Fotógrafo Wendell Fernandes

—Você é fotogénica(o)?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Como se iniciou na indústria da fotografia?

—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.

—Em sua opinião, quais são os componentes mais importantes para uma boa fotografia?

—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.

—Gosta de viajar?

—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.

—O que mais gosta na sua profissão?

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

—O que menos gosta na sua profissão?

—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.

—Qual será o futuro da fotografia?

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

—O que há de especial para si, no género de fotografia em que se especializou?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Como lida com as críticas?

—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.

—Existem tendências na fotografia?

—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.

—Quais deveriam ser os critérios considerados pelo cliente na escolha de um fotógrafo?

—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.

—O que não é permitido de todo ao fotografar?

—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.

—Que detalhes passam habitualmente despercebidos mas nos quais um fotógrafo repara?

—How light affects moments.

—O que influencia o valor da foto? Quais são os seus elementos?

—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.

—Na sua opinião, que pessoa poderá ser o símbolo do século XXI?

—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.

—O que pretende fotografar?

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

—Tem tabus profissionais?

—Not really.

—Com quem gostaria de fotografar?

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

—Com que se preocupa e porquê?

—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.

—Qual foi o momento mais impressionante na sua vida?

—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.

—Que personagem animada, literária ou de um filme gostaria de ser? Porquê?

—I never thought of that :)

—Quem o inspira na sua vida e porquê?

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

—Como define o sucesso? Como o afere?

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

—Gostaria mais de ser amado ou respeitado?

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

—Qual foi o maior erro que já cometeu a nível profissional?

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

—Quando vai viajar, o que leva consigo e porquê?

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

—Está arrependido de ter adquirido algum dos gadgets que possui? Porquê?

—Not yet.

—Como aprende a tirar fotos melhores?

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

—Que trabalho mais o influenciou como fotógrafo?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Qual é a coisa que mais gostaria de ter sabido quando começou a fotografar?

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

—O que pretende transmitir com as suas fotos?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—O que o motiva a continuar a fotografar?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Os seus pais deveriam ter sido mais ou menos rigorosos?

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

—Se pudesse regredir no tempo, o que faria de diferente?

—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.

—O que pensa da vida nos outros planetas?

—Only God knows!

—Quem são os seus heróis?

—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.

—A quem é que não respeita?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—O que faz nos seus tempos livres?

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

—Qual é o seu lado que o público nunca vê?

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

—Quando é que fica completamente satisfeito com o seu trabalho?

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

—Acredita nos papéis tradicionais reservados ao homem e à mulher?

—Yes.

—Faz amigos com facilidade?

—I do.

—Onde gostaria de viver?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Qual foi a coisa mais estúpida que concordou em fazer?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Existe vida depois do casamento?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Tem uma anedota favorita? Conte-nos.

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

—Gosta de cães e gatos?

—Dogs.

—A quem ou o que odeia?

—Nothing really.

—A melhor coisa na vida é:

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

—A coisa mais irritante na vida é:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Existe algo em seu redor que gostaria de mudar?

—Not really.

—O que gostaria de mudar em si próprio?

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

—O que gostaria de mudar no mundo?

—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.

—Pode dar algumas dicas para fotógrafos principiantes?

—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.

—Caso os alienígenas viessem para a Terra, e fosse a primeira pessoa a encontrá-los, o que lhes diria?

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

—Se fosse chamado para fazer um filme, que género escolheria?

—Drama.

—Amanhã eu vou fazer...

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