Photographer Graziano Guerini

—Ikaw ba ay photogenic?

—mmm...I don't think so :D

—Paano ka nagsimula sa industriya ng photography?

—Probably in the same way of most of us: a friend asked me to shoot his wedding, then, since I had already a big passion about photography, after I saw that I enjoyed a lot to capture real moments, I decided to follow that path (step by step).

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

—I think there is not an exact answer, everyone likes a photo because of many reasons, also personal reasons given by personal taste.
Personally, using of course a good technique, I aim to capture always the emotions, the real moments, that's what really matters in a perfect service in my opinion.
And in the Creative Sessions I aim to create beautiful photos, so I take care of the esthetique by following my personal sense of taste, but always trying to give some emotions to the viewers.
Also controlling lights and shadows is very important, often essential.

—Mahilig ka ba maglakbay?

—Yes, I love to see new places and to change the wedding locations too :) shooting weddings in different countries, with different traditions, it's very interesting.
But I travel also just for myself, obviously.

—Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa iyong propesyon?

—What I said before, shooting weddings in different countries, with different traditions, it's very interesting, and we often work between Austria, Italy and Hungary, but not only.
And this job allows me to meet new people, of course, and this is also a beautiful side of being a wedding photographer.
And being able to give to these people memories they will be joyful to watch in the future, well, that makes me proud.

—Ano ang hindi mo gusto sa iyong propesyon?

—Maybe the marketing part, it's a ton of work which is hidden to the eyes of most of the clients, and to be honest is not so great and fun like shooting photos :) but that's part of this job too, and must be done.
I also don't like the envy and malice that some photographers have of others colleagues, I think everyone should just think about giving his best, and caring only about to improve, continuously.

—Ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng photography?

—I don't know.
Let's see, let's work at our best, and let's be ready for all the developments in this profession :)

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

—To me, being the direct witness of great emotions, and not only: I'm the one in charge to capture those moments, it's a big responsability, and a honour too.

—Paano ka tumatanggap ng pagpuna?

—It depends on how much competent is who criticize me :D jokes apart, I'm always studying, always trying new things, and always following photographers whose works I love, and I'm always ready to learn from them.
There is always to learn something new, and there is always someone who can teach me something.
So, I usually accept critics if well reasoned, or at least I reflect on them.

—Mayroon bang mga trend ang photography?

—Trends are going and coming continuously, but beautiful photos always remain, forever, and that's what matters.
I don't really care about trends, even if I take a look at them. But yes, definitely there are trends, like in about everything else.

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

—I always say to people: "look my portfolio, also the full works, and if you feel something when you are watching my photos, then I'm the photographer you are looking for".
My photos will be the only memories of their best day, they must be absolutely sure that my style fits perfectly with their taste.

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

—The photographer must not become the protagonist of the scene, and he/she must always remember that it's not his/her wedding, but the bride and groom's wedding.
In few words, the photographer must not be intrusive.

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

—A lot of details.
And as we know, details are what make the difference.

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

—Again, details: the light, the composition, a natural smile, real tears, perfect moments, emotions.

—Sino ang gusto mong kuhaan?

—I don't have a specific answer, in every people there can be a cool subject.

—Mayroon ka bang mga propesyonal na ipinagbabawal?

—In wedding photography probably not.

—Sino ang gusto mong makasama sa pagkuha ng larawan?

—There are so many great colleagues, that it's hard to choose just one name.
Probably Ben Chrisman could be the name, and Daniele Vertelli too.

—Ano ang ikinababahala mo, at bakit?

—I'm quite skeptical about the global politics of the last years, I think the world is not going in a good direction.

—Ano ang pinakahanga-hangang pagkakataon sa iyong buhay?

—When I married my wife.

—Sino ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa iyong buhay at bakit?

—No one, honestly I never had models and I never needed models.

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

—About my job, a good measure is when many couples suggest me to other friends, it means I did my job as I wanted, perfectly :)

—Mas pipiliin mo bang magustuhan o nirerespeto?

—First of all respected, then if I'm also liked...perfect :D

—Ano ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ang nagawa mo sa trabaho?

