Photographer: Fabio Camandona
Couple: Miriam &Antonio
Location: Krotone, Italy
Wedding Date: 10th June 2015
Tell us a little about yourself?
Oh, really, I don’t know. I’m so simple. I love my family, my life, my free time. I love taking pictures too. No more. I’m just a simple man.
How do you think or would like people to describe you?
Like a good father and a good husband. I don’t care about any other thing really.
Tell us a little bit about the wedding day?
Well, we like to think we are like guests, friends of the couple. We arrive and we start to enjoy the day with everyone. I say “we” cause we’re always two photographers for each wedding. We just follow the day in “hidden mode” until the end 🙂 Nothing more, it’s really simple. We think about the photos, the guys think about the party.
How did you get into wedding photography?
Some clients asked to me to shoot their wedding. I was really scared so I studied hard so I could get it right.
How long have you been a wedding photographer?
More than 10 years at now. Too much 😉
Can you share how you’ve made your wedding photography business a success? Any mistakes you made along the way?
First of all I always think that every couple is “The King and The Queen” for one day, I’m just a worker. No room to make mistakes. Then a lot a lot a lot of marketing, a lot of smiles also especially when something goes wrong. The way was hard and long.
What do you think a bride or groom should be looking for and not looking for in terms of wedding photography packages?
They absolutely have to have a photographer that makes them go “WOW”. No more. Just “WOW”. They have to say “WOW” when they see his photos. They have to desire to be the subjects of those photos. What I really think is if the price is too high they have to reduce the number of guests. Usually 2-3 is sufficient to make the difference between a “mmmmm” photographer and their “WOW” photographer.
How do you advertise yourself and what for you has really worked?
Social networks and word of mouth. No Exhibition, no office, no shop. Nothing. Good pictures and a good attitude are sufficient.
Why do you think people hire you?
Because I’m so nice ;-). I’m not joking, I am always smiling about life and everything else will be great.
How many weddings do you average per year?
30-40 at the beginning, 5-6 now. (but always 40 for our Studio).
I prefer it when our young and amazing guys work instead of me. They are the future.
If you were asked to shoot a destination wedding, where would you hope it would be?
I live in Tenerife and it’s a great place to live in but could it would be great to do some weddings in India or China. Maybe Cuba too 😉
What equipment do you have for a typical wedding day?
Just mirror less. Love them. I’m an official testimonial for Fujifilm (my choice) and I use two X-E2s with two prime lens. 14 and 56. No weight, no thoughts about stupid technical questions. A good photo is just a mix between emotion, composition and light.
What is the most challenging thing about a wedding.
Not one thing I think. It’s just an event and we have our “magical way” of shooting it 😉
Do you have an approach to a wedding?
Yes: Smile. Be quiet, relaxed, always laugh (I enjoy the wedding, everyone smiles so I smile too, of course it’s a funny day)
Best & Worst marketing idea so far?
Best one: Training up some other young photographers.
Worst one: I worked too much in Italy where it is quite impossible to work (taxes, lifestyle)
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
Location Finder 😉
Share your favourite image of the day and why?
It’s the party, the feel, the soul of the day.
Do you have any goals for the future photography related or otherwise?
Yes: gain more time for me and my family. Honestly I have a lot of time nowow but I want more 😉
What do you think is key to being a successful wedding photographer?
Be scared about a wedding day (photography related of course 😀 ). It’s difficult. You can’t make mistakes, you don’t have another chance to get it right.
Are there any other wedding photographers whose work inspires you, can be a well know photographer or somebody you’ve stumbled across?
Honestly no one. I have my style and I like it. I want to work on myself, looking for something inside me. Maybe there’s nothing I don’t know, we’ll see 🙂
Proudest moment so far. Photography related or otherwise?
MY wedding. MY son’s birth. OUR change of continent to live in.
