Photographer Fede Guendel

—Are you photogenic?

—Good one! Ana and I often get asked by other photographers from all over the world to pose for them for their portfolios in Paris. Not sure if that means that we are photogenic, we are just different and that is always fun to photograph.

—How did you get in the photography industry?

—My wife has had a wedding photography business in Austria before we even met and I was working in fashion photography. Once we tied the knot and moved to Paris it was just a natural thing for me to join forces with her and now we work as a tandem. Every single photo we deliver gets shot by either of us, color corrected by Ana and then skin retouched by me to the fashion photography standard.

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

—As an avid cinema lover I'm fascinated with capturing emotion in a cinematographic way. The true connection read in the photograph in one frozen in time moment for me is what makes a good photograph. It has to tell a story and reflect the character of people in it. If it we up to me I wouldn't care for the backdrop, but working in Paris it's a fine line between architecture vs the couple in it. Still discovering my way to tell the best narrative while also focussing on the backdrop to it.

—Do you love traveling?

—Yes! Being from Costa Rica I have lived in Sweden, Canada, the US, Austria and now France, my wife is Russian and she lived in Italy, Germany and Austria before we met. In between the two of us we speak 6 languages, so traveling is a way of live for us and we enjoy it immensely.

—What do you like most about your profession?

—That's an easy one – making people happy!

—What do you like least about your profession?

—Time! The reality of the fact that time is a finite resource and catering mostly to travellers we often have to say no to a couple who otherwise would be a perfect fit because another perfect fit has already booked their date. I think saying no in general is the hardest thing for me as a wedding professional!

—What will be the future of photography?

—In the past wedding photography has been a narrow field but now with the advancement of technology and wider variety of choices there are so many paths to develop. Film photography has made a big and luxurious comeback. Social media and search engine optimisation have made it more difficult to shine with just the photos and make us work that much harder on being great marketers too. What my hope is that in the sea of voices and choices it would still be possible for each bride to connect with her perfect storyteller of a photographer, but how only future will show.

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

—A wedding is a special moment for me when a couple come together in a celebration of what makes them different, defines their choices as individuals and shows all the points two people connect and blend in their unique way. Capturing all the little details and emotions of what makes that couple different from any other couple is what makes wedding photography as epitome of a lovestory magical for me.

—How do you handle criticism?

—To quote a comedian "I was raised up to be an insult navy seal" – nothing gets under my skin. I don't mind any opinion and I will always try to get constructive criticism from it.

—Are there any trends in photography?

—My favorite two are the return of film photography and the return of the vintage film looks driven by the creations of VSCO and MastinLabs.

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

—The very first one – can they see themselves as the people in the photos in the portfolio of this photographer. Second, when they talk to the photographer can they see him/her as potentially being one of their group of friends. This defines whether they like what the photographer has to offer skill-wise and whether the chemistry to capture that is present.

—What things are to be avoided when shooting?

—It's a totally situational question – as a wedding photographer I pretty much need to be there and capture what unfolds and not be too intrusive. Not allowed is probably just asking me to hold my camera and play with it LOL.

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

—Details! Hands holding during the ceremony, mom crying during the vows, the flower girl staring at the bride with an open mouth – those kind of details. During the wedding the guests are so focused on the couple, that what unfolds around them often goes unnoticed to their eyes.

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

—The emotion, the composition, the location – in that order! Yes, the location doesn't matter as much as catching a cinematic and real emotion.

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

—In a society as diverse as ours I can't name one particular person because that would be too restrictive. I would rather point out a modern day nomad, a boho bride, a Kinkfolk reader – that's the symbol of going back to our roots, appreciating simple and healthy way of life and of love.

—Who do you want to take photos of?

—My client. The couple who choose me for my style and my personality and who I feel like they fit well with me.

—Do you have any professional taboos?

—Yes, client poaching. There are plenty of clients for all of us.

—Who would you like to shoot with?

—I'm a happy man, as I'm already shooting with my perfect partner.

—What do you worry about, and why?

—The answer is always – time. There is too little of it and always too much to do.

—What is the most impressive moment in your life?

—Getting a callback for a job interview in the team of Rankin, who is one of my fashion photography idols.

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

—Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is a metaphorical letter from him to his daughter. In the movie, McConaughey's character Cooper goes through time and space to save his daughter as well as keeping the promise he made to her.
I'd like to believe that I would be Cooper – go through time and space for my family and keep my promise.

—Who inspires you in your life and why?

—Bruce Lee, because he had a really inspirational world view.

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

—Success for me is not having unhappy clients. As long as it's down I now that I'm doing something right.

—Would you rather be liked or respected?

—Respected.

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

—Forgetting the name of the bride's mom. Embarrassing!

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

—Passport, medicine kit, camera gear, change of clothes. I'm simple this way.

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

—Nope.

—How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

—Look, look, and look. Wedding blogs and favorite photographers help me to identify what I gravitate towards the most.

—Whose work has influenced you most as a photographer?

—My wife and Ivan Troyanovsky. As they are friends it's really – being a part of that creative group that puts cinematography first.

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

—That answering emails and managing business is taking up more time than the actual picture taking. Having been prepared for that I would have an easier road.

—What do you want to say with your photographs?

—For me it's not what I want to say but what I want the captured moment to say – I want my photo to end up on the wall in my couple's house and for them to tell their grandchildren all the stories about their wedding day when they ask.

—What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

—My wife – seeing her passion for it and being able to be alongside her in our life and our work. There is no other thing I'd rather be doing.

—Should your parents have been more or less strict?

—I wasn't really raised by a full family, rather my life has taught me and I wouldn't change a thing.

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

—So far so good.

—What about life on other planets?

—Sure :)

—Who are your heroes?

—Bruce Lee, Valentino Rossi, my wife.