写真家Chris Loneragan氏

—最初に - シェフィールド, イギリスで最高の写真家として誰の名前を挙げることができますか？:)

—There are some amazing wedding photographers in Sheffield catering to all styles and budgets, but the best wedding photographer is subjectively the one that clicks best with the wedding couple and works hard to tell the story of their day. I hope that could be me!

—写真写りは良い方ですか？

—No! Like many of my clients I echo the statement, "We hate having our photo taken!" For me it is about achieving a relaxed natural look, and I can only do that by chatting and laughing with my clients before I take their photographs. Everyone is photogenic and everyone has a visual story to tell – if I can capture something hidden within you ("love" maybe) then I will have captured a great image for you to treasure.

—どうして写真撮影業界に入ったのですか？

—I have been a keen photographer since winning a competition at the age of 14. As a grown up I shot for stock agencies and for fun until a family member asked me to take some 'extra' photos at their wedding in addition to their professional wedding photographer. Mine were at least as good and well received as the professional's and so I struck out offering my services for free until I felt confident enough to tackle a wedding for money. Over 100 weddings later I have a strong and successful wedding photography business.

—良い写真を撮影するにあたって最も重要な要素とは何であるか、ご意見をお聞かせいただけますでしょうか？

—Light, composition, natural moments, minimal posing, a story to tell.

—旅行が好きですか？

—Yes. I have travelled all over the world.

—あなたの職業について一番好きなことは何ですか？

—I love the speed and quick thinking required when photographing a wedding. There is a massive sense of achievement in producing images that couples love without spending a huge amount of time, sometimes none at all, planning and executing them.

—あなたの職業について一番嫌いなことは何ですか？

—I hate selling, but it is a necessary evil of the business. I would rather just shoot weddings!

—未来の写真撮影とはどのようなものでしょうか？

—Pretty much the same as it is now. Technology will change, but it isn't the thing that makes wedding images.

—あなたが専門とする特別な写真撮影のジャンルは？

—Interpersonal relationships with clients. A wedding photographer is a friend, a counsellor, an assistant, a go-between, and a photographer.

—批判に対処するには？

—Professionally on the outside, badly on the inside. It depends what the criticism is though – anything deserved makes me stop and think, and change and grow where necessary.

—写真撮影でトレンドはありますか？

—Yes, but you don't have to follow them!

—写真家選択の際に、お客様が基準とすべきことは何ですか？

—The personality of the wedding photographer and whether or not they like their images. Always meet for a chat and ask to see real weddings – in my opinion you should steer clear of photographers that just show images from styled shoots or portfolio building workshops as the real skill is in producing images in the pressure situation of a real wedding.

—撮影の際、絶対に受け入れがたいことは何でしょうか？

—I have witnessed other photographers being divas and shouting at or belittling wedding couples and their guests.

—写真家が気づくことができる普段は見過ごさせる細かい点は何ですか？

—Hidden hand holds, fleeting expressions, laughing children – too many to list. Details like rings and flowers are obvious and should be covered as a matter of course.

—写真の価値に影響を与えるものとは何でしょうか？その要因は？

—A truly valuable image tells a story. A great photo will do this with perfect composition, focus, exposure and subtle editing.

—どんな人を撮影したいですか？

—I love shooting everybody.

—プロとしてタブーとしている事はありますか？

—No.

—誰と一緒に写真を撮りたいですか？

—Annie Liebowitz.

—人生において最も印象的な瞬間とは何でしょうか？

—The birth of my daughter.

—あなたの人生においてインスピレーションの元となるのはどんな人ですか？また、それは何故ですか？

—My wife is my art critic and muse.

—あなたによって成功とは何でしょうか？また、それをどのように評価していますか？

—Happy clients.

—好かれたり、尊敬されたりするほうですか？

—Respected.

—より良い写真を撮るために、どのように腕を磨いていますか？

—Constant practice and collaborative critique.