The professional handwriting of wedding photographer Ilze Ose can be clearly recognized - the pictures created by her stand out with romanticism and light tones. Her love for her husband led her to her love for photography, because it was Ilze's husband who gave her a gift card for attending photography courses more than five years ago. Currently, Ilze's name is no longer a stranger in the Latvian wedding industry, and many brides wish to have their wedding photos created by her.

Has the dream of wedding photography always been in your sights?

Definitely not. On the contrary, when I took photo courses and started taking pictures, I thought that weddings would be the last thing I would photograph. I said so - I will never take pictures.

Initially, I didn't want it because of the seemingly big responsibility. Paradoxically, at the moment I photograph weddings the most, followed by various family photo sessions and portraits.

Wedding photography for me, so to speak, "came" very organically - the couple had been turned down by their wedding photographer at the last minute, and I agreed to help them.

They needed a photographer so much and there were no expectations in this matter - it gave me a certain sense of freedom. On the other hand, the second wedding I photographed in my life was already in the Bahamas.

How would you describe those couples who choose you as their wedding photographer?

I am a very pedantic person, an esthetician, and my clients also appreciate that. I try to bring out the best in every wedding.

My wedding photographers often choose classic couples. Perhaps because my photography signature includes light tones, and those couples who appreciate it choose me as their wedding photographer. In my opinion, weddings are inherently a light event, so epic dark tones don't match my perception of weddings and how I would like to portray them.

This month, a large number of wedding photographers open their wedding calendar for the next season, which means that couples have a difficult choice - which photographer to hire. What do you think are the criteria to be guided by?

There are always couples who choose a wedding photographer based on the price of the service. Although this is not an unimportant aspect, I think the most important thing is to understand what the couple themselves want. It is important that the couple not only likes the photos of the particular photographer, but also has a personal "click" with him and the feeling that they want to spend their wedding day with this person.

I have heard from couples themselves that they didn't choose a good photographer just because they didn't like the photographer's communication via e-mail. Although a photographer has the opportunity to be at many weddings, most of the time it is a one-time event for the couple and they want to receive a personal interest from the service providers they hire.

I myself once, while looking for a wedding photographer for my wedding, called a wedding photographer who answered me so unkindly that even now - six years later - I remember this phrase.

How big is the volume of your photographed weddings?

I don't photograph more than 20 weddings a year because balance is important to me. The rest of my professional time is taken up by various portrait and family photo sessions, which are also my passion.

If I manage to find a balance relatively easily at work, then in other areas of life, it requires more effort, because I am a relatively big workaholic by nature. And the reason for that is definitely that I don't think of my job as work. It is my heart.

What are the current TOP trends in wedding photography?

Decorations are definitely more and more important, couples pay a lot of attention to aesthetic quality. If in the past brides came to the wedding photographer with pictures they found on Pinterest , then in recent years they increasingly refer to the works of Latvian decorators , and this is definitely an indicator that the wedding industry in Latvia has grown as a whole.

I have also noticed that there are always brides who, while preparing for their wedding day, worry about what others will think of them. But you don't need to think about it - you need to enjoy this day.

I myself have survived this day and I know that it is a moment that passes incredibly fast. Therefore, each couple should find the wedding format that suits them best.

For example, I really like photographing small weddings - they happen more and more often, because the intimacy between the couple is much greater, the stress and anxiety for the couple is much less, and they can enjoy each other and the specific event much more.

More about the wedding photo here: ILZE OSE