Photographe Wendell Fernandes

—Êtes-vous photogénique ?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Comment avez-vous commencé à travailler dans la photographie ?

—Long ago, a close friend of mine was getting married and had no one to capture their day. I had a simple Rebel Canon XTi and I volunteered, I look back and from that point forward I fell in love with the stories of people and their lives more than the actual photographic work – It fascinates me how people meet and how they connect and grow into a lifetime together.

—Selon vous, quels sont les éléments les plus importants d'une bonne photo ?

—This is a tough question. There are so many things that can add up to a great photograph but I believe it all begins with a spectacular experience and interaction between the person registering those moments and the subject. Personally, I think this is the doorway to success and once this happens everything else will follow. People open up to you, they trust you, they trust your vision and creativity. A good photograph evokes reality, however blunt, drastic, romantic, rough it may be. Lighting, camera settings, location, ethnicity, culture, none of these things are as important as the actual naked reality unfolding before you.

—Aimez-vous voyager ?

—Yes I do. Originally from Brasil and now living in USA for 15 years, every chance I get, I do travel to know whats out there. I have been to various countries because of these stories and I believe being open to it, changes our mindset.

—Quel aspect de votre profession préférez-vous ?

—The fact that I can register moments that will live with them for the rest of their lives, this is impacting.

—Quel aspect de votre profession aimez-vous le moins ?

—Every profession has its stressful moments, but it comes with the territory, so I don't believe there is anything I can point out that is relevant.

—Quel est le futur de la photographie ?

—There is already a demand for true storytellers, and I believe this will continue to grow.

—Qu'est-ce que le style de photographie dans lequel vous travaillez a de spécial ?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Comment gérez-vous les critiques ?

—Just like anything else, we can never grow if we don't listen and learn. From the "top" photographer to anyone beginning this journey now, we all began looking, learning from others. The secret is to be open, the next chapter will always teach us something else we need.

—Y a-t-il des modes dans la photographie ?

—Nowadays everything seems to be done from a recipe book which takes away from the stories that need to be told coherently. Pinterest and many other sites cooperate to this trend, but I believe it is in our hands to change this. The other trend is that every photographer is now a "Photojournalism" style photographer but their work shows no sign of it.

—Quels devraient être les critères pour qu'un client choisisse un photographe ?

—They should look for "Storytellers" – Not because they mention this "photojournalism style" in their website, but because they are more humans than professionals. They care more about the couple's stories than their own photo artwork. Couples should "meet" face to face and look for signs that will give them the comfort they are talking to a person and not a business.

—Quels sont les interdits lors des photographies ?

—Pre-conceived notions and shots. I believe every location has a great amount of potential to look different even though you've been there many times before. "What fits the story of this couple, even though I've been here before?". This type of thinking will transform the way we shoot.

—Quels détails seul un photographe peut-il remarquer ?

—How light affects moments.

—Qu'est-ce qui influence la valeur d'une photo ? Quels en sont les éléments ?

—Use of light, quantity of light is better than the quality of light. Also, lighting is probably a key element for moments to take place.

—Quelle personne peut être le symbole du 21ème siècle selon vous ?

—The one who is unseen, the one who is invisible, the one not seeking fame. Since we learn from each other, the stories should be what drives us all.

—Qui aimeriez-vous prendre en photo ?

—An African couple that has absolutely no glamour, but an amazing story.

—Avez-vous des tabous professionnels ?

—Not really.

—Avec qui aimeriez-vous faire une séance photo ?

—Anyone with a greater experience. Perhaps Cliff Mautner or Joe Buissink, would be a great learning experience.

—De quoi vous inquiétez-vous, et pourquoi ?

—Missing a moment. Inside an environment that you could never go back in time, my fear is to miss a moment that is important to the couple.

—Quel a été le moment le plus impressionnant de votre vie ?

—Believe it or not, I think it was a day, when I was being taught to love my neighbor as myself, as it's mentioned in the Bible. I spent sometime with a very close friend, a second father to be, and I could not believe how much I needed to learn this and how this has shaped my life.

—Si vous étiez un personnage de dessin animé, de livre ou de film, qui seriez-vous et pourquoi ?

