It is with pleasure that I host an interview on my blog with Matthew Calleja, a wedding photographer who like myself, love to take spontaneous and real images. I would describe Matthew’s style as fresh, vibrant and joyful. It is always a pleasure for me to have time to talk and meet new photographers so that we can share and compare our experiences.
So Matthew could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography.. and specifically into wedding photography?
One of the first jobs I had was working as a sales assistant in an electronics retail store. I remember selling a lot of DSLR cameras at the time, so I had to read and learn about all the different models, lenses etc.. This got me really interested, and after a while, I decided to get one for myself. It was a Nikon D3200 which I still have today and it was a great starter camera to experiment with. I started taking photos of landscapes at first, and I was truly amazed at what you could do with a camera. Long exposures and astro-photography in particular really caught my interest. My first ever 'clients' were two of my friends who were getting married and I offered to photograph their pre-wedding. Can't say I wasn't nervous, but at least the photos turned out quite well.
Did you always want to be a photographer? How did your studies and experiences help you in the photography world? What inspired you to venture into photography?
My interest in photography began in my early 20s, however from a young age, digital art always interested me. I have a degree in Computing and Business, so that surely helps in running and managing the business side of photography. Once I bought my first DSLR, I was instantly hooked, and spent all my free time researching and experimenting new techniques.
I would personally describe your photography style as spontaneous and joyful. How would you define your artistic vision and style in your wedding photography? (maybe you can include some examples of photos which illustrate this point)
My aim for each wedding is to document what is happening around me without much fuss and in the most beautiful way possible. Like the majority of people, I don't enjoy being in front of the camera, so I try to blend in and make everyone feel comfortable around me. I would definitely agree with your statement that my style is spontaneous and joyful. I would also describe my style of photos as colourful and vibrant, especially when I incorporate flashes and gels.
What books / resources or training did you find more useful at the beginning of your photographic career that helped you prepare for today?
Youtube is my best friend for everything in life :) In the beginning, I used to watch every photography related video I could find. Later on, I discovered some photographers who I resonated with and enrolled in their online courses, which helped a lot.
We all agree that photography is not about equipment, though professional equipment helps. Can you tell us what is currently in your photography bag when preparing for a wedding (flashes, triggers, tripods, other useful accessories)? Do you have different setups for different occasions or do you always shoot with the same set of cameras and lenses?
At the moment, I carry two Nikon mirrorless cameras (and a backup Nikon DSLR). In terms of lenses, I can shoot most of the day on a 35mm and 85mm prime lenses, and switch to a 24-70mm zoom lens during dancing so I can get as close as I can to the action.
Although I like to use natural light as much as possible, I also love experimenting with off camera flash to capture something different, especially during the dancing portion of the night. To achieve this, I mainly use an AD200 main light, and on occasion I might use a smaller light on a stand in the corner of a room. Along with these, I always carry a set of coloured gels, a prism, mirror and battery powered fairy lights for those creative effects.
I pretty much always pack the same for most weddings, and knowing the venue and the available light, I can mentally prepare to a certain extent what I will be using beforehand. For pre-weddings, I try to pack as light as possible, with just a single camera, 2 lenses and a flash. Recently I have been experimenting with drone photography as well, so it might be added to my bag in the future.
I know this is a hard question, but let's try... from all the wedding / photoshoot images you took, which is your favourite image and why?
Definitely not my best photo ever for sure, but my favourite photo would probably be the one below. This photo has to be my favourite as it is one of the only (proper) photos I have ever captured of myself and my wife. At the time, my photographer was not available to shoot our pre-wedding session, so I took the job myself. This is also where I realised that I was not fit enough as I was constantly running back and forth to the tripod :)
Which is the photo which took you the most time and effort to take? (include photo for inclusion)
99% of my photos are documentary and candid, as I want the wedding gallery to look and feel as it actually was on the day. For the remaining 1%, I try to create something a little creative, which sometimes doesn't work out. I had seen the photo below done before and I wanted to try it out myself. I remember that I had just started experimenting with off camera flash, and took a lot of test shots to make sure that the lights were set up correctly, as we only had one shot at this. Not perfect, but turned out well. I also got soaked! Worth it :)
What was one of your ahha moments in your photography career and experience?
Around two years ago, I decided to become a member of the Wedisson Awards. I had been following them for quite a while and was amazed by the quality of work from photographers worldwide. Winning my first award was very rewarding and keeps on motivating me to create stunning images every wedding.
How do you approach a wedding day? (mentally, preparation wise, etc)
The day before the wedding, I make sure all my equipment is charging, clean and ready to go. Over time I have created a checklist to make sure I don't miss anything (although I still lose stuff from time to time). I also try to get a good rest the night before. On the day of the wedding, I like to eat a good meal before leaving and double check that all my equipment is ready and packed. Apart from photography equipment, I also pack a small cooler with water and snacks. Vital for Maltese summer weddings!
How much does post-production play a role in your photography?
I would say that capturing the photo in camera is only 70% of the final product, as post production plays such a big part in how the final image will look. Over time I have developed a set of presets for myself to achieve a consistent look and feel for my photos.
What are the typical challenges you find as a wedding photographer?
This one's easy. The heat and long days for sure!
What advice would you give to new photographers to improve quickly and effectively? What advice would you give to the more experienced ones?
You can learn pretty much anything online nowadays, however nothing beats hands-on experience. From my personal experience, once I was familiar with my camera, I offered complimentary shoots to family and friends to get me comfortable photographing people. I would also suggest reaching out to second shoot or assist more experienced wedding photographers. This will give you an idea of what to expect, without the full responsibility of being the main photographer.
Moving on to the next question, I like to think of us wedding photographers as a community rather than competitors. We all have our unique style, and there is definitely enough work for everyone. My advice would be to not shy away from sharing knowledge and helping others so that we can all keep on improving.
What are your future goals as a photographer? Do you have any long term plans?
My goal has always been to keep on improving wedding by wedding, and most importantly, providing an excellent experience to all my clients. At the end of the day, our clients are sharing one of the most important days of their lives with us. As a long term plan, being a massive foodie, I would love to venture into the food photography world.
