lot of time for that :)

—Τι θέλετε να πείτε με τις φωτογραφίες σας;

—I want to show my point of view.
I always do what I like. And I like emotions, so I like to capture the emotions, and to show those photos to my couples: it's always great to see their happiness when they see it.

—Τι σας παρακινεί να συνεχίσετε να τραβάτε φωτογραφίες;

—The fact I can express my creativity, the fact that my work can make happy other people also after many years.

—Οι γονείς σας θα έπρεπε να είναι περισσότερο ή λιγότερο αυστηροί;

—They have been ok when I was small, even too gentle :)

—Εάν μπορούσατε να πάτε πίσω στο χρόνο, τι θα κάνετε διαφορετικά;

—Maybe I would have started before with photography.
But probably I wouldn't change nothing, there is always a reason why things happen in a specific way.

—Τι πιστεύετε για τη ζωή σε άλλους πλανήτες;

—Why not? The universe is so big, so there could be another similar planet between the other billions :)

—Ποιοι είναι οι ήρωες σας;

—As I said, no heroes.
People I admire yes, but no heroes.

—Για ποιον δεν έχετε καθόλου σεβασμό;

—For ignorant people pretending to know and judge the things they clearly don't know nothing about, and inside the photography world for photographers that are taking care more to do "blablabla" and talking behind back of other colleagues casting in a bad light the colleagues' works rather than caring about to improve the quality of their own works.
Unfortunately there are many doing so, especially on the social networks (but there are also great people too between my colleagues, thanks God! And I have to say that Mywed gave me the possibility to get in contact with many great colleagues and great people).
But the correct word I would use is "I don't like", and not "I have no respect".

—Τι κάνετε στον ελεύθερο χρόνο σας;

—I love cooking, I go running, mountain biking, fishing.

—Πότε είστε τελείως ικανοποιημένος με τη δουλειά σας;

—Probably I'm never completely satisfied, I'm quite critic with myself, so there is always something I would do to improve something later.

—Πιστεύετε στους παραδοσιακούς ρόλους για τους άνδρες και τις γυναίκες;

—No.

—Κάνετε εύκολα φίλους;

—I'm not so extroverse as not-italians usually expect from italians, but if I like a person I'm getting friendly quite soon :)

—Που θα θέλατε να ζήσετε;

—Now I'm not in Italy, the life took me somewhere else, but being close to it makes me feel ok :) I don't want to go far, Europe is good for me, especially the southern/central part :)

—Υπάρχει ζωή μετά το γάμο;

—It seems so :D

—Συμπαθείτε τα σκυλιά ή τις γάτες;

—Yes, I think I have a special attraction on them, they become my friends almost instantly :)

—Το καλύτερο πράγμα στη ζωή είναι:

—Life itself.

—Το πιο ενοχλητικό πράγμα στη ζωή είναι:

—Annoying people and know-it-all people.

—Υπάρχει κάτι γύρω σας που θα θέλατε να αλλάξετε;

—Well, winning the lottery would be nice :D but jokes apart, no, around me everything it's ok as it is :)

—Τι θα θέλατε να αλλάξετε στον κόσμο;

—Is this Miss Universe contest? :D
Do you know how many problems there are in the world? I should write an endless list.

—Μπορείτε να δώσετε μερικές συμβουλές για τους φωτογράφους που ξεκινάνε να φωτογραφίζουν;

—Watch, study and follow the works of the "big names".
Learn the technique and the "rules". Then, when you have the technique, you must experience, break also the rules, try, try, and try new things.
Never think that you "arrived", that you learned everything.
Develop your style. Use your ideas. Be yourself. And do what you like.

—Εάν έρθουν εξωγήινοι στη γη και είστε ο πρώτο άνθρωπος που συναντήσουν, τι θα τους πείτε;

—Probably they don't speak my language :D But I'm italian, just with my hands I can say everything :D

—Εάν σας ζητήσουν να γυρίσετε μια ταινία, τι είδους ταινία θα είναι;

—A commedy, or an action movie.

—Αύριο θα πάω και θα κάνω...

—..."the same thing we do every night Pinky...try to take over the world" :DDD