—I never thought of that :)

—Qui vous inspire dans votre vie et pourquoi ?

—Jesus the man, my father and all my mentors in life.

—Comment définissez-vous le succès ? Comment le mesurez-vous ?

—Complete peace and satisfaction even though I'm in the midst of a crises.

—Préférez-vous être aimé ou respecté ?

—Liked. I believe respect comes after. We need to approach and be approachable first.

—Quelle a été votre plus grande erreur professionnelle ?

—I can't recall one now, but I hope I don't have anything later either :P

—Quand vous partez en voyage que prenez-vous avec vous et pourquoi ?

—My Canon 5D III and a Sigma 35mm and 85mm. These are my go to lenses for getting a great shot.

—Est-ce que vous regrettez d'avoir acheté un de vos gadgets ? Lequel et pourquoi ?

—Not yet.

—Quelle méthode utilisez-vous pour améliorer vos prises de photo ?

—Magazines, mostly fashion and arts, and always looking to see greater experience photographers and what they are doing and why they are doing it.

—Qui vous a influencé le plus en tant que photographe ?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Quelle chose auriez-vous aimer connaître avant de vous lancer dans la photographie ?

—"What do I do if I turn this dial to M" :P

—Qu'aimeriez-vous dire avec vos photos ?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Quelle est votre motivation pour continuer la photographie ?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Pensez-vous que vos parents auraient dû être plus stricts ? Moins stricts ?

—I think I received the best parenthood one could ever desire.

—Si vous pouviez revenir dans le temps, que changeriez-vous ?

—Nothing. Where I am today is a result of the choices I made, I can only change the outcome by the decisions I make moving forward.

—Que pensez-vous de la vie sur d'autres planètes ?

—Only God knows!

—Qui sont vos héros ?

—Jesus for giving me life and enabling me to be a father and a husband and a better man than I would ever be without His love and mercy.

—Pour quelle chose n'avez-vous aucun respect ?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Que faites-vous pendant votre temps libre ?

—Family time. I love spending time with my children and my wife.

—Quel aspect de votre personnalité le public ne voit pas ?

—Hmmm. I don't think I have anything that I don't mention. I'm a pretty open person.

—Quand êtes-vous complètement satisfait de votre travail ?

—When I can see a moment, register it in a great light.

—Croyez-vous en le traditionalisme des rôles de l'homme et de la femme ?

—Yes.

—Vous faites-vous facilement des amis ?

—I do.

—Où aimeriez-vous vivre ?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Quelle est la chose la plus stupide que vous ayez accepté ?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Existe-t-il une vie après le mariage ?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Avez-vous une blague préférée ? Racontez-la.

—- Knock, Knock!
- Who's there?
- Nobody!
- Nobody who?
- ...

—Préférez-vous les chats ou les chiens ?

—Dogs.

—Qui ou que détestez-vous ?

—Nothing really.

—La plus belle chose de la vie est :

—Spend time with the ones you love and care most.

—La chose la plus ennuyeuse de la vie est :

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Changeriez-vous quelque chose autour de vous ?

—Not really.

—Que changeriez-vous chez vous ?

—I would love to be more handy when it comes to fixing up things at home :P

—Que changeriez-vous dans le monde ?

—Gather all the rich and wealthy, and make an unbiased decision to change a country or a nation for the better. Implement better government and end poverty, one location at a time.

—Auriez-vous quelques astuces pour des photographes débutants ?

—1) Focus on giving people a better experience than knowing "how to take photos". Being human is more important than being a "business person". Invest in yourself first, your personality and your character, then you can prepare for the business part.2) Study a lot, read, and be inspired by whats "not" photography related.

—Des extraterrestres arrivent sur Terre et vous êtes le premier à les rencontrer. Que leur dites-vous ?

—Before you take off – let's take a selfy...?

—Vous êtes appelé pour tourner un film. De quel genre serait-il ?

—Drama.

—Demain, je vais aller faire...

—Probably answer emails, prepare for a 2016 Wedding Convention presentation in Brasil and perhaps meet some event planners from recent weddings I've shot!