Photographer Gints Freimanis nule was recognized as Latvian Wedding Photographer 2016 in the contest organized by the Association of Latvian Wedding Photographers. This is definitely not a coincidence, because Gints had already won this title four years ago. It is certainly a great achievement among Latvian wedding photographers, and Gints has undoubtedly succeeded in this - every photo in the competition is a story, not just a moment. Līgavām.lv presents Ginta himself and the photographs he created.

A photographer with a romantic soul

When asked why he managed to overtake his competitors and become the Wedding Photographer of the Year, Gints admits that, firstly, he spent a lot of time on selecting pictures and, secondly, he tried to find not only aesthetic photos, but ones that would have their own story. The first impression of Ginta for many people could be a seemingly constant one - a relatively introverted and quiet person. However, in the case of Gint, the saying is appropriate - don't look at the man by the hat. That's right, it's better to see him by his works.

"My job on the wedding day is not to bring out the emotions of the new couple. I catch the real and genuine emotions and moments - that's what I do,"

says Gints, admitting that due to his relatively introverted personality, every photographed wedding is a kind of stepping outside his comfort zone. A kind of challenge and proving to yourself that you can do it. And so for ten years, because that's how much time has passed since Gints photographed the first wedding. Wedding photography has definitely changed in Latvia during this time, Gints is sure. His own pictures also became different in the process of processing. Only one thing is constant - young couples always want Ginta as their wedding photographer. "The photographer does not choose the couples, but the couples choose the photographer. My couples are very different, which is probably why I have the opportunity to take such different pictures. I have photographed both simple weddings in a sauna and luxurious weddings in palaces. This is my advantage," says Gints. But Gints, being a romantic at heart, considers the seashore to be the most beautiful place for a wedding ceremony. "In what other profession is it possible to see and feel so many wonderful things, if not as a photographer," asks rhetorically the Wedding Photographer of the Year in Latvia 2016.

Rings in a succulent - 1st place in the "Details" category

Like most wedding photographers, Gints also tends to ask the couple for their rings in order to photograph them separately. This picture was taken exactly at that time, in the botanical garden of Salaspils, when Gints borrowed the rings of the young couple for a while to create a picture. "There were, of course, many different plants, among which I tried to find the most suitable one. I tried different options until I accidentally noticed a succulent that seemed interesting and aesthetic to me. I also used it. A few months later, already in the process of processing the pictures, I started experimenting with this shot, until I came to the existing option - the rings together with the plant form a kind of ornament.

I tried to understand what the photo could symbolize and tell, until I came to the name "Natural process". A process that symbolizes the development of the relationship between two people until the rings are broken," says Gints about the photo.

"Opportunities" - 5th place in the category "Young couple"

This particular picture in the "Young couple" category won the 5th place in the competition of 306 pictures. "In previous years, while studying the maps with wedding routes given to me, I had drawn attention to a place near Lake Kaniera. I had never been there before, but I felt that I should definitely go there when such an opportunity arose. This opportunity arose last year. It turned out that there is a boat base and a lookout tower in that place, which offers a fantastic view of the boat dock. Staying in the tower myself, I asked the new the couple stopped by the boats, after which this picture was created, which I named "Opportunities", or the use of opportunities, because the couple symbolically climbs into their only boat to swim and take advantage of this opportunity," says Gints about the behind-the-scenes of the picture.

Gift shot

In fact, this smoke picture might not have been taken if it were not for the initiative of the cameramen Riverside Films to take the young couple outside at night after midnight and film the material for their own use. One spotlight and smoke candles were all that was needed to catch more unusual shots. "Basically, this photo is gray, but the gray tone didn't suit the scene at all, I had to make it more expressive. I think the result is expressive enough, and the picture speaks for itself.

It is not uncommon for a good shot to come to the photographer by itself, as if someone gave it to him. All that remains is to be able to capture it," assured Gints.