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Fotógrafo Laura Otoya

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Esteve online pela última vez há muito tempo

Cartagena, Colômbia 

9 anos no MyWed
Eu falo inglês, espanhol
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xxlJzQwDTzuP8hL35vq1HcABK6OQBMsMZNs2wXHf9QFXypQ6Ysae8Mkn2AxulhCH05lV3sIsALrZlTk0Vpsb-tcnFsHcW8NVT2U_xQ Cartagena, Colômbia Laura Otoya +57 302 4285882

Entrevista

  • Você é fotogénica(o)?

    Only whenever I'm not faking my smile ;)

  • Como se iniciou na indústria da fotografia?

    I had always loved taking photos as a hobby but had no real knowledge on the subject. I was working at Citibank in one of those "dream jobs" that everyone wants only when they don't have it... I couldn't sleep, I dreamed with workflow diagrams (REALLY!) and I felt I just needed an escape. I bought my first semipro camera and registered into La Salle College. I took two courses and was just hooked, but never thought of pursuing photography as a career. After two years I met Gustavo (my fiancé and business partner) and since we both loved photography we took our cameras everywhere. Our friends began telling us that we took awesome photos and we should think about making it more than a hobby. We began investigating and went to a few weddings as second shooters until we felt ready to take on the responsibility on our own. We are both currently full time wedding photographers!

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

    Moment, emotion, light and composition.

  • Gosta de viajar?

    I absolutely love to travel and hope to be able to see and photograph the world!

  • O que mais gosta na sua profissão?

    Every wedding implies an emotional surge that renews me. I absolutely enjoy getting to know every client, helping and providing any assessment they may need, before and during their wedding day. We have made quite a few new friends thanks to this profession!

  • O que menos gosta na sua profissão?

    There is way to much envy and nasty competition only based on pricing. Thankfully we have met a few collegues that share our view of being more human and friendly than competitive.

  • Qual será o futuro da fotografia?

    Brides and grooms who previously made the mistake of thinking "I have a friend who owns a professional camera" or "My uncle Bob will take care of the photos" or "I found a photographer who is INCREDIBLY cheaper than you" or even "my friend who takes photos for National Geographic offered to take my photos at no charge" are now alarming their own friends and suggesting they should invest in a profesional and experienced wedding photographer. Clients are beginning to realize that investing millions in flowers it not worth it if you don't at least have good photos to remember them by. So... the future? I'd say its just bound to be brighter every day!

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

    The emotional component in the atmosphere that you can feel, capture and relive. As well as the amount of detail and effort that you know was put into making the day perfect... and knowing that you (or us in my case) are the ones responsible for making the couple and their family and friends be able to remember even more than what they were actually able to see.

  • Como lida com as críticas?

    I try to receive it in a constructive way in order to improve. I would actually enjoy receiving more constructive criticism from colleagues.

  • Existem tendências na fotografia?

    I think there are several trends (some in fashion, others not so much) regarding the way you approach a wedding and there are also trends in the way images are edited and post-processed. None better than others, just different.

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

    I believe they should just love their style and approach on weddings and feel connected and confident about their choice. If there is any reason to doubt, rethink.

  • O que não é permitido de todo ao fotografar?

    Hmm... chewing gum? Wearing high heels? I don't know I guess anything that would be uncomfortable for your clients, their guests or even yourself.

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

    I would say the actions (emotional connection and complicity) between the bride and groom and the actions and reactions of the guests to whatever is going on. Practice makes us better observers in time.

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

    I believe in wedding photography there is value only when the photo is actually valuable for someone. The emotional component in the photo can make it even more valuable, and to some viewers, more or even less beautiful. You may have taken a photo that is your favorite of all times, but if the bride and groom divorce, the photo will have no value whatsoever to them and will loose sense even for you. You may take a regular portrait of the groom with his grandmother and then find out that grandma passed a few months after... that photo is invaluable to him and very valuable to you, but may be of no value to others. So elements? I guess the main one would be love.

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

    There's still more than 80 years left in the century lets give it more time ;)

  • O quem pretende fotografar?

    Happy and enamoured brides and grooms.

  • Tem tabus profissionais?

    Nothing that I would consider a taboo comes to mind at the moment.

  • Com quem gostaria de fotografar?

    There are a few renown wedding photographers that I would love to learn from and see, but I believe I already shoot with my favorite person in the world.

  • Com que se preocupa e porquê?

    I think I worry about the future that is meant to the following generations. I just see hatred, destruction and evil everywhere.

  • Qual foi o momento mais impressionante na sua vida?

    Hmmm first thing that comes to mind was my engagement, it was at night on Charles Bridge in Prague with the view the Prague Castle. Totally surprising, romantic and impressive!

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

    Captain Planet. I would just love to have the power to "bring pollution down to zero".

  • Quem o inspira na sua vida e porquê?

