Fotograaf Jean Jacques Fabien

—Bent u fotogeniek?

—I would say half photogenic

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

—I was passionate about photography since I was young. It's after looking at some stunning Wedding pictures done by top photographers that I was inspired to follow the same route. The freedom of creativity is what I enjoy the most into Wedding Photography.

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

—I would say the light first. the way a subject is lit will make the picture attractive or repulsive. Then comes the subject itself.

—Houdt u van reizen?

—I moderately love traveling. I drive a lot and do not enjoy traveling so much.

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

—Freedom of creativity, woaww effect from client when he looks at his pictures, satisfaction when I download and see nice shots, freedom to organize my time as I want, never a routine, always different, meet great people...

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

—Sometimes very demanding which leaves me little space for family, having to recharge batteries every evenings, waiting for downloading pictures, sometimes chaining up days of shooting and having to drive long distances while being tired and sleepy.

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

—Digital imaging has unleash creativity from photographers. I do not see it change when I see how people love pictures so much and love creative pictures. I sometimes fear that phones will replace proper cameras since it is already happening into the hotel industry nowadays. They less and less call upon professional photographers but rely on enthusiasts "instagrammers" to remain active on social networks and use phone pictures and vintage look to keep "in".

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

—Freedom of creativity, magic moments, emotions and... clothes, special mood and atmosphere, being able to direct any kind of people from simple gentlemen and ladies to CEOs and Corporate directors to do whatever you want them to do, :-)

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

—It depends. I'm very committed into my job and I'm very generous in what I do (always deliver more photos than promise). I cannot do this job halfway. Therefore, I don't like people criticizing what I do since they don't know how much I give into what i do.

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

—More and more vintage type photos, more back-lit type of pictures and of course more and more drone photos.

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

—Creativity, generosity, Easy contact to make the couple at ease, being able to handle crowds, people and situations to get great photos and reassure the couple.

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

—Getting distracted by people, girls, checking the phone at important moments, talk loud at official ceremonies... Totally prohibited to drink alcohol at a Wedding even if the couple proposes. Even after the duty, Never drink because We all have to go back home.

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

—Expressions, angles, mood, reflections, drop shadows, interesting shapes and figures...

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

—Light, emotions, the moment and sometimes Black and white can make a pictures stand out.

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

—I don't know

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

—Prince William and Kate, some famous models in bridal dress, dynamic couples...

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

—I never talk about religion or politics in a Wedding with anyone.

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

—Some iconic Wedding photographers but also with a very good friend of mine who is also a photographer but who is currently not living in the same country than I. We started photography together but life has driven us on different paths. I would love to be able to shoot with him.

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—I'm worried about unexperienced newcomers who "steal" the work of genuine photographers, of this kind of "made in china" type of mentality which makes everything available at very low price and kills the value of genuine photographers (if you understand what I mean).

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

—Two times. When I had a great shooting session with a couple and downloading the pictures to see some iconic shots I took and see them appear on my screen and start to work them straight away. It's a great moment. Also when I deliver pictures to my clients and see there eyes sparkle when they look at the pictures and hear them say woawww.

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

—Definitely the Mentalist. This assurance to depict people, know what they think, being able in a very smart way find a solution to a problem, never panic, having a talent for repartee, not scared to say or do weird things to finally sort out an issue.

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

—God, Jesus, because I'm a believer and I strongly believe that God directs my path everyday. In many situations, I experienced "miracles". Sometimes in low season while the finances was very low, I had these unexpected calls from people I do not know and never met which hired me for a work and never saw them afterwards.

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

—I firmly believe that success is being confident and trusting in God who opens doors. In a more down to earth meaning is when you are wanted more and more by people of all social levels to do what you know the most.

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

—I would say liked.

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

—Forgot to recharge batteries, Forgot Lens and accessories on a site, distracted to a point of not shooting an important event during a wedding (generally because of being too tired), forgot cards at home, Forgot to put fuel in the car for a long drive...

