Valokuvaaja Gina Stef

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—Yes I am, but only when i'm not posing.

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—I wanted to do something else with my photos, to bring more joy to happy couples.

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—It has to capture the moment. When the bride cries, when the groom laughs at her or when the people at the wedding just go crazy :)

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—Absolutely YES! We love meeting new and interesting couples and we're eager to take their photos in an unknown location. This is also a big challenge, to take improvised great photos of them in a place we've never been before.

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—Every wedding is a challenge and we love challenges! Meeting new people and "clicking" on their wedding ideas is great!

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—Sometimes it's the long hours of a wedding here in Romania that get to us, but after all if the newlyweds are still having fun at 2 a.m. in the morning, we'll hop in and have fun with them!

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—Nowadays if you don't know Photoshop you're like dead in the water. Photography won't change much, as opposed to the way we as photographers will present the final result to our clients.

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—Before any event we always have butterflies in our stomachs and that's a good thing, because it pushes us further. We love the rush of the events and the general happiness of the people attending the wedding.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—We try to prevent it, usually we under-promise and over-deliver. If by any chance our clients are not fully satisfied, we communicate on what's wrong and we try to correct that.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—The vintage, chabby-chic trends are on fire! And we love them, all the decors give a wedding a great feel!

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—On the initial meeting, they should analyze whether they "click" with the photographer. If you're not on the same mindset, then you might as well find another one.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—It all comes down to common-sense. A wedding photographer is not (or should not) seek the tabloid-like, outrageous pictures. He/she should always comply with the client's wishes and demands.

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

—It's that split-second facial expression on somebody's face, or some short event that nobody saw because they were focused on the bride and groom.

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—I think it's all about the "feel". No matter how you composed it, no matter how blurry it is.

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—It's difficult to assess, since social media is huge nowadays and everybody's a celebrity.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—We would like to shoot a tattooed open-minded rockers couple, in Moab, Utah :)

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—Yes, to never disappoint our clients!

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—It would be a dream to shoot with Sergey Ivanov, Sal Cincotta or Aaron Nace!

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—I always worry that we won't be able to satisfy all our clients' needs. But so far, so good.

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—Traveling through the U.S. and admiring the cities, the breweries, the landscapes and all the beautiful people!

—Jos olisit animoitu, kirjallisuus- tai elokuvahahmo, kuka olisit ja miksi?

—When I was little I looked like Betty Boop so...

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—I see inspiration all around, it's hard to pinpoint something.

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—I thing it's a sum of the opinions of the people who met you. If most of the opinions are great, you could consider yourself a successful person.

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—Both, of course!

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—I made only small mistakes :)

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—My husband, our cameras and leave behind everything else.

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

—Along the way there has been some trial and error, some gadgets failed and some we still have, but I guess we shouldn't have bought a Wii U console and a 2x extender.

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—Through inspiration on the web, brainstorming with friends and talks with clients.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—I wish Sergey Ivanov influenced me, but I couldn't rise to that level :)

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

—That "anything flies" if you have a story behind it.

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—People are beautiful!

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—The satisfaction of our clients and money, of course.

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

—At times I wanted them to be less of a pain, but it turns out that I turned out just fine!

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

—Listen to rock music earlier, read more and move to another city sooner.

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

—I can't wait to have an alien friend!

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

—Lebowski from "The Big Lebowski" film!

—Ketä et kunnioita?

—People who don't have any hobby, any taste in anything, any opinion of their own.

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—I love calligraphy and everything hand made, I try to do as much as I can, apart from editing photos.

—Mitä puolta yleisö ei koskaan näe sinussa?

—I'd have to kill you...

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

—Never!

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—I'm not a feminist, but no, I do not believe in these stereotypes.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

—I'd say that I do, but some would say that I keep to myself a lot. I only make friends with the people which inspire me and help me evolve, by having interesting argumentative conversations.

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—San Francisco, some 50 years ago.

—Mikä on typerin asia, johon olet koskaan suostunut?

—I have a problem with saying "no" to things. But I'm working on that.

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—Of course. If you don't make a child right away. Or never.

—Onko sinulla suosikkivitsiä? Kerro pois.

—It's a photographers' joke, of course:
So there's a dinner party. A photographer's talking to the host. She says to him: "Mr. Photographer, I love your work! You must have a great camera!" The photographer doesn't respond. But at the dinner table, after taking a bite, the photographer says to the host: "Oh, this food is delicious! You must have a terrific oven!"

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—Both, but mostly cats.

—Ketä tai mitä vihaat?

—Ignorance and arrogance together.

—Parasta elämässä on:

—Combining your hobby and your job.

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—Having a job and a hobby-job :)

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

—I would love it if the hobby would stay just hobby, not having to deal with contracts, invoices, bills to pay... This narrows the creativity, the whole "professional" side of photography.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa itsessäsi?

—I would like to learn to say NO and not bite more than I can chew.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

—If only money disappeared, people will start being people again.

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—Take lots of photos, then analyze them and develop your own style. And most importantly, never stop!

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

—Most surely they won't understand a word, but I'll beg them to share some wisdom here on Earth!

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

—Some moody drama

—Huomenna aion...

—some portraits, for sure!