Photographer Ben Kelmer

—First and foremost – whom can you name as the best photographer in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel? :)

—I think one of the most interesting photographers in tel Aviv is Jen sladkov
jensladkov.com/

—Are you photogenic?

—Depend on when I wake up

—How did you get in the photography industry?

—Well, I was always into photography since high school, but 10 years ago I got a job as a photographer for an internet news website in Israel and from that point on things started to take off

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

—when I look at a photo I try to see real filings and real emotions, in my eyes, those are the thing that will get the viewers eyes the most

—Do you love traveling?

—Sure, and especially now when I have two kids its fantastic thing to travel with them and to have the ability to show them the world

—What do you like most about your profession?

—I think the chance I have in meeting new people almost every day is something that I will never get bored off

—What do you like least about your profession?

—all the logistic stuff (booking, meetings, accounting, etc..) let me shoot all day and I will be fine

—What will be the future of photography?

—These days when I'm answering this interview (Covid-19), we are having one of the most challenging times as photographers.
But I see more and more bookings for small family portraits; people want to remember and to have a visual memory of themself.

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

—I shoot people, and I don't describe my self, if it's with people and to document real situations, I'm in. I think that that's the unique thing about it, the ability to show people how that looks like and how they beehive with their own family.

—How do you handle criticism?

—It's part of the job, and you have to understand that not everyone is going to like what you do, and I think that's good. You want to distinguish yourself from other photographers, not to be like everyone else.

—Are there any trends in photography?

—Sure, like in any other industry, but try to avoid it, trends are for people that don't want to be creative if you're going to be unique, so don't copy-paste other people work

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

—I don't think there's one criterion, in the end, it comes to how people create when they see a photo of you, how it makes them feel.

—What things are to be avoided when shooting?

—in my opinion, I try not to tell people how to act and how to move when I photograph them, I want them to be themselves for them to resonate with the work I do

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

—The small thing that people don't pay attention to, let's say the groom forget to unzip one button, the photographer will notice it and will tell him to close it

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

—I think that in these days, its Donald Trump, unfortunately, but I think he represents the fact that people are looking for shortcuts in life and in business. And there's no shortcut, if you want to succeed you have to put in the work. I think people elected him cause that thought that in 4 years he will come and change everything and now we see that its not the case.

—Who do you want to take photos of?

—I would be happy to photograph the Queen of England. I already photograph her son and one grandson.

—Do you have any professional taboos?

—I was a photojournalist for almost seven years, and I shoot a lot of stuff that happened in my country even during challenging situations, but I would not photograph something that I would have thought that will cause the other person to fill like I misrepresent what really took place.

—Who would you like to shoot with?

—I would like to work with Magnum photographer Alex Webb

—What do you worry about, and why?

—I worry about the fact that there are more and more wedding photographers out there today that don't know how to price the work that they do and they are bringing the industry down

—What is the most impressive moment in your life?

—I think the birth of my children's :)

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

—Spiderman, for sure, to have the ability to reach places in the coolest way.

—Who inspires you in your life and why?

—I think that my father was an inspiration to me, he was a captain on container ships and he works hard, I think the working morality I got is from him.

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

—It changes every time, I think. now success for me is to see my children grow up and becoming the amazing people that they are ❤️

—Would you rather be liked or respected?

—respected for sure.

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

—only one? :) that's how we learn the best, one time, I doubled book a wedding, and I only noticed it a week before the wedding.

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

—Now I try to travel as light as I can. So I only take with me the FUJIX100F, which is small and great for traveling + the Yashica 635 with B&W film for the more artwork that I do.

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

—I bought a polaroid Fujifilm camera that I only used a few times and then I got bored with it

—How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

—I try (before covid19) to attend a workshop once a year, it doesn't have to be from a wedding photographer.
My all-time favorite workshop was in NYC with Alex Webb.

—Whose work has influenced you most as a photographer?

—Alex Webb is one of the greatest photographers, in my opinion. I also really like the work of Chris Hondros, that was one of the greatest war photographers in modern times.

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

—How to charge for my work

—What do you want to say with your photographs?

—I'm just trying to tell an authentic story.

—What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

—The feedback from my clients but also I just like it too much, it feels great every time I see that I have an exciting frame.

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

—I would have acted differently with the money I earned and invest it more carefully

—What do you do in your spare time?

—I love the sea, so I try to go swimming when I can or going on diving trips.

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

—I don't share a lot of my family, it's our moments.

—When are you completely satisfied with your work?

—Never :)

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

—No, in our house we are equal, we both have demanding jobs and the kids.
we try to be both of us with them and without the iPhone from 5-7 when its just family time

—Do you make friends easily?

—Yes, part of being a people photographer.

—Where would you like to live?

—I would like to live for one year in New Zealand, as a Hobbit fun, I think that's the perfect place for me.

—Is there life after marriage?

—Sure, it's just gets better over time

—Do you like dogs or cats?

—Dogs

—The best thing in life is:

—As you may have guessed i think that my time with my kids is the best thing I have

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

—A lot.

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

—Yes, understand that success is something that takes time, be patient in the long run, keep learning, and do every job the best you can, and the work plus success will follow.

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

—Want coffee?

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

—SCI-FI

—Tomorrow I will go and do...

—The same