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

—I usually take all of my equipment because I do not want on site needing something and it's not there. I sometimes have to force myself to bring less equipment for practical reasons because I'm always bothered wanting to do something and not having the gears to do it.

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

—I never regret anything I buy because they are always useful at a stage.

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

—I look at what other people do in order to be inspired (like on mywed). I spend a lot of time watching tutorials on editing on the web. I also try several functions on my camera in order to shoot in a smarter way at different occasions. For instance I like to shoot with off camera flash (portable studio flash) but I also force myself to shoot without flash in order to be more efficient in some occasions and get a different feel, mood and style.

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—Well all the works I see on popular Wedding Photographer Community such as mywed, fearless, best wedding photographers, etc... I do not have a specific preferred photographer but a lot of them.

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

—How to edit photos properly (too much colors, contrast and effects), how to shoot with straight lines (straight horizon, walls, furnitures and angles)

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

—I want to transmit emotions, beauty, woaowww, on my photos. I want my pictures impact someone who sees it.

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

—Freedom of creativity and the hope to get a better pose, pictures, set, models, etc...

—Hadden uw ouders strenger of minder streng moeten zijn?

—I'm happy the way they raised and the values they imparted me.

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

—My first quotations :-), the way I would tackle a project, more research for some type of photography. I learned a few things in pain and lost some projects when I started into photography because of my lack of experience.

—Wat denkt u over leven op andere planeten?

—Do not think about it and I don't think there are any other form of life elsewhere. Anyway, even though there is, we will never know and never meet.

—Wie zijn uw helden?

—People who give there lives away everyday for others, for animals, who can take a homeless person and take care of him, people who live for others and sacrifice their own comfort are real heroes for me.

—Voor wie kan u geen respect opbrengen?

—I do not respect arrogant people who think that the world belong to them or who do not have consideration to other human being who are socially lower.

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

—Music, walk in nature, watch the stars, camp, cook (i love cooking),

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

—I don't know. Maybe my sensitivity to others.

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

—When my clients are happy and congratulate me. This is the greatest satisfaction.

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

—Yes I do. I actually believe that women are equally capable of doing what men do (I had 2 women managers when I use to work an office job and they were even better in what they were doing then a lot of men). However, i believe that A man cannot replace a Woman and vice versa. A father cannot be a mother and vice versa. When people try to invert this, it creates an imbalance in the family.

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—Fairly yes. I'm usually easy going and get on well with people.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

—In a rainless area, by the beach, with a nice wood or forest nearby, in a comfortable home (not necessarily big). On the coast of Mauritius (I actually live on the high grounds of Mauritius)

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

—I once agreed to do a walking virtual tour project not even know what it would cost me in time and money. I regretted afterwards not having done some tests before. It was actually a failure....

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—Yes of course there is an even better life after marriage.

—Heeft u een favoriete mop? Vertel ...

—I do not have anything that comes to my mind now. It really depends on the mood.

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

—I love dogs and cats. I have two dogs and one cat. I'm an animal lover.

—Wie of wat haat u?

—I hate tensions, confrontations, Jealousy, tense situations, shouts, etc...

—Het beste in het leven is:

—To have faith, know God, be happy and have you family with you.

—Het vervelendste in het leven is:

—Routine, an office work,

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

—I would have love the society to be more secured (no thieves, robbers, abuse an all kinds of pleas).

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan uzelf?

—I would like to be more generous and committed to others. Do good to others, not afraid to take actions to help the helpless.

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan de wereld?

—I would like the world to have faith in God

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

—Know your gears, develop your personality in order to make the couple at ease and secure, Be always concentrated in your job, be attentive to details.

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

—Go back to where you are. We have enough issues here to add another major one...

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

—Epic and adventure.

—Morgen zal ik ... doen

—A photoshooting in a hotel which was booked 2 months ago. A couple from Europe for their Honeymoon.