Valokuvaaja Graziano Guerini

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—mmm...I don't think so :D

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—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).

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—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.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—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.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—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.

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—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.

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—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 :)

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—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.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—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.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—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.

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—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.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—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.

—Mitkä yksityiskohdat, jotka yleensä jäävät huomaamatta, valokuvaaja voi tallettaa?

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

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

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

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

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

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—In wedding photography probably not.

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—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.

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

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

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—When I married my wife.

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

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

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—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 :)

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

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

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—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

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

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

—Oletko koskaan toivonut, ettet olisi ostanut jotain omistamistasi vempaimista? Miksi?

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

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—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.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—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.

—Minkä yhden asian olisit toivonut tietäväsi, kun aloitit kuvaamisen?

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

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—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.

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

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

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

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

—Jos voisit palata ajassa taaksepäin, mitä tekisit eri tavalla?

—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.

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

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

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

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

—Ketä et kunnioita?

—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".

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

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

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

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

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—No.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

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

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—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 :)

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—It seems so :D

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

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

—Parasta elämässä on:

—Life itself.

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—Annoying people and know-it-all people.

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

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

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

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

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—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.

—Jos Maahan saapuisi avaruusolioita ja he näkisivät sinut ensimmäisenä, mitä sanoisit heille?

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

—Jos sinut kutsuttaisiin kuvaamaan elokuvaa, mitä tyylilajia se edustaisi?

—A commedy, or an action movie.

—Huomenna aion...

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