    My fiancé and my family. They are motors in my life and I want to always see them happy.

  • Como define o sucesso? Como o afere?

    Being able to live happily, peacefully and freely. Finding the joy in everything you do (specially for a living), and enjoying both the simple and the complex.

  • Gostaria mais de ser amado ou respeitado?

    Liked. I'd say most people that like you will respect you anyway. If respect is only a manifestation of hypocrisy, in the long run you inspire nothing.

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

    Hmm... I once sent an album off for printing and when I received it I realized that the bride had a black smudge on her cheek in the photo of the kiss. I went to look at the original photo and when I zoomed in I discovered that the black smudge was actually a huge mosquito. Of course I had to send it back and pay for the correction. I now zoom in to anything that I'm not so sure is a mole.

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

    A very good smartphone. It holds all important information, allows you to use GPS applications, access the internet, communicate with loved ones and take (good-enough) daytime photos and video. I've never had to travel without additionally taking my camera but it ends up being "too much" when all you need is a selfie or a fellow tourist that can actually take a photo that is in focus.

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

    While you learn what is truly important you spend on things you think you need. I would totally take back a few backdrops that I bought expecting to have extra time during the week to do lots of newborn photography. Whenever I need a backdrop I use different alternatives anyway.

  • Como aprende a tirar fotos melhores?

    "Practice makes the master” and I do feel I learn more with every wedding we shoot. However we try to find time to do at least one professional workshop every year, read and investigate ways to improve and perfect technical knowledge, follow and analyze photos taken by other colleges (not only weddings), take online courses and watch good movies.

  • Que trabalho mais o influenciou como fotógrafo?

    Susan Stripling.

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

    No matter how much effort you put into a photo or how much heart you involve in making the image the best, "beauty still is in the eye of the beholder". You just can't suffer or take it personal if in the end it doesn't even make the photo album.

  • O que pretende transmitir com as suas fotos?

    I just want my images to speak for themselves.

  • O que o motiva a continuar a fotografar?

    The value that so many clients give to our work and the fact that the value of many of them will increase even more during time. Reading the testimonial section in our blog is a permanent motivation!

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

    They did their best and surely made mistakes like every parent, but bottom line is I always felt loved. I think they should have been just like they were because that's what has made me the person I am today.

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

    I would have spent less on the unnecessary and more on experiences and travel.

  • O que pensa da vida nos outros planetas?

    Seriously? NASA will surely answer this one better than I can.

  • Quem são os seus heróis?

    I have considered my father my hero for as long as I can remember. Total admiration <3

  • A quem é que não respeita?

    People who treat you like crap just because they think they are in a "higher" place than you are.

  • O que faz nos seus tempos livres?

    I try to spend more quality time with my friends and family. If there is singing involved, better yet!

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

    Depends on the public... I am very sensitive but I don't show it much. A few wedding vows and speeches have made me cry in "public" recently.

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

    Whenever we receive a call or message from the bride and groom expressing how happy they are with their photos.

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

    I was born in a very traditional household but believe roles have changed for justifiable reasons.

  • Faz amigos com facilidade?

    I consider myself a friendly person but I am not very good at being in contact with everybody. I've always hated spending hours on the phone (not even as a teenager that I actually tried). My true friends know they can count on me and I'm always there even if we don't see or speak to each other often.

  • Onde gostaria de viver?

    A retirement in the Rosario Islands in Cartagena would be a dream come true. In the meantime I prefer to be someplace where I can travel for both work and pleasure easily. Bogotá is ideal in this case.

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

    Go Bungee Jumping off a 130 meter viaduct near Cajamarca, Colombia.

  • Existe vida depois do casamento?

    If I didn't think so I wouldn't be getting married!

  • Tem uma anedota favorita? Conte-nos.

    I am so bad at jokes I can never remember any.

  • Gosta de cães e gatos?

    Both!!

  • A quem ou o que odeia?

    Hypocrisy and superficiality.

  • A melhor coisa na vida é:

    Having enough reasons to smile and laugh often.

  • A coisa mais irritante na vida é:

    When you just feel 24 hour days aren't enough and there is nothing you can do about it.

  • Existe algo em seu redor que gostaria de mudar?

    Nope, just go with the flow.

  • O que gostaria de mudar em si próprio?

    I would be a little less stubborn and a little more wild.

  • O que gostaria de mudar no mundo?

    Lack of love, indifference, injustice, misery, envy and resentment.

  • Pode dar algumas dicas para fotógrafos principiantes?

    Start off as second shooters while you truly learn the dynamic of wedding photography... and don't just do it for the money.

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

    I'd probably just stare (or hide) and be totally incapable of communication. Unless they look like ET.

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

    Drama – hopefully taking place in an inspiring city like Prague.

  • Amanhã eu vou fazer...

    Tomorrow is saturday... take a wild guess!?