Fotograaf Wendell Fernandes

—Bent u fotogeniek?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

—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.

—Wat zijn volgens u de belangrijkste elementen van een goede foto?

—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.

—Houdt u van reizen?

—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.

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

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

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

—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.

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

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

—Wat is er bijzonder aan het fotografiegenre waarin u zich specialiseert?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

—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.

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

—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.

—Welke criteria moet de klant hanteren bij het kiezen van een fotograaf?

—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.

—Wat is er totaal uit den boze bij het fotograferen?

—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.

—Welke details die vaak onopgemerkt gaan, kan een fotograaf vastleggen?

—How light affects moments.

—Wat beïnvloedt de waarde van een foto? Wat zijn de elementen ervan?

—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.

—Welke persoon kan volgens u symbool staan voor de 21e eeuw?

—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.

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

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

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

—Not really.

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

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

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—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.

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

—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.

—Als u een personage van een cartoon, boek of film was, wie zou u dan zijn?

—I never thought of that :)

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

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

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

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

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

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

—Wat is de grootste fout die u ooit begaan heeft op professioneel vlak?

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

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

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

—Is er iets dat u liever niet gekocht had tussen de gadgets die u bezit? Waarom?

—Not yet.

—Hoe leert u bij om betere foto's te maken?

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

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Wat had u graag geweten toen u begon als fotograaf?

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

—Wat wil u graag zeggen met uw foto's?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Wat motiveert u om foto's te blijven maken?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Hadden uw ouders strenger of minder streng moeten zijn?

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

—Wat zou u anders doen als u in de tijd kon terugkeren?

—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.

—Wat denkt u over leven op andere planeten?

—Only God knows!

—Wie zijn uw helden?

—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.

—Voor wie kan u geen respect opbrengen?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

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

—Welke kant van u krijgt het publiek niet te zien?

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

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

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

—Gelooft u in een traditionele rolverdeling voor man en vrouw?

—Yes.

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—I do.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Wat is het domste waarmee u ooit akkoord bent gegaan?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Heeft u een favoriete mop? Vertel ...

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

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

—Dogs.

—Wie of wat haat u?

—Nothing really.

—Het beste in het leven is:

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

—Het vervelendste in het leven is:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Is er iets rondom u dat u graag zou veranderen?

—Not really.

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan uzelf?

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

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan de wereld?

—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.

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

—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.

—Als buitenaardse wezens naar de Aarde komen en u bent de eerste persoon die ze ontmoeten, wat zal u hen dan zeggen?

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

—U wordt gevraagd om een film te maken, welk genre wordt het?

—Drama.

—Morgen zal ik ... doen

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