Photographer Laura Otoya

—Ikaw ba ay photogenic?

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

—Paano ka nagsimula sa industriya ng photography?

—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!

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

—Moment, emotion, light and composition.

—Mahilig ka ba maglakbay?

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

—Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa iyong propesyon?

—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!

—Ano ang hindi mo gusto sa iyong propesyon?

—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.

—Ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng photography?

—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!

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

—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.

—Paano ka tumatanggap ng pagpuna?

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

—Mayroon bang mga trend ang photography?

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

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

—Sino ang gusto mong kuhaan?

—Happy and enamoured brides and grooms.

—Mayroon ka bang mga propesyonal na ipinagbabawal?

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

—Sino ang gusto mong makasama sa pagkuha ng larawan?

—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.

—Ano ang ikinababahala mo, at bakit?

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

—Ano ang pinakahanga-hangang pagkakataon sa iyong buhay?

—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!

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

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

—Sino ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa iyong buhay at bakit?

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

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

—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.

—Mas pipiliin mo bang magustuhan o nirerespeto?

—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.

—Ano ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ang nagawa mo sa trabaho?

—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.

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

—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.

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

—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.

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

—"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.

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

—Susan Stripling.

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

—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.

—Ano ang nais mong sabihin sa iyong mga larawan?

—I just want my images to speak for themselves.

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

—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!

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

—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.

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

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

—Paano naman ang buhay sa ibang mga planeta?

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

—Sino ang iyong mga bayani?

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

—Kanino ka walang respeto?

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

—Ano ang iyong ginagawa sa iyong bakanteng oras?

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

—Anong bahagi mo ang hindi nakikita ng publiko?

—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.

—Kailan ka ganap na nasisiyahan sa iyong trabaho?

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

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

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

—Mabilis ka ba makipagkaibigan?

—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.

—Saan mo gustong manirahan?

—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.

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

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

—Mayroon bang buhay pagkatapos ng kasal?

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

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

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

—Mahilig ka ba sa mga aso at pusa?

—Both!!

—Sino o ano ang iyong kinasusuklaman?

—Hypocrisy and superficiality.

—Ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay ay:

—Having enough reasons to smile and laugh often.

—Ang pinakanakakainis na bagay sa buhay ay:

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

—Mayroong ba sa iyong paligid na nais mong baguhin?

—Nope, just go with the flow.

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa iyong sarili?

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

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa mundo?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Bukas ako pupunta at gagawa...

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