Fotografo Laura Otoya

—Sei fotogenico?

—Only whenever I'm not faking my smile ;)

—Come sei entrato nell'industria della fotografia?

—I had always loved taking photos as a hobby but had no real knowledge on the subject. I was working at Citibank in one of those "dream jobs" that everyone wants only when they don't have it... I couldn't sleep, I dreamed with workflow diagrams (REALLY!) and I felt I just needed an escape. I bought my first semipro camera and registered into La Salle College. I took two courses and was just hooked, but never thought of pursuing photography as a career. After two years I met Gustavo (my fiancé and business partner) and since we both loved photography we took our cameras everywhere. Our friends began telling us that we took awesome photos and we should think about making it more than a hobby. We began investigating and went to a few weddings as second shooters until we felt ready to take on the responsibility on our own. We are both currently full time wedding photographers!

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

—Moment, emotion, light and composition.

—Ti piace viaggiare?

—I absolutely love to travel and hope to be able to see and photograph the world!

—Che cosa ti piace di più nella tua professione?

—Every wedding implies an emotional surge that renews me. I absolutely enjoy getting to know every client, helping and providing any assessment they may need, before and during their wedding day. We have made quite a few new friends thanks to this profession!

—Che cosa ti piace di meno nella tua professione?

—There is way to much envy and nasty competition only based on pricing. Thankfully we have met a few collegues that share our view of being more human and friendly than competitive.

—Quale sarà il futuro della fotografia?

—Brides and grooms who previously made the mistake of thinking "I have a friend who owns a professional camera" or "My uncle Bob will take care of the photos" or "I found a photographer who is INCREDIBLY cheaper than you" or even "my friend who takes photos for National Geographic offered to take my photos at no charge" are now alarming their own friends and suggesting they should invest in a profesional and experienced wedding photographer. Clients are beginning to realize that investing millions in flowers it not worth it if you don't at least have good photos to remember them by. So... the future? I'd say its just bound to be brighter every day!

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

—The emotional component in the atmosphere that you can feel, capture and relive. As well as the amount of detail and effort that you know was put into making the day perfect... and knowing that you (or us in my case) are the ones responsible for making the couple and their family and friends be able to remember even more than what they were actually able to see.

—Come gestisci la critica?

—I try to receive it in a constructive way in order to improve. I would actually enjoy receiving more constructive criticism from colleagues.

—Ci sono determinate tendenze nella fotografia?

—I think there are several trends (some in fashion, others not so much) regarding the way you approach a wedding and there are also trends in the way images are edited and post-processed. None better than others, just different.

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

—I believe they should just love their style and approach on weddings and feel connected and confident about their choice. If there is any reason to doubt, rethink.

—Che cosa non è ammesso durante la ripresa fotografica?

—Hmm... chewing gum? Wearing high heels? I don't know I guess anything that would be uncomfortable for your clients, their guests or even yourself.

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

—I would say the actions (emotional connection and complicity) between the bride and groom and the actions and reactions of the guests to whatever is going on. Practice makes us better observers in time.

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

—I believe in wedding photography there is value only when the photo is actually valuable for someone. The emotional component in the photo can make it even more valuable, and to some viewers, more or even less beautiful. You may have taken a photo that is your favorite of all times, but if the bride and groom divorce, the photo will have no value whatsoever to them and will loose sense even for you. You may take a regular portrait of the groom with his grandmother and then find out that grandma passed a few months after... that photo is invaluable to him and very valuable to you, but may be of no value to others. So elements? I guess the main one would be love.

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

—There's still more than 80 years left in the century lets give it more time ;)

—Chi vorresti fotografare?

—Happy and enamoured brides and grooms.

—Hai qualche tabù professionale?

—Nothing that I would consider a taboo comes to mind at the moment.

—Con chi vorresti fare una sessione di ripresa fotografica?

—There are a few renown wedding photographers that I would love to learn from and see, but I believe I already shoot with my favorite person in the world.

—Che cosa ti fa preoccupare e perché?

—I think I worry about the future that is meant to the following generations. I just see hatred, destruction and evil everywhere.

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

—Hmmm first thing that comes to mind was my engagement, it was at night on Charles Bridge in Prague with the view the Prague Castle. Totally surprising, romantic and impressive!

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

—Captain Planet. I would just love to have the power to "bring pollution down to zero".

—Chi ti ispira nella vita e perché?

—My fiancé and my family. They are motors in my life and I want to always see them happy.

—Come puoi definire il successo? Come si misura?

—Being able to live happily, peacefully and freely. Finding the joy in everything you do (specially for a living), and enjoying both the simple and the complex.

