Fotograf Laura Otoya

—Är du fotogenisk?

—Only whenever I'm not faking my smile ;)

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—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!

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

—Moment, emotion, light and composition.

—Älskar du att resa?

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

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

—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!

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

—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.

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

—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!

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

—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.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

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

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

—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.

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

—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.

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

—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.

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

—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.

—Vad påverkar fotots värde? Vilka är dess element?

—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.

—Vilken person tycker du symboliserar 2000-talet?

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

—Vem vill du fotografera?

—Happy and enamoured brides and grooms.

—Har du några professionella tabun?

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

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

—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.

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

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

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

—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!

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

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

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

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

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

—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.

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

—"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.

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

—Susan Stripling.

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

—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.

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

—I just want my images to speak for themselves.

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—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!

—Borde dina föräldrar ha varit mer eller mindre strikta?

—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.

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

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

—Tror du att det finns liv på andra planeter?

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

—Vilka är dina hjältar?

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

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

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

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

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

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

—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.

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

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

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

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

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

—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.

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

—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.

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

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

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

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

—Har du ett favoritskämt? Berätta det för oss.

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

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

—Both!!

—Vem eller vad hatar du?

—Hypocrisy and superficiality.

—Det bästa med livet är:

—Having enough reasons to smile and laugh often.

—Det mest irriterande med livet är:

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

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

—Nope, just go with the flow.

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

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

—Vad vill du ändra på i världen?

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

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

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

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

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

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

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

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

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