Fotograf Wendell Fernandes

—Är du fotogenisk?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—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.

—Vilka är enligt dig de viktigaste komponenterna för ett bra fotografi?

—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.

—Älskar du att resa?

—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.

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

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

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

—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.

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

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

—Vad är det speciella med den fotografigenre du specialiserar i?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

—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.

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

—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.

—Vad bör kriterierna vara för en kund som ska välja en fotograf?

—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.

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

—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.

—Vilka detaljer kan en fotograf fånga som vanligtvis går obemärkta?

—How light affects moments.

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—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.

—Vilken person tycker du symboliserar 2000-talet?

—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.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

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

—Har du några professionella tabun?

—Not really.

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

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

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—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.

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

—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.

—Om du vore en animerad, litterär eller filmkaraktär, vem skulle du vara och varför?

—I never thought of that :)

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

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

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

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

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

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

—Vilket är det största misstaget som du har gjort på jobbet?

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

—Vad tar du med dig och varför när du är ute och reser?

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

—Äger du en gadget som du önskar att du inte hade köpt? Varför?

—Not yet.

—Hur utbildar du dig själv för att bli en bättre fotograf?

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

—Vems arbete har haft störst inflytande över dig som fotograf?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Finns det någonting specifikt som du önskar att du visste när du började fotografera?

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

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Borde dina föräldrar ha varit mer eller mindre strikta?

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

—Om du kunde resa tillbaka i tiden, vad skulle du göra annorlunda?

—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.

—Tror du att det finns liv på andra planeter?

—Only God knows!

—Vilka är dina hjältar?

—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.

—Finns det någon person som du inte har någon respekt för?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

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

—Har du någon sida som du aldrig visar upp offentligt?

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

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

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

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

—Yes.

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

—I do.

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Vad är det dummaste som du någonsin har tackat ja till?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Har du ett favoritskämt? Berätta det för oss.

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

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

—Dogs.

—Vem eller vad hatar du?

—Nothing really.

—Det bästa med livet är:

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

—Det mest irriterande med livet är:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Finns det någonting runt omkring dig som du skulle vilja ändra på?

—Not really.

—Finns det någonting om dig själv som du skulle vilja ändra?

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

—Vad vill du ändra på i världen?

—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.

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

—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.

—Om utomjordingar skulle komma till jorden, och du är den första personen som de träffar, vad skulle du säga till dem?

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

—Om du skulle bli tillfrågad att spela in en film, vilken genre skulle det vara?

—Drama.

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

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