—Preferiresti essere amato o rispettato?

—Liked. I'd say most people that like you will respect you anyway. If respect is only a manifestation of hypocrisy, in the long run you inspire nothing.

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

—Hmm... I once sent an album off for printing and when I received it I realized that the bride had a black smudge on her cheek in the photo of the kiss. I went to look at the original photo and when I zoomed in I discovered that the black smudge was actually a huge mosquito. Of course I had to send it back and pay for the correction. I now zoom in to anything that I'm not so sure is a mole.

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

—A very good smartphone. It holds all important information, allows you to use GPS applications, access the internet, communicate with loved ones and take (good-enough) daytime photos and video. I've never had to travel without additionally taking my camera but it ends up being "too much" when all you need is a selfie or a fellow tourist that can actually take a photo that is in focus.

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

—While you learn what is truly important you spend on things you think you need. I would totally take back a few backdrops that I bought expecting to have extra time during the week to do lots of newborn photography. Whenever I need a backdrop I use different alternatives anyway.

—Che formazione professionale segui per fare fotografie migliori?

—"Practice makes the master” and I do feel I learn more with every wedding we shoot. However we try to find time to do at least one professional workshop every year, read and investigate ways to improve and perfect technical knowledge, follow and analyze photos taken by other colleges (not only weddings), take online courses and watch good movies.

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

—Susan Stripling.

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

—No matter how much effort you put into a photo or how much heart you involve in making the image the best, "beauty still is in the eye of the beholder". You just can't suffer or take it personal if in the end it doesn't even make the photo album.

—Che cosa vuoi dire con le tue fotografie?

—I just want my images to speak for themselves.

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

—The value that so many clients give to our work and the fact that the value of many of them will increase even more during time. Reading the testimonial section in our blog is a permanent motivation!

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

—They did their best and surely made mistakes like every parent, but bottom line is I always felt loved. I think they should have been just like they were because that's what has made me the person I am today.

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

—I would have spent less on the unnecessary and more on experiences and travel.

—Che cosa pensi della vita su altri pianeti?

—Seriously? NASA will surely answer this one better than I can.

—Chi sono i tuoi eroi?

—I have considered my father my hero for as long as I can remember. Total admiration <3

—Per chi non hai rispetto?

—People who treat you like crap just because they think they are in a "higher" place than you are.

—Che cosa fai nel tuo tempo libero?

—I try to spend more quality time with my friends and family. If there is singing involved, better yet!

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

—Depends on the public... I am very sensitive but I don't show it much. A few wedding vows and speeches have made me cry in "public" recently.

—Quando ti senti completamente soddisfatto dal tuo lavoro?

—Whenever we receive a call or message from the bride and groom expressing how happy they are with their photos.

—Credi nei ruoli tradizionali di donne e uomini?

—I was born in a very traditional household but believe roles have changed for justifiable reasons.

—Fai facilmente amicizia?

—I consider myself a friendly person but I am not very good at being in contact with everybody. I've always hated spending hours on the phone (not even as a teenager that I actually tried). My true friends know they can count on me and I'm always there even if we don't see or speak to each other often.

—Dove ti piacerebbe vivere?

—A retirement in the Rosario Islands in Cartagena would be a dream come true. In the meantime I prefer to be someplace where I can travel for both work and pleasure easily. Bogotá is ideal in this case.

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

—Go Bungee Jumping off a 130 meter viaduct near Cajamarca, Colombia.

—Esiste la vita dopo il matrimonio?

—If I didn't think so I wouldn't be getting married!

—Hai uno scherzo preferito? Raccontacelo.

—I am so bad at jokes I can never remember any.

—Ti piacciono i cani o i gatti?

—Both!!

—Chi o che cosa odi?

—Hypocrisy and superficiality.

—La cosa migliore nella vita è:

—Having enough reasons to smile and laugh often.

—La cosa più fastidiosa nella vita è:

—When you just feel 24 hour days aren't enough and there is nothing you can do about it.

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

—Nope, just go with the flow.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare in te stesso?

—I would be a little less stubborn and a little more wild.

—Che cosa vorresti cambiare nel mondo?

—Lack of love, indifference, injustice, misery, envy and resentment.

—Puoi dare alcuni consigli ai fotografi alle prime armi?

—Start off as second shooters while you truly learn the dynamic of wedding photography... and don't just do it for the money.

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

—I'd probably just stare (or hide) and be totally incapable of communication. Unless they look like ET.

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

—Drama – hopefully taking place in an inspiring city like Prague.

—Domani vado a fare...

—Tomorrow is saturday... take a wild guess!?