Photographer Wendell Fernandes

—Ikaw ba ay photogenic?

—I'm not sure – my wife says so :)

—Paano ka nagsimula sa industriya ng photography?

—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.

—Ano ang mga mahahalagang bahagi ng isang magandang larawan sa iyong opinyon?

—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.

—Mahilig ka ba maglakbay?

—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.

—Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa iyong propesyon?

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

—Ano ang hindi mo gusto sa iyong propesyon?

—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.

—Ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng photography?

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

—Ano ang espesyal sa kategorya ng photography kung saan ka dalubhasa?

—Generations joining together in one loving event.

—Paano ka tumatanggap ng pagpuna?

—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.

—Mayroon bang mga trend ang photography?

—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.

—Ano ang dapat na pamantayan ng isang customer sa pagpili ng photographer?

—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.

—Ano ang mga bagay na dapat iwasan kapag kumukuha ng larawan?

—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.

—Ano ang mga detalye na kadalasan ay hindi napapansin na napapansin ng photographer?

—How light affects moments.

—Ano ang mga umiimpluwensya sa kahalagahan ng isang larawan? Ano ang mga element nito?

—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.

—Sinong tao ang sumisimbolo sa ika-21 siglo sa iyong opinyon?

—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.

—Sino ang gusto mong kuhaan?

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

—Mayroon ka bang mga propesyonal na ipinagbabawal?

—Not really.

—Sino ang gusto mong makasama sa pagkuha ng larawan?

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

—Ano ang ikinababahala mo, at bakit?

—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.

—Ano ang pinakahanga-hangang pagkakataon sa iyong buhay?

—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.

—Kung ikaw ay isang kartun, libro o karakter sa pelikula, sino ang gugustuhin mong maging at bakit?

—I never thought of that :)

—Sino ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa iyong buhay at bakit?

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

—Paano mo binibigyang kahulugan ang tagumpay? Paano mo tinitimbang ito?

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

—Mas pipiliin mo bang magustuhan o nirerespeto?

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

—Ano ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ang nagawa mo sa trabaho?

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

—Kapag ikaw ay naglalakbay, ano ang dinadala mo at bakit?

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

—Mayroon ka bang kahilingan na hindi mo pa nabibili maliban sa mga gadget na mayroon ka? Bakit?

—Not yet.

—Paano mo tinuturuan ang sarili mo na kumuha ng mas magagandang mga larawan?

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

—Kaninong mga gawa ang may malaking nagimpluwensiya sa iyo bilang photographer?

—Joe Buissink's work probably.

—Ano ang isang bagay na nais mong malaman noong nagumpisa ka sa pagkuha ng mga larawan?

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

—Ano ang nais mong sabihin sa iyong mga larawan?

—Register the reality of people and their personalities.

—Ano ang nag-uudyok sa iyo na ipagpatuloy ang pagkuha ng mga larawan?

—The stories of people I meet.

—Ang iyong magulang ba ay dapat naging mas o hindi gaanong istrikto?

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

—Kung maaari mong balikan ang nakaraan, ano ang babaguhin mo?

—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.

—Paano naman ang buhay sa ibang mga planeta?

—Only God knows!

—Sino ang iyong mga bayani?

—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.

—Kanino ka walang respeto?

—The corrupt system of this world.

—Ano ang iyong ginagawa sa iyong bakanteng oras?

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

—Anong bahagi mo ang hindi nakikita ng publiko?

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

—Kailan ka ganap na nasisiyahan sa iyong trabaho?

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

—Naniniwala ka ba sa tradisyunal na mga papel para mga sa lalaki at babae?

—Yes.

—Mabilis ka ba makipagkaibigan?

—I do.

—Saan mo gustong manirahan?

—Anywhere I can help and be more active socially.

—Ano ang pinakamangmang na bagay na sinang-ayunan mong gawin?

—Open businesses with others without contracts.

—Mayroon bang buhay pagkatapos ng kasal?

—Yes and an abundant one.

—Mayroon ka bang paboritong biro? Sabihin mo sa amin.

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

—Mahilig ka ba sa mga aso at pusa?

—Dogs.

—Sino o ano ang iyong kinasusuklaman?

—Nothing really.

—Ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay ay:

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

—Ang pinakanakakainis na bagay sa buhay ay:

—A long mass in a wedding day.

—Mayroong ba sa iyong paligid na nais mong baguhin?

—Not really.

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa iyong sarili?

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

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa 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.

—Maaari ka bang magbigay ng mga tip para sa mga photographer na nagsisimula pa lamang?

—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.

—Kung ang mga alien ay pumunta sa Earth at ikaw ang una nilang makikilala, ano ang sasabihin mo sakanila?

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

—Kung ikaw ay tatawagin upang mag-shoot ng pelikula, ano ang magiging kategorya nito?

—Drama.

—Bukas ako pupunta at gagawa...

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