Fotografo Ken Pak

—Sei fotogenico?

—I never thought I was photogenic and never wanted to be photographed, however, I look pretty cute in the photos from my early childhood.

—Come sei entrato nell'industria della fotografia?

—It was a pretty natural transition for me becoming a wedding photographer as many of my friends were getting married when I started taking photos. Because of this, I never attended my friends' weddings as a groomsman or guest. Rather, I always photographed their weddings.

—Secondo te, quali sono le componenti più importanti di una bella foto?

—Although most of photographers would talk about light, composition, creative approach, subject, emotional impact & etc. as vital components of a good photo, I think preparation for the day and understanding of the flow , environment and subject would help yielding a good photo. Although there are moments I take photos with anticipation, however, I love when I get good photos without anticipation.

—Ti piace viaggiare?

—Yes, I love traveling for the photo projects including weddings, fun activities, personal inspiration by the life of the other side of the world, and to see the family (I am from South Korea).

—Che cosa ti piace di più nella tua professione?

—Photography career can be highly rewarding. I feel truly blessed when I receive compliments and appreciation from the happy clients and people.

—Che cosa ti piace di meno nella tua professione?

—Dealing with difficult personalities and awkward characters can be most challenging to me. However, I would rather stay positive and supportive to those nature.

—Quale sarà il futuro della fotografia?

—For the next 5 years, another convergence of the medium will be coming like stills will be culled from 8k video footage. After another 5 years, I am pretty sure that there will always be needs for wedding photography regardless of the medium convergence.

—Cosa c'è di speciale nel genere di fotografia in cui sei specializzato?

—In technical term, I believe wedding photography can be practised as the collaborative work of wide range of photography types and styles. In human life, it is one of the greatest lifetime celebrations among families and friends, and I am so glad that I can capture many different levels of emotional impacts.

—Come gestisci la critica?

—I would rather be modest and listen to the criticism if it is the matter of your growth and development process in your photography career and human relations. If you stay honest, humble and positive, there will be lesser criticism.

—Ci sono determinate tendenze nella fotografia?

—Yes, there are trends in wedding photography just like fashion industry, however, I also see there is a range of diversity in wedding photography trends depending on traditions, lifestyle, regions & etc.

—Quali criteri dovrebbe utilizzare un cliente per scegliere un fotografo?

—As a person photographing someone's lifetime event, trustworthy, fun and flexible nature in my personality come highly valuable and appreciative among my clients and people in the industry.

—Che cosa non è ammesso durante la ripresa fotografica?

—Unprofessional, snobbish & egoistic manner in professional & personal aspects.

—Quali dettagli, che solitamente passano inosservati, riesce a notare un fotografo?

—Artistic & creative approach. Also, freezing the moment, framing & composition.

—Che cosa influisce sul valore di una foto? Quali sono le sue componenti?

—Cherishing the memorable moments and people from generation to generation (or among generations). Also, capturing and archiving the history of person's life.

—Secondo te, chi può essere considerato simbolo del XXI secolo?

—Big brothers in media.

—Chi vorresti fotografare?

—I would like to continue photographing weddings, however, it will be interesting to photograph traditionally unique weddings in remote area not affected by the western culture.

—Hai qualche tabù professionale?

—I would not want to spoil those wedding photographer wannabes. It takes so much of professional practice, thinking, attitude, training, study and experience. Don't believe in yourself as a professional shooter by just buying a good camera and shooting a few of your friends weddings.

—Con chi vorresti fare una sessione di ripresa fotografica?

—If I get a chance, I would love to shoot with those pulitzer winners who have not shot the weddings before. Also, shooting a wedding by side of any big names in the industry will be my great honor.

—Che cosa ti fa preoccupare e perché?

—Bridezilla and Groomzilla. Depending on the situations, people with difficult & demanding personalities to accommodate can be a real challenge. Also, theft and robbery (although I have not experienced before) during the sessions in uncontrolled areas. Being sick can be another big worrisome.

—Qual è stato il momento più impressionante della tua vita?

—Three of my most tearful moments showing my love to my parents. I cried so much at the airport when I saw my dad leaving the state after seeing my college graduation (He supported me for 7 years in US for my high school and college, and returned to Korea permanently). I cried so much when I hugged my parents during my wedding ceremony. I cried so much when my dad was being cremated after the funeral ceremony.

—Se tu fossi un personaggio di cartone animato, libro o film, chi saresti e perché?

—I would love to be Iron man, just to simply get the aerial shots. Also, seeing myself in the Iron man armor which is retrofitted with multiple super cameras will be amazing!

—Chi ti ispira nella vita e perché?

—Jesus Christ who keeps me being a better person.

—Come puoi definire il successo? Come si misura?

—In human perspective, if I have six good men who can carry my coffin at my own funeral, I consider that as a successful life. In business perspective, if I have no haters and no debt, that will be a successful life.

—Preferiresti essere amato o rispettato?

—I would rather be liked.

—Qual è stato il più grande errore che hai commesso nel lavoro?

—Encountering a media failure by using cheap media card.

—Preparandoti per partire, che cosa metteresti in valigia e perché?

—I will take my free & open spirit with me to enjoy the true traveling experience. If it is allowed, then I would love to travel with my wife and son. Of course, a small travel camera will definitely be accompanied with me.

—Tra i gadget che possiedi, c'è qualcosa che vorresti non aver comprato? Perché?

—Lytro Illum camera. I never use it. Is there anyone who is interested in this camera? ;)

—Che formazione professionale segui per fare fotografie migliori?

