Valokuvaaja Verity Sansom

—Oletko valokuvauksellinen?

—In who's opinion? Haha

—Miten päädyit valokuvausalalle?

—Chris and I met in our 3rd year of University and fell in love over our love of photography. We used to go on days out with our film cameras and wanted to make it our life. Chris asked me to join him in wedding photography and after our first wedding together we never looked back.

—Mikä on sinusta tärkeintä hyvässä kuvassa?

—Good light, movement and emotion. Sometimes only one of these is necessary to make a good photograph but these are the 3 main things I look out for.

—Tykkäätkö matkustamisesta?

—Yes! As a family when I was younger we were lucky enough to do a lot of travelling. I loved the long drives up to Scotland and had my eyes glued to the window to watch the scenery go by. I love exploring new countries too, America has so much to offer and are excited to be heading back there next year. Wether it's only a 2 hour drive or a night on a plane it's the excitement of somewhere new and new locations to take photographs of!

—Mistä pidät eniten ammatissasi?

—Everything! After over 220 weddings Chris and I couldn't wish to be doing anything else. Having got married ourselves we know how important those photographs are, it's such an amazing pleasure to give couples memories that they can treasure for generations. There are so many aspects to wedding photography, you have to be good at low light situations, details, portraits, landscapes, couple shots, posing, and most of all, all on a tight time limit! Not any other job has all these aspects and I guess that's what I thrive on, trying to make sure I get the best possible outcome to all those situations at every single wedding and going to each one not knowing what to expect. It's also the amazing feedback we get from our couples, they are the reason we do what we do and when you get an amazing letter or e-mail it really does make your day. Being able to do all of that and work hard to achieve our dreams with my husband by my side 24/7 is just the icing on the cake!

—Mistä pidät vähiten ammatissasi?

—I think it's cliche to say there is nothing that I dislike about our job but it's pretty hard to think of anything! I guess it would be the fact that there is still so much rivalry between photographs which gets in the way of what truly matters. We all are privileged to do such an important and amazing job and I guess it would be great if everyone put their ego's to one side!

—Mikä on valokuvauksen tulevaisuus?

—No idea really, probably having 10 photographers at once or something!

—Mikä on sille valokuvauslajille erityistä, johon olet erikoistunut?

—The unique way every photographer sees a moment differently.

—Kuinka suhtaudut kritiikkiin?

—As best as I can, I always make sure that when ever it happens to do everything in my power to correct and understand the situation.

—Onko valokuvauksessa trendejä?

—There will always be trends in wedding photography, and I have always made sure to stay away from them all! I've always believed that spending too long looking into other photographers work or wedding trends will confuse and change your own vision.

—Minkä kriteerien perusteella asiakkaan pitäisi valita valokuvaaja?

—That they fit in with their day, if they want a relaxed, chilled wedding then find a photographer that will shoot to suit their day and spend hours setting up shots.
I think one of the most important things is that you get along, we are such a large part of the day, to us the relationship between us and the couple is the most important thing.

—Mikä on ehdottomasti kiellettyä kuvauksessa?

—Overstepping the mark in the ceremony. Everyone's heard those stories of photographers knocking over the registrar or annoying the vicar and it's really not worth it. There are so many angles to look for that disrupting the ceremony for a shot is simply not acceptable!

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

—The things going on in the background, at the same time when I have my eye on the couple I always have my eye on what's going on around me!

—Mikä vaikuttaa kuvan arvoon? Mikä kuvissa on tärkeintä?

—If you've managed to capture the atmosphere of the moment, with emotion and from a perspective that makes you feel imersed in the moment.

—Kuka on sinun mielestäsi 2000-vuosisadan symboli?

—Obama.

—Ketä haluaisit kuvata?

—Anyone!

—Onko sinulla ammatillisia tabuja?

—Nope!

—Kenen kanssa haluaisit kuvata?

—Erika and Lanny Mann would be awesome! I've always loved Jonas Peterson so I would have to say him too.

—Mistä huolehdit ja miksi?

—I try hard not to worry as worrying doesn't change the outcome to anything!

—Mikä on ollut elämäsi vaikuttavin hetki?

—Marrying Chris.

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

—Pikachu, because it's cute and crazy! (this is what Chris said when I asked him!)

—Kuka sinua on inspiroinut elämässäsi ja miksi?

