Valokuvaaja Joseph Requerme

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—I am not sure yet. I will have my own wedding in the coming months and we'll know if I am. Technically, yes because I direct my couple by doing the pose first.

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—I got into wedding industry by accident. I was invited to attend a wedding as a guest and I brought with me my 2 days old dslr camera and started taking pictures. To make the story short, the official photographer lost all his photos of the wedding and the couple made my photos as their official(even ordered an album) after 4 years of their wedding. That's where I was inspired to make more love-inspired photos.

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—For me, it is the emotion that is captured in frames. I always make sure that most of my photos are love-inspired. When emotion is in there, composition and post processing style will follow.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—Yes, in fact I am a destination wedding photographer based in Cebu City. I have been to different places in the Philippines and abroad.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—I love to feel and indulge myself into an emotional celebration like weddings and my favorite is the pictorial of the bride and his father, the dance with the father and the groom with his mom. Capturing those are heaven to me.

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—What I don't like is the sore in my feet the day after the wedding. I move a lot to make sure that everything is covered. But it also reminds me of a successful wedding coverage. No sore, meaning I did not do my best.

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—I think people will start to take photographers like me to unfamiliar and less shot locations and will incorporate adventure along the way.

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—The most special thing in wedding photography is the union of two souls. That's where I challenge my self, to get every inch of emotion and historic event in the frames.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—I have the best and worst critic in the world, my partner in life and she tells me the things that she don't like in the harshest way possible. Every time she do that, I will be hurt but I use that pain in my ego to improve. At the end of the day, I am glad that she made those criticism. Criticisms from people I don't know – I listen to them. Criticism from my clients – I am glad they are all satisfied and if there will be one, I will work my way to correct the problem.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—There are no trends for me. Every couple has its own way of making their wedding a memorable one and each shoot is unique. In fact, the more different the wedding is, the more unique it will become.

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—The couple should and must always like the photographic style of the photographer. No buts and ifs. If you like the work, go for it and tell the photographer. Rates should be the last thing that will hinder in booking a photographer.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—For me, the only thing that is not allowed is shooting beyond the cultural norms of every person. You got to respect it.

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

—It is the emotion. When people are emotional they forget about their looks and not aware of their surroundings. The photographers on the other hand, hold the tears or just smile behind the camera and capture those moments.

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—Its all about the subject, location and composition.

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—A person that can understand different cultures without any hesitation and manage to blend in.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—I love and want to shoot weddings and any life events.

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—I am glad that I don't have.

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—I like to shoot with Jasmine Star. There's a lot of things that I like about her shooting style.

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—I don't get worried that much in terms of shooting. I worry much when I got home and make the photos exist in different places (backup).

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—When I got hired by a Swiss magazine to make a portrait of a typhoon survivor. Eventually, they got married and I was their photographer. The story I told was amazing. The guy saved his queen after typhoon Yolanda and that was the most heart warming story I ever told.

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—My inspiration will always be my partner in life and the photos that I have not captured yet.

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—Success in not a destination, it is an ongoing process and cannot be measured. As long as you are happy, you can feel success.

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—Yes, as a human being but not like king.

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—Hiring a cheap 2nd shooter. They just don't get my style. When I started to hire right priced shooter, my output became more valuable.

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—I would take my editor(my partner). She is all in one, my inspiration, my critic, the stylist and can give tons of ideas when I ran out.

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

—Every piece that I have has its own use, I did not regret buying any of them.

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—By joining photography related clubs and forums. The different opinions gives me ideas on where to improve.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—Jasmine Star

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—I must say that my photographs are created and inspired with love.

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—The satisfied and happy clients.

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—I do fishing, watching movies and travelling. I love indulging to beach, nature and adventure.

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

—I don't get satisfied. There is always a margin of unsatisfaction but I make sure that the photos are well processed.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

—Yes, I always make sure that I make conversation and help people along the way.

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—I love my country and my answer is Philippines. If my clients want me to live in their place for a month then I'll go.

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—For me, Yes. But I should experience it first next year for me to say the whole thing.

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—I like both.

—Parasta elämässä on:

—The best thing in life is love.

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—The most annoying thing in life is disrespect.

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—Just get your hands dirty and shoot weddings regardless its price. The most important thing is experience. Don't listen to negative and destructive comments.