Nhiếp ảnh gia Laura Otoya

—Bạn có ăn ảnh không?

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

—Bạn bước chân vào nghề chụp ảnh như thế nào?

—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!

—Theo ý kiến của bạn, những thành phần nào là quan trọng nhất của một bức ảnh đẹp?

—Moment, emotion, light and composition.

—Bạn có yêu thích du lịch không?

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

—Điều bạn thích nhất trong nghề của mình là gì?

—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!

—Điều bạn không thích nhất trong nghề của mình là gì?

—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.

—Tương lai của nghề chụp ảnh sẽ như thế nào?

—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!

—Bạn có chuyên môn đặc biệt về thể loại ảnh nào?

—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.

—Thái độ của bạn trước những lời phê bình như thế nào?

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

—Có bất kỳ xu hướng nào trong ngành nhiếp ảnh không?

—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.

—Khách hàng nên có tiêu chí nào để lựa chọn nhiếp ảnh gia?

—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.

—Cần tránh những điều gì khi chụp ảnh?

—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.

—Những chi tiết nào thường bị bỏ qua mà một nhiếp ảnh gia lại để ý?

—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.

—Cái gì ảnh hưởng tới giá trị của một tấm ảnh? Giá trị gồm các yếu tố nào?

—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.

—Theo ý kiến của bạn người nào có thể là biểu tượng của thế kỷ 21?

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

—Bạn muốn chụp ai?

—Happy and enamoured brides and grooms.

—Bạn có bất kỳ điều gì cấm kỵ trong nghề nghiệp không?

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

—Bạn thích chụp ảnh cùng ai?

—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.

—Bạn lo lắng điều gì, và tại sao?

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

—Khoảnh khắc ấn tượng nhất trong đời bạn là gì?

—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!

—Nếu bạn là một nhân vật trong một bộ phim hoạt hình, một cuốn sách hay một bộ phim thì bạn muốn là ai và tại sao?

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

—Ai truyền cảm hứng cho bạn trong đời và tại sao?

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

—Bạn định nghĩa thành công là gì? Bạn đo lường thành công như thế nào?

—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.

—Bạn muốn được yêu thích hay được tôn trọng?

—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.

—Sai lầm lớn nhất của bạn trong công việc là gì?

—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.

—Khi đi du lịch, bạn mang theo những thứ gì và tại sao?

—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.

—Có bất kỳ thứ gì mà bạn ước mình đã không mua trong số các thiết bị của bạn không? Tại sao?

—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.

—Bạn tự học cách chụp ảnh như thế nào?

—"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.

—Tác phẩm của ai gây ảnh hưởng nhiều nhất với bạn khi làm nhiếp ảnh gia?

—Susan Stripling.

—Có điều gì bạn ước mình đã biết khi bắt đầu chụp ảnh?

—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.

—Bạn muốn nói điều gì với những tấm ảnh của mình?

—I just want my images to speak for themselves.

—Động lực nào khiến bạn tiếp tục chụp ảnh?

—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!

—Bố mẹ bạn nên nghiêm khắc hơn hay bớt nghiêm khắc đi?

—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.

—Nếu bạn có thể du hành ngược thời gian, bạn sẽ làm điều gì khác đi?

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

—Cuộc sống trên các hành tinh khác như thế nào?

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

—Ai là người hùng của bạn?

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

—Bạn không tôn trọng ai?

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

—Bạn làm gì trong thời gian rỗi?

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

—Khía cạnh nào trong con người bạn mà người ngoài không bao giờ thấy?

—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.

—Khi nào bạn hoàn toàn hài lòng với tác phẩm của mình?

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

—Bạn có tin vào các vai trò truyền thống của nam giới và phụ nữ không?

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

—Bạn có dễ dàng kết bạn không?

—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.

—Bạn muốn sống ở đâu?

—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.

—Điều ngu ngốc nhất bạn từng đồng ý làm là gì?

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

—Cuộc sống sau hôn nhân có tốt không?

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

—Bạn có câu đùa yêu thích nào không? Hãy kể cho chúng tôi.

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

—Bạn thích chó hay mèo?

—Both!!

—Bạn ghét ai hay cái gì?

—Hypocrisy and superficiality.

—Điều tốt đẹp nhất trong cuộc sống là:

—Having enough reasons to smile and laugh often.

—Điều khó chịu nhất trong cuộc sống là:

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

—Bạn có muốn thay đổi bất kỳ điều gì quanh bạn không?

—Nope, just go with the flow.

—Bạn muốn thay đổi điều gì trong bản thân mình?

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

—Bạn muốn thay đổi điều gì trên thế giới?

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

—Bạn có thể đưa ra vài lời khuyên cho các nhiếp ảnh gia vừa mới bắt đầu không?

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

—Nếu người ngoài hành tinh đến Trái đất và bạn là người đầu tiên họ gặp, bạn sẽ cho họ biết những gì?

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

—Nếu bạn được mời quay một bộ phim, đó sẽ là thể loại nào?

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

—Ngày mai tôi sẽ đi làm...

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