—My parents. My dad has always been a wildlife artist and my mum is an amazing writer. Since I was a child they've always worked so hard to make sure me and my sister had the best childhood. They believe so much in their work and don't compromise it for anything. They never give up and always follow their dreams. They are the most hard-working, loving people in the world.

—Miten ja millä perusteella määrittelisit menestyksen?

—Having a happy family, friends, pets and a home.

—Haluaisitko olla mieluummin tykätty vai kunnioitettu?

—Respected

—Mikä on suurin virheesi, jonka olet tehnyt työssäsi?

—Early on in the business I believed too many sales callers!

—Kun lähdet matkalle, mitä otat mukaasi ja miksi?

—Camera, not sure I need a reason for that!

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

—I'm not really a gadgety person!

—Miten opettelet ottamaan parempia kuvia?

—Every shoot I do I make sure I either mentally note down or write down what I could have improved on or things to rememeber for next time.

—Kuka on vaikuttanut eniten ammattiisi valokuvaajana?

—I'd have to say Chris (my husband). We've shot together for over 220 weddings and he is just the best photographer I know. We have such different ways of shooting and ways of seeing everything and that's why its so great to see his take on something!

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

—That it would be what I would end up doing forever! And that exposure is just opinion.

—Mitä haluat ilmaista valokuvillasi?

—I want to capture the wedding day and the people we shoot in the best light and also with atmosphere. It's not so much about saying anything it's just about making sure their story is being told through my photographs. I want whoever looks at those photographs after to get a true reflection of them as a couple and also of what it was like to be there.

—Mikä motivoi sinua jatkamaan kuvausta?

—The couples we photograph! The amazing feedback we get and just the ambition to leave as many couples with awesome wedding photography as possible!

—Olisiko vanhempiesi pitänyt olla tiukempia tai päinvastoin?

—Neither! They always encouraged us to do what makes us happy, whatever it was, and to me that was the best advice they could have given.

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

—I'm not sure, I always believe that everything that you've done – mistake or not – has got you where you are today... so nothing!

—Uskotko, että muilla planeetoilla on elämää?

—Definitely!

—Ketkä ovat sankareitasi?

—My parents!

—Ketä et kunnioita?

—People that complain about something but don't do anything to change it.

—Mitä teet vapaa-ajallasi?

—Go on walks, go to the gym and cuddle my cats!

—Mitä puolta yleisö ei koskaan näe sinussa?

—I'm usually quite shy I guess!

—Milloin olet täysin tyytyväinen työhösi?

—When I know I have put everything I have into a photography and it shows.

—Uskotko miesten ja naisten perinteisiin rooleihin?

—No.

—Saatko helposti ystäviä?

—I'd like to think so.

—Missä haluaisit asua?

—Somehwere in the Dales in Yorkshire, not too far from where we do now!

—Mikä on typerin asia, johon olet koskaan suostunut?

—I agreed to be pulled along on a skateboard by a rope atached to a car... that was pretty stupid! No injuries though and the car was going quite slow.. but still. What is was like to be at Uni!

—Jatkuuko elämä avioliiton jälkeen?

—Of course!

—Onko sinulla suosikkivitsiä? Kerro pois.

—A woman owns a Parrot that keeps on swearing so she takes it to the Vet to ask what to do about it. The Vet says to put the Parrot in the freezer for 5 minutes and that should stop the swearing. So the woman goes home and puts the Parrot in the freezer and after 5 minutes goes and takes it out, the Parrot is relieved to be out of the freezer and says "I'm so sorry I will never swear again... but what did the chicken do ? " -- I know its bad isn't it!!!!!!!

—Pidätkö koirista vai kissoista?

—Both! I love all animals, if we had a bigger house we would have a zoo!

—Ketä tai mitä vihaat?

—I don't really like the word hate but I don't like TV Soaps!

—Parasta elämässä on:

—Love.

—Ärsyttävintä elämässä on:

—Seeing other people not enjoying what they do.

—Haluaisitko muuttaa mitään ympärilläsi?

—Nope!

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa itsessäsi?

—To be more confident.

—Mitä haluaisit muuttaa maailmassa?

—I think everyone would say the same, end all the suffering and war.

—Haluaisitko antaa vinkkejä aloitteleville valokuvaajille?

—Never stop believing it's possible.

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

—Hi! We are all weird...

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

—Sci-fi.

—Huomenna aion...

—more photograph editing!