Photographer Ciprian Vladut

—Are you photogenic?

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

—How did you get in the photography industry?

—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 :)

—What are the most important components of a good photo in your opinion?

—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.

—Do you love traveling?

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

—What do you like most about your profession?

—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.

—What do you like least about your profession?

—Having too much to edit.

—What will be the future of photography?

—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.

—What is special in the photography genre you specialise at?

—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?

—How do you handle criticism?

—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

—Are there any trends in photography?

—Of course there are, but these come and go, the important thing is to never let go of who you are and follow your own way. If you have your style, there will probably come a moment when it will be trending, but when it's gone it doesn't mean you have to go with the flow. Out there, there will always be people who will appreciate you, your work, your style and your way of being.

—What should be the criteria for a customer to choose a photographer?

—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.

—What things are to be avoided when shooting?

—Getting in front of the photographer.

—What details that usually pass unnoticed can a photographer notice?

—The wedding photographer sees the extraordinary where other people see normality. It's not about things, it's about the ”vision” he/she has and the ability to transfer this vision into reality.

—What influences the value of a photo? What are its elements?

—Composition, light, placement of subject, vision, editing. Generally speaking, a photographer must be three things: a good shooter (if you don't do it right straight out of the camera, it will be hell afterwards), a good selector (choosing the photos that remain it's not an easy task) and a good editor (I know some of us prefer the ”raw” images – I consider that editing can be a form of art, the same as creating the image with the camera).

—What person can be the symbol of the 21st century in your opinion?

—I have no idea, you should ask me the same in 2115 :))

—Who do you want to take photos of?

—Led Zeppelin and U2 in concert.

—Do you have any professional taboos?

—No, not really.

—Who would you like to shoot with?

—Sebastiao Salgado, then David LaChapelle or Erwin Olaf. And I'd like to see Marius Bărbulerscu or Adina Dumitrescu at work :D

—What do you worry about, and why?

—Not being able to deliver photos on time, I'm always busy shooting.

—What is the most impressive moment in your life?

—I think that moment is still to come.

—If you were a cartoon, book or movie character, who would you be and why?

—Dorian Grey, I like the idea of being able to stay forever young. But keeping my personality :P

—Who inspires you in your life and why?

—The people in general and the places I visit. The diversity of people and the situations we meet in a lifetime are infinite and life is too short to be able to register them all.

—How do you define success? How do you measure it?

—Success is when you feel accomplished, when you're happy with your work and with your family. Success is measured inside one's mind, not on the outside. Can we measure happiness?

—Would you rather be liked or respected?

—Respected, since Facebook arrived likes can be deceiving.

—What is the biggest mistake you have ever made at work?

—Going to shoot someone's portrait and leaving all my cards at home.

—When you're going to travel, what do you take with you and why?

—The normal luggage and my photo bag, along with some filters and my tripod. Struggling hard to make it easier to carry. Why? Because I like to be prepared for any situation I meet.

—Is there anything among your gadgets that you wish you haven't bought? Why?

—No, not a single thing, I still use everything I own, depending on the situation.

—How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

—By practicing all the time, either shooting, choosing pictures or editing. That's how you discover new angles, that's how you start to ”see” things in a certain order. One day I was surprised to discover that, while marching on the street, I was involuntarily framing everything I saw, even though my mind was completely elsewhere. Probably that's when you may consider yourself a photographer :))

—Whose work has influenced you most as a photographer?

—As I am 95% self thought, I cannot say there's one particular wedding photographer that influenced me. When time allows me I take a look at the work of other photographers, but mostly I try and work with things I find in the places I go and see them with my ”creative” eye. A big change for me came when I started working with fixed and wide aperture lenses.

—What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

—That it's not wise to make loans when you want to buy photo gear. But I know I couldn't have done it otherwise.

—What do you want to say with your photographs?

—I try to tell the story of that special day, the story of that beautiful couple and the people surrounding them in order that, when you look at the pictures, you may re-live the feelings and emotions that you felt on place. Or, if you weren't there, to make you feel as if... I try to build memories that last, I consider that the value of the wedding pictures increases with time.

—What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

—The fact that I know I can reinvent myself for each wedding, meeting new people every week and giving myself new challenges all the time.

—Should your parents have been more or less strict?

—They've tried to be more strict, but I didn't let them. If I would have, I wouldn't be a photographer nowadays. My special thanks go to my mom, who stood beside me when all others didn't.

—If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

—I would try to be more organized and kill the laziness in me.

—What about life on other planets?

—Since we can't even imagine how big the Universe is, there's not one single chance that we're alone... there's life out there, we'll probably be allowed to go find it when we'll stop killing each other.

—Who are your heroes?

—The people that do good anonymously.

—Who do you have no respect for?

—Cheaters.

—What do you do in your spare time?

—There's not much time to spare, but when I have it I do some biking, trekking and traveling. Occasionally fishing.

—What's the side of you that the public never sees?

—The tons of pictures on my hard drives and the huge amount of time spent in front of my computer, editing.

—When are you completely satisfied with your work?

—Never. Comfort and self appreciation are our biggest enemy.

—Do you believe in the traditional roles for men and women?

—If you're asking about the man providing the goods and the woman raising children and cooking, definitely no. We're not living those times anymore.

—Do you make friends easily?

—Yes.

—Where would you like to live?

—On the road, traveling most of the time. Eight months/year would be perfect.

—What's the stupidest thing you've ever agreed to do?

—Moving in with the wrong person.

—Is there life after marriage?

—Of course there is, if three vectors are met: respect, admiration and dialogue. Real love comes with time and is nurtured by the vectors mentioned before.

—Do you have a favourite joke? Tell us.

—I have many favorite jokes, let's stick on one about photography:A mathematician enters a photo lab and says:
- I'd like to print a few photographs from my holiday.
- 9x13? – asks the man in charge.
- 117, why do you ask?

—Do you like dogs or cats?

—I like both.

—Who or what do you hate?

—Hate is a strong word, let's use dislike. People that disappoint. I know that sometimes I disappoint, too, so there are moments when I dislike myself.

—The best thing in life is:

—Freedom.

—The most annoying thing in life is:

—Not having the time to do all things you'd like to.

—Is there anything around you that you would like to change?

—Yes, the political class in my country.

—What would you like to change in yourself?

—Eliminate procrastinating.

—What would you like to change in the world?

—Eliminate inequity and inequalities worldwide. There are plenty of resources for all of us to be able to live decent lives, without war or starvation. All human being should have access to education and a chance to a better life.

—Can you give a few tips for photographers who are just starting out?

—Take each step one at a time and grow steadily. I know the impulse is to go big right away, but you'll discover, as we all did, that experience and vision come with time. Try and discover things your own way, go ask only about the things you feel are keeping you down or cannot explain on your own. Practice every day, shoot as much as possible and edit a lot. Don't let anything get in your way, believe in yourself even when others don't.

—If aliens come to the Earth and you are the first person they meet, what will you tell them?

—”Welcome! I knew you were real... when do you get married?”

—If you are called to shoot a movie, what genre will it be?

—Fantasy.

—Tomorrow I will go and do...

—... a corporate event in Sinaia.