Photographer Adam Johnson

—Are you photogenic?

—I think everyone is photogenic. Just not everyone appreciates it the first time they see a photo of themselves. I'm the kind of person who grows to like photos of myself over time, rather than instantly loving them.

—How did you get in the photography industry?

—It just happened. I got married, bought a DSLR for my honeymoon, and became obsessed with it. I thought I was getting quite good, shot a friend's wedding (as a guest) and did a terrible job. So I went away, practised and studied super hard, bought better equipment then tried again. It went much better the second time and I was able to build a portfolio and website. 18 months later I quit my day job.

—What are the most important components of a good photo in your opinion?

—If we are talking about a wedding photo then it's all about emotion. Light is my obsession, but a beautifully lit emotionless or 'mute' wedding photo is pointless. A photo has to speak for itself, it shouldn't need a caption or an explanation.

—Do you love traveling?

—Of course. And I love that wedding photography is showing me more of the world than I would ever have seen without it.

—What do you like most about your profession?

—Freedom of expression. The more you shoot, the better you get, the more people hear about you and know about your work, the more freedom you are given to express yourself artistically. That and what I said about traveling in the last question!

—What do you like least about your profession?

—I am honestly grateful for this being my profession but of course, when you have young children at school, it can take its toll when you're out most weekends throughout the summer and not able to spend as much time with them as I would like.

—What will be the future of photography?

—Who knows?! I just hope I'm able to change and adapt to however it changes. I truly believe there will always be a market for beautiful, well crafted photos – the technology and expectations may change but the product will not.

—What is special in the photography genre you specialise at?

—People. That's what it's all about. People and relationships. Being invited into a private world and asked to document it for a day.

—How do you handle criticism?

—Badly. I do not like to be criticised. Often once it has sunk in I'm able to either reject or accept it and use it to improve, but I don't like it!

—Are there any trends in photography?

—Of course! I just prefer to ignore them.

—What should be the criteria for a customer to choose a photographer?

—If the photographer's photos of a total stranger's wedding can make you feel something in your heart and soul, you've found your wedding photographer.

—What things are to be avoided when shooting?

—There are no rules but I think each photographer will have their own principles or boundaries. If someone is crying because they are truly sad then I will not photograph them just to get that 'tear shot' that is so popular with wedding photographers these days. If I do not feel it is appropriate to shoot something, then I won't shoot it.

—What person can be the symbol of the 21st century in your opinion?

—Can we answer this with 85 years of the century remaining?! I think there are so many medical and technological advances we will see in this century and I expect icons to be created in these areas.

—Who do you want to take photos of?

—Ben Folds, Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United.

—Do you have any professional taboos?

—Not that I know of!

—Who would you like to shoot with?

—Annie Leibowitz, Joey L, James Nachtwey, Don McCullin, Richard Avedon... I love to shoot with other photographers, I think it's a good thing to do regularly.

—What do you worry about, and why?

—I am a worrier. I worry about a lot of things! Professionally speaking I worry about becoming irrelevant, about getting stuck in a rut and left behind and nobody wanting me to take their wedding pictures!

—What is the most impressive moment in your life?

—The births of my two children.

—If you were a cartoon, book or movie character, who would you be and why?

—Peter Pan. I want to stay young and always fight pirates.

—Who inspires you in your life and why?

—I don't know if they inspire me as such but my children are the reason that I do what I do and why I want to continually get better at it. I am inspired by anyone successful – in business, in photography, in sport, in life... Not in an arrogant way but I find my own successes an inspiration to keep trying harder and to achieve more.

—How do you define success? How do you measure it?

—For me, people booking me to shoot photos of them, plus the recognition of my work by my peers is probably my yardstick of success professionally. Happiness and contentment are signs of success in wider life.

—Would you rather be liked or respected?

—I don't think it's possible for me personally to respect somebody I don't like, so I don't think you can be one or the other. I can quickly lose respect for someone who turns out to be a huge douchebag.

—What is the biggest mistake you have ever made at work?

