Fotograf James Richardson

—Först och främst - vem kan du nämna som den bästa fotografen i Granada, Spanien? :)

—The best photographer doesn't exist, only styles! Today there are so many photographers, and each one has their own style. As long as you work hard to constantly grow and push yourself then you will be happy, your clients will be happy and you will become a great photographer.

—Är du fotogenisk?

—To be honest, no not really. That is why I hide behind the camera :P

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—You could say that it was hidden away inside me for a long time. Without realising I have always had a camera to hand since I was little. Love my dads Canon 650 EOS and always used to take it off his hands. Never thought that it would turn out to be something that I loved doing.

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

—A good photo has to have life in it. If a photo does not have a penetrating look, or the calmness of a smile, then for me that photo is not natural enough and that is what I always look for in my wedding photos.

—Älskar du att resa?

—I love new and unknown territories, this make you push your skills and ideas to the limits and keeps you improving. I have several trips lined up this year and cant wait to work somewhere new. And if it is for vacactional purpose, then without a doubt, but I can assure you that my camera will never leave my side.

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

—The reaction when I hand my work in and the happiness it brings. I will love photography no matter what, and will always love it no matter what people say about my work. All photographers want to exceed their expectations, improve, update themselves, master new techniques, and we are very perfectionist when it comes down to our own work, so it is a fantastic feeling when others congratulate you on your efforts.

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

—Nothing, I came from a financial work environment with a stressful background to something that I dreamt about doing for a long time. And when you manage to do something you dream about there will be some down moments but you remember what you are doing and why you are doing it, and that motivating crawls right back in and you thrive again.

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

—Well who knows, it is constantly changing and there are so many different styles and techniques to choose from. But hopefully, it will become less fictional and more natural.

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

—The atmosphere, the mood, the happiness, capturing of the moment that will be shown to every family member and friends, current and future. But more importantly you are immortalising a moment in someone's life which details can be forgot via thought but sealed in a photograph

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

—Constructive criticism helps me improve, mature and evolve. There is always a positive way of looking at things, and criticism can be broken down and used in a positive manner.

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

—Right at this point in time in the trend of the sameday, where we process photos on the same day of the wedding before the dance. It have become very popular here in Spain.

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

—To select the photographer via his/her work and style and not the price, with out forgetting that they must connect.

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

—Pressure on the bride and groom. In order to take the best and most natural shots we need the bride and groom to be as relaxed as possible. And also mobile and table devises. There are numerous of occasions when the groom could not see the bride walking down the isle due to the amount of people leaning out with their phones and tables.

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

—I try to study the bride and groom before the wedding, assuring those personal gestures are captured so that when their friends and family see the photos, they recognise the naturalness of the image and the moment captured.

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—There are so many things to cover for this question. But if i had to sum it up in one, the naturalness of the the photo is highly important.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

—Everything I can see with my eyes, as long as I add my personal touch.

—Har du några professionella tabun?

—No

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

—Steve McCurry, Chema Madoz, Sebastiao Salgado, El Marco Rojo, Ramone El Marco Rojo.

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—I worry about not having enough time. There is never enough time in one day, but the important this is to make the most out of the time you have.

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

—When my little ones were born.

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

—Peter Parker, obvious right?

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

—My partner, she is always motivating my and pushing be to be better and do better in all aspects of my life.

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

—Success for me would be to continue capturing the best moments and continue to improving.

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—Respected, first of all you understand who a person is then you respect them and then you start to like them for who they are.

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

—I try not to make any mistakes, but hey, we are not perfect. When I started as a wedding photographer, I forgot to check the wedding images after downloading them and had the auto delete after download turned on, resulting in deleting the whole ceremony and service photos. I thank lexar for their amazing recovery app.

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

—My fujifilm x30 and my D750 with my 35mm f1.4 – Fuji is easy to store and lightweight. And my D750 because of its amazing quality for those special shots.

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

—I love all gadgets and never regret buying anything as I make sure I study everything before purchase.

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

—Workshops, seminars, and other photographer friends.

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

—There are so many photographers out there. I just try to learn from all and adapt my own style. But if I had to thank a specific photographer it would be El Marco Rojo.