—Sometimes I'm so concentrated about the work, that I forget the grooms' names :D luckily there is always my wife next to me to remind me the names

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

—A camera, to take photos of course :D
And a list of good and trustworthy places where to eat...I'm italian :D

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

—Probably there are some things which are not essential, but I use everything, some things more often than others, but no "regrets".

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

—Mostly I follow the works of other colleagues whose style I love, and compare my works with theirs.
Also the contests in the various wedding photography associations I'm member of are a good way to measure your level.
But as a wedding photographer with a photojournalist approach, I follow also the works of the big names in photojournalism: McCurry, Koudelka, Salgado, Güler, Erwitt and so on...there is a lot to learn from them, that is very useful at weddings.

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

—Who made me discover the beauty of wedding photography, I mean, an artistic type of wedding photography, where emotions are mixed to creativity and both are perfectly in balance to each others, it was Ben Chrisman.
When I saw his works for the first time, I was amazed (and I'm still nowadays, I always follow his new works), he showed me something I never saw before.
Then of course everyone has to follow his path, and has to create an own style.

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

—That there is so much "hidden work": marketing, emails, equipment cares and upgrades, etc...a lot of time for that :)

—Ano ang nais mong sabihin sa iyong mga larawan?

—I want to show my point of view.
I always do what I like. And I like emotions, so I like to capture the emotions, and to show those photos to my couples: it's always great to see their happiness when they see it.

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

—The fact I can express my creativity, the fact that my work can make happy other people also after many years.

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

—They have been ok when I was small, even too gentle :)

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

—Maybe I would have started before with photography.
But probably I wouldn't change nothing, there is always a reason why things happen in a specific way.

—Paano naman ang buhay sa ibang mga planeta?

—Why not? The universe is so big, so there could be another similar planet between the other billions :)

—Sino ang iyong mga bayani?

—As I said, no heroes.
People I admire yes, but no heroes.

—Kanino ka walang respeto?

—For ignorant people pretending to know and judge the things they clearly don't know nothing about, and inside the photography world for photographers that are taking care more to do "blablabla" and talking behind back of other colleagues casting in a bad light the colleagues' works rather than caring about to improve the quality of their own works.
Unfortunately there are many doing so, especially on the social networks (but there are also great people too between my colleagues, thanks God! And I have to say that Mywed gave me the possibility to get in contact with many great colleagues and great people).
But the correct word I would use is "I don't like", and not "I have no respect".

—Ano ang iyong ginagawa sa iyong bakanteng oras?

—I love cooking, I go running, mountain biking, fishing.

—Kailan ka ganap na nasisiyahan sa iyong trabaho?

—Probably I'm never completely satisfied, I'm quite critic with myself, so there is always something I would do to improve something later.

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

—No.

—Mabilis ka ba makipagkaibigan?

—I'm not so extroverse as not-italians usually expect from italians, but if I like a person I'm getting friendly quite soon :)

—Saan mo gustong manirahan?

—Now I'm not in Italy, the life took me somewhere else, but being close to it makes me feel ok :) I don't want to go far, Europe is good for me, especially the southern/central part :)

—Mayroon bang buhay pagkatapos ng kasal?

—It seems so :D

—Mahilig ka ba sa mga aso at pusa?

—Yes, I think I have a special attraction on them, they become my friends almost instantly :)

—Ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay ay:

—Life itself.

—Ang pinakanakakainis na bagay sa buhay ay:

—Annoying people and know-it-all people.

—Mayroong ba sa iyong paligid na nais mong baguhin?

—Well, winning the lottery would be nice :D but jokes apart, no, around me everything it's ok as it is :)

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa mundo?

—Is this Miss Universe contest? :D
Do you know how many problems there are in the world? I should write an endless list.

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

—Watch, study and follow the works of the "big names".
Learn the technique and the "rules". Then, when you have the technique, you must experience, break also the rules, try, try, and try new things.
Never think that you "arrived", that you learned everything.
Develop your style. Use your ideas. Be yourself. And do what you like.

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

—Probably they don't speak my language :D But I'm italian, just with my hands I can say everything :D

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

—A commedy, or an action movie.

—Bukas ako pupunta at gagawa...

—..."the same thing we do every night Pinky...try to take over the world" :DDD