—I don't remember. I know I've made mistakes but I'm pretty good about moving on from stuff.

—When you're going to travel, what do you take with you and why?

—My iphone, my kindle, my macbook, my camera and some earphones.

—Is there anything among your gadgets that you wish you haven't bought? Why?

—I tend to sell stuff if it doesn't fit into my life or work after I buy it. I remember I once bought a weird step trainer off an infomercial on the TV, it was so rubbish!

—How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

—Taking pictures is the education. I'm quite analytical so if I see a photo I like I work out what I like and why... I do the same with my own photos, working out how I could've done better or what I could've done differently. I look at other photography a lot – in books, online, instagram and I think that seeps into my work.

—Whose work has influenced you most as a photographer?

—I think a turning point for me was doing a workshop with Daniel Aguilar from Mexico.

—What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

—That there were no rules!

—What do you want to say with your photographs?

—I've no idea. Good stuff I hope.

—What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

—The thing I love about taking photos, or any creative pursuit I guess is that it's just that – a pursuit – and you can never catch the thing you're chasing, but you're constantly improving, or changing at least. It's not static, or limited, or constrained. I know I've not taken my best photo, and I may never take it, but I will always keep striving for it.

—Should your parents have been more or less strict?

—No comment.

—If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

—Nothing, I don't think of life this way. I got to this point in my life, a point in which I am extremely happy, because of the choices I made. I don't want to change anything.That, or I'd go back and invest in Apple before they invented the iPod.Or I could invent the iPod.

—What about life on other planets?

—Maybe, maybe not. I'm not concerned with it.

—Who are your heroes?

—I have no heroes.

—Who do you have no respect for?

—An awful question.

—What do you do in your spare time?

—I play piano, play and watch football, watch TV shows and movies, go to the gym, spend time with friends and family, listen to music...I don't see life as spare time and work time. It's just life. I do all this stuff and I work, there's no split time. I work when I have to and I play whenever I can.

—What's the side of you that the public never sees?

—The public? As opposed to who?

—When are you completely satisfied with your work?

—I love my own work. I love seeing progression in my work. I love it when my clients are in love with the photos I give to them. Completely satisfied? Is this possible?

—Do you believe in the traditional roles for men and women?

—My parents got divorced when I was young. This has skewed my view of tradition in the home... I don't really know what traditional roles are – women raise children, cook and clean and men just earn the money? Then no, I don't believe in that. A family is the sum of its parts, not separate and distinct people or roles.

—Do you make friends easily?

—Yeah I guess. I'm never the instigator, I'm shy so I tend to wait for people to make friends with me!

—Where would you like to live?

—If I could have four homes I would have one in the UK, probably near where I live now, one in New York City, a rural house in Southern France and one somewhere in California! Not that I'm greedy.

—What's the stupidest thing you've ever agreed to do?

—I'm not sure I've ever agreed to something stupid.

—Is there life after marriage?

—I've been married 8 years... I'm still alive.

—Do you have a favourite joke? Tell us.

—What's invisible and smells like carrots?Rabbit farts.

—Do you like dogs or cats?

—Neither.

—Who or what do you hate?

—I hate wasps. Passionately.

—The best thing in life is:

—Family time.

—The most annoying thing in life is:

—Traffic jams.

—Is there anything around you that you would like to change?

—I want to make my house bigger!

—What would you like to change in yourself?

—I would like to break my iphone addiction!

—What would you like to change in the world?

—Far too much to list. The world is a broken place.

—Can you give a few tips for photographers who are just starting out?

—You don't have to shoot every second of the wedding, you're not making a stop motion movie... Slow down, breathe, let your mind take in what is happening then tell the story with your photos. There are no rules.

—If aliens come to the Earth and you are the first person they meet, what will you tell them?

—You will never feel satisfied after eating a McDonalds...

—If you are called to shoot a movie, what genre will it be?

—Slapstick comedy.

—Tomorrow I will go and do...

—I'll go to the gym, do some editing, get ready for Saturday's wedding, kick a football with my children, eat food, drink coffee...