ISPWP Member Spotlight - Massimiliano Esposito - LightanDreams

1. How did you get your start and why did you chose wedding photography as a career?

Photography and cinema are my passion, my career as a wedding photographer, however, is started by photographing a bride at the exit of the church, at the end the bride requested my photos rather than those of the official photographer.

2. How has your extensive experience in wedding photography helped you in difficult circumstances on a wedding day?

During the bride's entry into the church I found myself with the camera and the flash off without understanding what was happening. The second camera had an impossible lens for that situation, at the end very calmly I restarted the system and everything started to work again

3. Tell us about some of the more unique weddings you've shot.

The most amusing and colorful weddings are certainly the Indian ones, although I must confess that my first wedding as a photographer will never forget it.

4. What are some of your favorite local venues?

In Italy there are some wonderful places from Venice passing through Tuscany, the Amalfi coast; I have a weakness for a location a few meters from where I live, located in an ancient monastery surrounded by nature

5. What advice would you give a bride who is looking for a wedding photographer?

Wedding photography must be like a tailored suit; the bride must certainly pay attention to the style of the photographer, who must be as close as possible to his tastes, have in mind the difference between reportage or a traditional service, but above all do not stop at the cover images but go deep, because it is what you will have at the end

6. What's your favorite part of the wedding day to photograph?

My passion is the photographic session after the ceremony when together with the couple we dedicate ourselves to the portraits.

7. What kinds of weddings do you love to photograph?

Definitely the weddings where the couple has invited many friends, because at the end the fun counts ....

8. What are your top tips for brides to help them get great photos on their wedding day?

Each of my suggestions aims to turn their photos into still images over time as film frames; To achieve this I like to help the bride look wonderfully beautiful at all times, forever

9. How important is it to hire an experienced wedding photographer?

I would say a lot because that day you will surely need someone on your side to help you get everything right.

10. What do you find is the biggest challenge in wedding photography?

in every wedding the real challenge is to look for something new and challenge yourself to improve more and more

11. Do you do "destination weddings?" If so, what are your favorite destinations?

there are those who once visited are unforgettable: my favorites are the Val d'Orcia in Tuscany and Venice

12. What do you do for fun when you're not shooting weddings?

I dedicate myself to my passion: cinema, cinema and then cinema for family with my children. ;-)

13. How would you describe your style of photography?

My challenge is to offer the best of both worlds: excellent photojournalism and beautiful portraits.

14. What do you offer to clients that is unique? What is your Unique Selling Proposition?

My challenge is that their wedding and their photos are unique; I dedicate all of myself to offer my couples a special photo dedicated exclusively to them.

15. Do you offer albums? If so, describe the albums you offer and why you think it's important to provide albums.

Touching the photos, looking at them, printing on the best papers, bound by Italian artisans, all made in Italy with the best materials, make our albums definitely one of the best in the world.

16. How would you describe the current state of the wedding photography industry, and where do you think wedding photography is headed in the years to come?

The world of photography is changing chasing the revolutions of technology; I think soon it will be easier to photograph what happens with photojournalism but certainly the talent of the photographer in composing the image and put together the couple will be increasingly important

17. What (or who) inspires you?

Cinema is an endless source of inspiration for me, I prefer films between the 40s and 50s where the story and the skill of the director were protagonists

18. Have you found any products, services, or seminars that have made a difference to your photography or your business?

I must say that today learning, studying and investing in yourself is much easier, with the many online schools and classes of the best photographers in the world.

19. What's the best photography-related advice you've been given?

really look at what you're seeing in this moment.

20. What would you say was the biggest reason for your success?

I think people eventually appreciate in me the commitment and dedication I put into what I do.

22. What future plans do you have for your business for the next year?

For the next season, what I want is to improve and create new images

23. What is the biggest challenge facing wedding photographers today?

Billions of images now on social media;  combine the reality and expectations of people, it's tough.