Fotograaf Joseph Requerme

—Bent u fotogeniek?

—I am not sure yet. I will have my own wedding in the coming months and we'll know if I am. Technically, yes because I direct my couple by doing the pose first.

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

—I got into wedding industry by accident. I was invited to attend a wedding as a guest and I brought with me my 2 days old dslr camera and started taking pictures. To make the story short, the official photographer lost all his photos of the wedding and the couple made my photos as their official(even ordered an album) after 4 years of their wedding. That's where I was inspired to make more love-inspired photos.

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

—For me, it is the emotion that is captured in frames. I always make sure that most of my photos are love-inspired. When emotion is in there, composition and post processing style will follow.

—Houdt u van reizen?

—Yes, in fact I am a destination wedding photographer based in Cebu City. I have been to different places in the Philippines and abroad.

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

—I love to feel and indulge myself into an emotional celebration like weddings and my favorite is the pictorial of the bride and his father, the dance with the father and the groom with his mom. Capturing those are heaven to me.

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

—What I don't like is the sore in my feet the day after the wedding. I move a lot to make sure that everything is covered. But it also reminds me of a successful wedding coverage. No sore, meaning I did not do my best.

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

—I think people will start to take photographers like me to unfamiliar and less shot locations and will incorporate adventure along the way.

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

—The most special thing in wedding photography is the union of two souls. That's where I challenge my self, to get every inch of emotion and historic event in the frames.

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

—I have the best and worst critic in the world, my partner in life and she tells me the things that she don't like in the harshest way possible. Every time she do that, I will be hurt but I use that pain in my ego to improve. At the end of the day, I am glad that she made those criticism. Criticisms from people I don't know – I listen to them. Criticism from my clients – I am glad they are all satisfied and if there will be one, I will work my way to correct the problem.

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

—There are no trends for me. Every couple has its own way of making their wedding a memorable one and each shoot is unique. In fact, the more different the wedding is, the more unique it will become.

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

—The couple should and must always like the photographic style of the photographer. No buts and ifs. If you like the work, go for it and tell the photographer. Rates should be the last thing that will hinder in booking a photographer.

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

—For me, the only thing that is not allowed is shooting beyond the cultural norms of every person. You got to respect it.

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

—It is the emotion. When people are emotional they forget about their looks and not aware of their surroundings. The photographers on the other hand, hold the tears or just smile behind the camera and capture those moments.

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

—Its all about the subject, location and composition.

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

—A person that can understand different cultures without any hesitation and manage to blend in.

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

—I love and want to shoot weddings and any life events.

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

—I am glad that I don't have.

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

—I like to shoot with Jasmine Star. There's a lot of things that I like about her shooting style.

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—I don't get worried that much in terms of shooting. I worry much when I got home and make the photos exist in different places (backup).

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

—When I got hired by a Swiss magazine to make a portrait of a typhoon survivor. Eventually, they got married and I was their photographer. The story I told was amazing. The guy saved his queen after typhoon Yolanda and that was the most heart warming story I ever told.

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

—My inspiration will always be my partner in life and the photos that I have not captured yet.

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

—Success in not a destination, it is an ongoing process and cannot be measured. As long as you are happy, you can feel success.

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

—Yes, as a human being but not like king.

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

—Hiring a cheap 2nd shooter. They just don't get my style. When I started to hire right priced shooter, my output became more valuable.

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

—I would take my editor(my partner). She is all in one, my inspiration, my critic, the stylist and can give tons of ideas when I ran out.

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

—Every piece that I have has its own use, I did not regret buying any of them.

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

—By joining photography related clubs and forums. The different opinions gives me ideas on where to improve.

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—Jasmine Star

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

—I must say that my photographs are created and inspired with love.

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

—The satisfied and happy clients.

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

—I do fishing, watching movies and travelling. I love indulging to beach, nature and adventure.

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

—I don't get satisfied. There is always a margin of unsatisfaction but I make sure that the photos are well processed.

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—Yes, I always make sure that I make conversation and help people along the way.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

—I love my country and my answer is Philippines. If my clients want me to live in their place for a month then I'll go.

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—For me, Yes. But I should experience it first next year for me to say the whole thing.

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

—I like both.

—Het beste in het leven is:

—The best thing in life is love.

—Het vervelendste in het leven is:

—The most annoying thing in life is disrespect.

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

—Just get your hands dirty and shoot weddings regardless its price. The most important thing is experience. Don't listen to negative and destructive comments.