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This week, Ioan Said, a photographer based in Chester, England, talks to us about inspirations and influences in a photography career.
How did you first get into photography?
I got my first camera, a Kodak Instamatic X15F, at about age 6. My parents kept sending me to friends and relatives all over the world as what the airline industry calls a "UM" Unaccompanied Minor. Of course, most 6 to 8 year olds in my area didn't go here and there traveling so at first, I was
Who have been some key influence in your style?
Jeff Ascough, Gerry Ghionis and Chuck Arlund. These guys are always innovating and never standing still. Ghionis said "You don't have to be the best, you just have to be better than last week" And this is something which drive me everyday. If I'm not shooting, I'm training and looking out at what is best out there. Keeps my photography and albums evolving.
What is your favorite thing to photograph?
I love wedding photography. I always feel so privileged being invited at these very personal celebrations. I also love doing boudoir photography, which can be a very powerful tool to boost self-confidence in some people. Seeing the reactions from my clients brings me lots of joy.
using it to record my travels, showing my "adventures" to friends and family. Later, I started taking pictures of my immediate surrounding, "creating" my own adventures. Magical times!
What was the turning point for your move from amateur to professional?
A meeting with a studio owner I had gone to for a bit of advice. He looked at my portfolio and said: You can definitely call yourself a photographer! This show of confidence was enough for me to say, you know what, I AM a photographer!
What would you say makes your photography unique?
I am definitely not a traditional photographer at heart. I like to portray emotions and "moments" as they happen more than asking my clients to pose. If the guests think "where was the photographer?", I'm happy. They'll notice me at the traditional and ubiquitous group shots, but for the rest, I like to capture the events as they happen.
What was the turning point for your move from amateur to professional?
A meeting with a studio owner I had gone to for a bit of advice. He looked at my portfolio and said: You can definitely call yourself a photographer! This show of confidence was enough for me to say, you know what, I AM a photographer!
What would you say makes your photography unique?I am definitely not a traditional photographer at heart. I like to portray emotions and "moments" as they happen more than asking my clients to pose. If the guests think "where was the photographer?", I'm happy. They'll notice me at the traditional and ubiquitous group shots, but for the rest, I like to capture the events as they happen.
Who have been some key influence in your style?
Jeff Ascough, Gerry Ghionis and Chuck Arlund. These guys are always innovating and never standing still. Ghionis said "You don't have to be the best, you just have to be better than last week" And this is something which drive me everyday. If I'm not shooting, I'm training and looking out at what is best out there. Keeps my photography and albums evolving.
What is your favorite thing to photograph?I love wedding photography. I always feel so privileged being invited at these very personal celebrations. I also love doing boudoir photography, which can be a very powerful tool to boost self-confidence in some people. Seeing the reactions from my clients brings me lots of joy.
What piece of equipment could you not do without?
My brain! It's really easy to get lazy and shoot weddings on "cruise control", with aperture X and shutter speed Y working perfectly fine for the average snap. I want my pictures to have the "WOW" factor. So I'm constantly looking at my camera, adjusting, looking for the natural light and playing with it.
My brain! It's really easy to get lazy and shoot weddings on "cruise control", with aperture X and shutter speed Y working perfectly fine for the average snap. I want my pictures to have the "WOW" factor. So I'm constantly looking at my camera, adjusting, looking for the natural light and playing with it.
Besides that, the piece of equipment I'm happiest with and absolutely fills me with joy everytime are my Ansmann 2700mAh batteries. They've allowed me to work my strobes faster than ever and I don't even need to use a 5th battery on my SB800! Sorry if it sounds boring. If you want something flashier, I love my Pocket Wizards. :)
Has any one photographer been an inspiration to you?
Though obviously, my current style is more influenced by the 3 professionals I named earlier, the people that made me want to be a photographer were giants such as Doisneau, Bresson, Sieff and I am a great, great fan of James Ravilious as they portray life in a way that touches me.
Though obviously, my current style is more influenced by the 3 professionals I named earlier, the people that made me want to be a photographer were giants such as Doisneau, Bresson, Sieff and I am a great, great fan of James Ravilious as they portray life in a way that touches me.
What one piece of advice would you offer to newbie photographers?
Train and find a mentor outside your circle of friends. You don't need someone to pat you on the back all the time, you need someone to objectively tell you what you're doing well and not so well.
Take it all on the chin and use it to move forward.
You can find Ioan Said at Celynnen Photography. http://www.celynnenphotography.co.uk
Train and find a mentor outside your circle of friends. You don't need someone to pat you on the back all the time, you need someone to objectively tell you what you're doing well and not so well.
Take it all on the chin and use it to move forward.
You can find Ioan Said at Celynnen Photography. http://www.celynnenphotography.co.uk
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