Fotograaf Shaun Baker

—Ten eerste - wie beschouwt u als de beste fotograaf in San Diego, Verenigde Staten? :)

—I think that we all want to say ourselves but really the best wedding photographer is the one the best fits the style of what the bride and groom are looking for. But as far as artistic, creative, documentary wedding photography, it's got to be me ;)

—Bent u fotogeniek?

—It depends on who's taking them.

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

—It looked like a lot of fun! I wanted to approach it differently than your "traditional" wedding photographer. It really paid off :)

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

—Moment, Light and Composition.

—Houdt u van reizen?

—I love it!

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

—Trying to make a picture. It's a challenge that is highly rewarding.

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

—I am very hard on myself and by far my worst critic. But it's this that keeps me pushing, improving my eye and making better photographs.

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

—Hopefully more documentary and true to life. There are a lot of clichés that are so unnecessary.

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

—It's such a special day. I can feel it when I wake up that morning. As soon as I arrive I can feel all of the joy, excitement and nervousness that is just begging to be captured.

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

—I like it. As long as it's coming from the right people/places.

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

—Some people have the tendency to remove themselves from the photograph. I let them know that I work around them and they are always exactly where I want them.

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

—Stay away from Pinterest and keep it real. Real is always better. Make sure they do research and spend the money. This is the ONE area you don't what to skimp out on. If the bride and groom set a budget and it turns out that wedding photographers cost more, well than it's time to change the budget as well. Don't try to work with it. Make sure you see at least 2 full weddings. Photographers only want to show you their best.

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

—Ruining moments to make something cheesy.

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

—Everything! It's all there. From children to elderly, pets and other vendors. It's NOT al about the bride and groom.

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

—Moments moments moments!

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

—What?

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

—I like working with people. I believe every single one of us is beautiful. If I can show that to somebody who doesn't feel that way about them self than I did my part.

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

—Nope.

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

—The people who love me most.

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—Everything! I don't know why.

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

—I like to call them mile markers. They make us who we are. I can't choose one of significance because they all are.

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

—This is a weird question. I love being me. We are all unique. Embrace your quirkiness and be yourself and maybe more people would like to be like you.

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

—Hmmm... Not sure

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

—"Success is the result that you get from the calculated effort that went into that particular event." – Shaun Baker

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

—If you like and respect yourself than your not worrying who's liking and respecting you. My life isn't based off of "likes".

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

—I am a very methodical person. I do my best to reduce mistakes. Mistakes are "risks gone wrong". We learn from them and move on.

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

—I don't like to check luggage so it's all being carried on with me. I always bring a camera with a 28mm and a 50mm lens.

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

—When I first started out I bought way to much gear. keeping it simple is much easier and also helps me stay in the moment.

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

—I shoot every single day.

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—James Nachtwey and Bruce Davidson.

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

—That it's all about the people. A true, real moment will win over something staged every single time.

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

—I am a creative, artistic story teller.

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

—It's who I am. I don't have a choice :)

—Hadden uw ouders strenger of minder streng moeten zijn?

—I guess it also made me who I am today so I would say it was just about perfect. Weather I agree with it or not.

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

—I would have say Yes to that McDonalds party that my parents wanted to throw for me when I turned 6.

—Wat denkt u over leven op andere planeten?

—Of course there is.

—Wie zijn uw helden?

—Any person that is not afraid to take a chance. To stand for something. To make this a better place for all of us to life.

—Voor wie kan u geen respect opbrengen?

—Murderers, robbers, rapists ect...

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

—What leisure time?!

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

—My good side.

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

—Never but hopefully next time.

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

—Nope.

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—Yes.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

—San Diego, California.

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

—This interview!

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—Not for the bride and groom. Kidding. Of course.

—Heeft u een favoriete mop? Vertel ...

—It's not appropriate for this interview.

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

—Dogs.

—Wie of wat haat u?

—Everything and everyone.

—Het beste in het leven is:

—What you choose to include in it. My wife and dog for sure!

—Het vervelendste in het leven is:

—That human being create categories for each other and then fight! We are all humans! Cut it out.

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

—Nicer people. Less hate/ corrupted social media algorithms.

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan uzelf?

—I alter myself every day.

—Wat zou u graag veranderen aan de wereld?

—I am an observer. Non critical.

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

—Shoot, shoot shoot. Make mistakes and learn. Don't overcharge!

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

—To get me out of here!

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

—Comedy.

—Morgen zal ik ... doen

—Same as today.