—I try to read/watch/visit photography related or partially related magazines, books, movies, videos (I love watching K pop music videos to learn techniques), art galleries/museums & etc. From these experiences, I love incorporating my new ideas and creative thinking in the actual shoots by hopefully getting faster spontaneous responsiveness to the moments. Also, I go to conferences and seminars, and get connected with a wide range of cool photographers from different parts of the world. Also, I shoot together with a few of my local photographers time to time for cross-inspiring and training purposes at the real weddings.

—Il lavoro di chi ha avuto la maggiore influenza su di te come fotografo?

—Hmmm... I would say photographers in WPJA Winners Collections, Fearless Photographers Award Collections and ISPWP Award Collections have influenced me the most. I am sorry to tell you that I love all the winners, not the single one, as I admire their work so much! Also, I give a full respect to those photographers who push themselves to the infinity over creative limits.

—Qual è l'unica cosa che vorresti aver saputo iniziando a scattare foto?

—I really wish I knew a real good mentor when I started taking photos. I have had neither a mentor nor had worked for a studio during my photography career. Also, I did not have any good friend photographers until I met most of them during the past 1.5 years.

—Che cosa vuoi dire con le tue fotografie?

—They are fun, animated, compassionate, witty, unique, hardworking, modern, artistic, imaginative, quirky, and yet most importantly, story telling with my true spirit.

—Qual è la tua motivazione per continuare a scattare fotografie?

—My family the most. Also, undiscovered world of photography intrigues me to challenge myself in the upcoming future. Accolades can be bonus.

—Pensi che i tuoi genitori avrebbero dovuto essere più o meno severi?

—Less strict. Matter of fact, my mom bought me my first point-n-shoot camera when I was the fifth grade. They are always supportive and respectful to my decision, but I had to be very responsible to my decision.

—Se potessi tornare nel passato, che cosa faresti in modo diverso?

—I would go to a renowned college of art to inspire myself with in-depth fine art. I studied Environmental Science instead. Also, I would continue playing badminton, so I could have competed in Olympics (one of my teammates from the same school team won a gold medal in Atlanta Olympic games).

—Che cosa pensi della vita su altri pianeti?

—I am going to ask God about it.

—Chi sono i tuoi eroi?

—Whoever influences me to become a better person.

—Per chi non hai rispetto?

—People who commit sins without repent afterwards.

—Che cosa fai nel tuo tempo libero?

—Planning something ahead that would or would not happen, but it is always fun to do it. I do normal things that the normal people would do during the spare time.

—Quale lato di te non è mai visibile al pubblico?

—When I am doing post production work at home, I am normally in underwears as it happens to be very comfortable and free to myself.

—Quando ti senti completamente soddisfatto dal tuo lavoro?

—When I hear back from my clients with lots of compliments and appreciation after they get the final release. Also, accolades are bonus to my satisfaction, but I consider myself always being in learning curve.

—Credi nei ruoli tradizionali di donne e uomini?

—Yes, I am in terms of marriage and family, however, roles are always subject to change based on the modern lifestyle. As long as we love each other, traditional roles are not biggie in our lives.

—Fai facilmente amicizia?

—Yes, however, it can take significant amount of time to become their best friends. I would rather be their best friends than making them my best friends.

—Dove ti piacerebbe vivere?

—I would like to live in one Korea upon unification of North & South Korea. Other than US and Korea, I would also consider living any parts around the world needing any of my contribution.

—Qual è stata la cosa più stupida che hai accettato di fare?

—Sharing a studio space with a wedding dress/floral shop. I would never do a business with anyone in the same space.

—Esiste la vita dopo il matrimonio?

—Sure thing! Your lifetime companion and kids are enough to make a dramatic change in your life after marriage.

—Hai uno scherzo preferito? Raccontacelo.

—My wife and my son give me all kinds of silly talk, and I always return with a joke. Too many to list.

—Ti piacciono i cani o i gatti?

—We used to have a jack russell terrier and a mix dog for over 12 years. They both passed aways a few years ago, but they always stay remained in our hearts. We are planning to have one soon.

—Chi o che cosa odi?

—Business partners with betrayal, lies and unacceptable manner. I can't tolerate those people, and can't deal with them anymore as it happens to be the worst time in my life.

—La cosa migliore nella vita è:

—When my son was born.

—La cosa più fastidiosa nella vita è:

—Dealing with business partners and friends who betrayed me.

—C'è qualcosa intorno a te che vorresti cambiare?

—I would like to redesign my website, restart blogging, and keep up everything in timely manner.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare in te stesso?

—I need to put something on when I am working at home.
Seriously, I need to reshape my body.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare nel mondo?

—Get rid of terrorists and dictators, and provide aids to those who are in desperate life situation.

—Puoi dare alcuni consigli ai fotografi alle prime armi?

—Learn, practise and gain lots of experience to become a true artist, not a person with a good show-off camera. Most importantly, try to understand what this day means to the wedded couple and people at the wedding, and your role there.

—Se gli alieni dovessero arrivare sulla Terra e tu fossi la prima persona ad incontrarli, che cosa diresti?

—"Do you need a photographer to document your landing and presence? The session will be free, however, you need to sign a media release form." LOL

—Se dovessi essere invitato a girare un film, di che genere sarebbe?

—I would like to photograph an epic love story, war and drama.

—Domani vado a fare...

—Tomorrow, I will go to a wedding and photograph the most amazing day of someone's life.