Latvia can undoubtedly be proud of talented wedding photographers. This is also proven by the wedding photographer Anda Upmale / Riverside films x photography and the fact that she recently won the title of Europe’s Best Young Wedding Photographer 2018 ( Europe’s Best Young Wedding Photographer 2018 ) at one of Europe’s largest photography conferences Way Up North . This award is given to the best young talents who are noticed before the age of 25. LĪGAVĀM invited Anda to a conversation about impressions, already experienced, as well as the upcoming wedding season.
Tell me what the award you received means to you?
It is a bit unusual to receive so many good words from friends, wedding couples, as well as complete strangers. After receiving this award, I feel appreciated for my work and realize that I am going in the right direction professionally. Of course, indirectly, every photographer tries to prove himself, to win a competition. It is a self-affirmation to oneself about the great physical and emotional work that is invested in every wedding - there is such an "I can!" moment.
How much value does this title have internationally?
Internationally, this title holds significance in the wedding photography industry among international peers because such photographers are noticed and recognized. International awards are often important to international clients.
Tell us a little about the competition itself - what was the selection procedure and competition like?
The competition took place at one of Europe's largest wedding photographer conferences - Way Up North (WUN), in which approximately 250-300 wedding photographers from both Europe and other countries of the world participate on average, spending two days together in intensive lectures, as well as exchange of experience and inspiration talks. The conference takes place twice a year - in spring and autumn. WUN Awards are taking place for the second year, where photographers and videographers residing in Europe are awarded in various categories – Europe's Best Photographer, Best Videographer, Best Young Photographer, Best Wedding Photos, Best Wedding Video.
In the competition category Europe's best young wedding photographer two wedding stories had to be submitted, each with 25 photos selected. The two wedding stories I submitted can also be viewed in the latest LĪGAVĀM book magazine issue. An internationally recognized jury selected three finalists from the total submitted and seen virtually.
Did you expect such a good result?
To be honest, I didn't expect to win this contest at all. The other two nominated young Swedish photographers who made it to the finalists were very strong. I was indescribably surprised, I received the award with trembling hands, and for some time after that it seemed that it did not happen for real. Not only I was surprised, but also all the photographers from Latvia who had gone to this conference and rejoiced with me.
You started your career as a videographer, but then you decided to develop yourself in photography as well. Why is that?
In 2015, Riverside films started its activity specifically in the production of wedding short films, because we felt that there was a lack of artists of the cinematic genre in Latvia. However, during the process, seeing how other photographers work, I was a little more connected to the photo work itself. We decided that we will create a team that can offer both services - both photo and video.
What do you think is the market for photographers in Latvia and Europe at the moment? What are the current world and Latvian trends in photography and image processing?
The photographer market both in Europe and in Latvia is currently very full, the choices are very wide, therefore, of course, it is easy to get lost when choosing a photographer, and financially, both cheap, medium and very expensive services are offered.
When it comes to the style of photography, the real essence of wedding photography is slowly returning – documentary and naturalness. The wedding is no longer about a three-hour individual photo session of the couple, but about the moments that the couple spends with their relatives and friends - talking, reminiscing and enjoying the festivities.
These are the moments that the photographer must know how to "catch", to be inconspicuous, to fit into the festive crowd. Of course, portraits of the new couple are also important at a wedding, but they certainly don't have to be 300 different pictures, it's enough to set aside 30-45 minutes of the entire wedding day. A muted naturalness is making a comeback in color processing as Instagram shades slowly fall out of style. For me, the most important thing in color processing is that the skin tone of the new couple remains as natural as possible.
What do you expect from this summer wedding season?
This summer will definitely be calmer for our team than others, because we have chosen to capture fewer weddings this year - about 12, in order to approach each of them with greater dedication, to invest more time in post-processing. We expect more open-air weddings that take place in one place.
How would you describe your style of wedding photography - which couples would you be most suitable for as a wedding photographer?
As a person and also as a photographer, I am open and friendly, I try to find something in common with people to be able to create a free atmosphere. This is important for me when photographing weddings, various other celebrations, portraits and even food. Wedding photography can give great emotional satisfaction for the work done and contribution to the memories of a new family. In wedding photography, I would like to describe myself as a representative of the classic and creative documentary genre. It is important for me to capture the most important events of the day, to spend some time for portraits, but mostly to work "from the sidelines". It's easy for me to find a common language with couples who are open-minded, like adventure, aren't afraid to get their shoes dirty, maybe work in a creative industry, and choose to say "no" to outdated traditions.
MORE ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER HERE: ANDA UPMALE
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