Photographer Emilio Navas

—Are you photogenic?

—Everybody could be depending of the photo.

—How did you get in the photography industry?

—I like make photos since I was a kid. As I love travel I started to work as travel photographer. With the time I discover that more than the places I am good capturing the people there. I started to make social photography, family and fashion works. Finally I discovered in the wedding field the perfect balance to make my best of all the things learned during years.

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

—A lot of things counts but I suppose that the most important is the story behind the photo. Composition and perfect light is needed but the feeling is a must.

—Do you love traveling?

—Of course!! Our studio runs between Hong Kong and Spain but we are lucky to travel to many other incredible places because our job.

—What do you like most about your profession?

—Meet incredible people in one of the most important day of their life. Capture all the feeling of this moment and keep for the future have some magic.

—What do you like least about your profession?

—I love my job in general but as we need to be to manage a lot of things not all are so cool. Finances, marketing and other backoffice tasks could be tedious sometimes.

—What will be the future of photography?

—Wedding photography are changing and improving fast and this is good news. But I think that in other hand always will happen wonderful stories and someone will have the task to tell and capture this stories for the future.

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

—As I told before, wedding photography talks about love and happiness. Is the most personal field of photography that I can imagine.

—How do you handle criticism?

—Usually I am very positive about this. Critiques must be a way to learn, grow up and be better photographer. Everybody wants to listen good things about their jobs and as artist sometimes we are a little bit sensitive with bad critics... :-p

—Are there any trends in photography?

—Wedding photography have a huge amount of possibilities. There isn't just a trend. With the years I saw a lot of different tendencies. This changes also depending the country. Vintage style, only back and white pictures, Photojournalist...
I try to have my own style and don't follow to much what other people do. As told before the important is tell the story. Is the only way to make pictures that never will be old fashion in the future.

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

—I understand that each one have a budget and this could be a key point to choose one or other photographer but in my opinion this will never be the main point.
Each photographer have different vision so the first point must be choose the style you like after see several kinds.
I think is important too at least have a call or better and interview with the photographer and check if you "connect" with him. The photographer will spend long time with you during your big day and as this is about feelings I think is important have good feeling with the photographer.

—What things are to be avoided when shooting?

—Everything is allowed!!! This is the funniest thing about wedding photography. This make each photography unique.

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

—First of all we have the experience and the technique needed after make thousand of wedding pictures. We are professional and we have the gear that an amateur will not have. And the most important of all the real wedding photographer as an artist have unique way to watch behind the lens and capture the things happen in his own way.

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

—Feeling, composition, good light, good technique and something interesting to tell.

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

—Not sure...

—Who do you want to shoot?

—In general funny people that love photography.

—Do you have any professional taboos?

—No as far I know.

—Who would you like to shoot with?

—With you! :-D

—What do you worry about, and why?

—A lot of injustice in the world. We are a small world with a lot of problems. Is a shame that somethings still happen in the XXI century.

—What is the most impressive moment in your life?

—Could sound too much sticky but the day that I saw the first time to my wife and I know that she will be the woman of my life.

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

—Wall-e :-p

—Who inspires you in your life and why?

—The small things that make life unique. I watch films all the time to grow up my inspiration.

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

—Each people need to find the measure... To me, Happiness, healthy and with someone to love and be loved. Of course enough money to live and travel!

—Would you rather be liked or respected?

—I think both in the same way.

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

—At the beginning some technicals fails for sure. Long time ago I was too shy to do the things to make the photography that I had in my mind. This is a big mistake, shy can't be a stopper for creativity.

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

—My camera, of course!!

—Is there anything that you wish you hadn't bought among the gadgets that you own? Why?

—A lot of times!!
You see a new lens, camera body or light that looks game changer. Run to try and then discover that less is more and the difference are not always in the gear but in the way to use.

—How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

—Watching a lot of films. Attending at least 3 or 4 workshops of other photographers that I like. The most useful is practice, practice and practice. Lets fly your imagination and try to innovate is a good way to improve and move your photography to the way you want.

—Whose work has influenced you most as a photographer?

—Several photographers. I learned more working with colleagues than checking their pictures. Say only one is not fair.

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

—How to be less nervous and control the stress in the wedding day. At the beginning is difficult to do! Lucky that this changes fast when you have some experience.

—What do you want to say with your photographs?

—Tell the story behind the image.

—What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

—I love my work. Is artistic, give me the possibility to travel and meet great people.

—Should your parents have been more or less strict?

—I am ok on the way the were. (And they are)

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

—Maybe a lot of small things but the wrong ones made me learn so I think I don't want to change anything.

—What about life on other planets?

—Are you serious? Strange interview... lol
I suppose is possible but I don't think I will see in my life.

—Who are your heroes?

—People that fight everyday to make a world better.

—Who do you have no respect for?

—Liers and bad people. Usually respect people that don't respect me is not easy to me but I do my best.

—What do you do in your spare time?

—Travel.

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

—I think I am very transparent. I don't hide big things.

—When are you completely satisfied with your work?

—No. This is a long way with big space to improve with ache photography I take. I am very satisface when I check old works and I see how with hard work, patience and practice my photos are better.

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

—What is this? :-p

—Do you make friends easily?

—I am friendly guy. Usually I haven't any problem to meet new people.

—Where would you like to live?

—Living in Hong Kong but traveling a several times per year to Spain is a perfect mix to me. Discover new places is very important to me so travel is a must.

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

—About photography... perhaps be a detective and make secret pictures to a man because his wife contract me to do. this happened long time ago. Lucky that I don't need to get this time of jobs now.

—Is there life after marriage?

—I will get married in a few months so I hope!!!
I think a new and exciting life starts with the marriage. Be a team to make projects together. Sound cool.

—Do you have a favorite joke? Tell us.

—Maybe not appropriate to write here... :-D

—Do you like dogs or cats?

—Yes, Zoe, my cat is wonderful.

—Who or what do you hate?

—Really nobody. I try to run away of this feeling that don't give to me anything good.

—The best thing in life is:

—Discover new and nice things everyday. Kelly, my love and my family.

—The most annoying thing in life is:

—Don't have time for all the things!

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

—A lot of small things.

—What would you like to change in yourself?

—Nothing but improve in the good things.

—What would you like to change in the world?

—Is a topic, but I wish peace, freedom and food for everybody in the world.

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

—Work hard, be patience and practice all the time.

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

—Let me go with you! I am boring here alone!

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

—Noir cinema or a big super production.

—Tomorrow I will go and do...

—I am in the middle of the wedding season so now I need to edit a lot of pictures.