Jurufoto Anastasia Rassia

—Pertama sekali – siapakah yang boleh anda namakan sebagai jurufoto terbaik di Athens, Yunani? :)

—Let me start by saying this: Every photographer has their own style – just as customers have their own likings! Each couple has their own vision, their own aesthetic, and luckily, there are a lot of different styles out there!All in all, of course there are more skilled and less skilled photographers in Athens, but what matters is whose photos stole your heart!

—Adakah anda seorang yang fotogenik?

—I don't find myself particularly photogenic, however people are much more photogenic when they feel relaxed. |Being yourself, is all we – photographers- are aiming for!Of course more often than not brides & grooms have difficulty to be natural in front of a camera, and this is a big part of our job! To make them stress free and actually enjoy the experience!

—Bagaimanakah anda mula menceburkan diri dalam industri fotografi?

—Well, since I was young , photography interested me quite a lot, as my father was an amateur – but quite dedicated- photographer. Unfortunately, I was convinced pretty early that it's a profession that won't help me make a living, and I aimed for Computer School, which I also found interesting.After finishing my studies and working in the field, I understood that this was not for me, as I really felt my need to express my creativity . After some temporary jobs, I took the decision to finally enrol in a Photography Academy, and that's how everything began!

—Apakah komponen paling penting sekeping foto yang bagus menurut pendapat anda?

—Framing, tonality, color, theme. Knowing what to isolate from a scene, incorporating the more shades and tones you can, creating a mood with your colors, and finding the essence of what you see.

—Adakah anda minat mengembara?

—Well, like most people, I really do! My adult life, whenever I had some money to spent, I invested them all for travelling.Most of my travels I did them alone, as I find it a much better way to get a real grasp of a city's vibe.And truth is, being in a new environment is super inspiring in my photography!

—Apakah yang paling anda sukai mengenai kerjaya anda?

—Well, there are several reasons. I really like interacting with people and hearing their love stories, or their thoughts on their wedding day. It's super fun for me, to try to incorporate their style to my photographic approach.I love to be part of the whole day, all the unexpected things that can happen, really make it a very unique job. No wedding day is like the previous one!The editing, is a process that however tiring, really let's you express fully your creativity.And then the feedback! There's nothing that fills your heart more than hearing positive word from a couple! No matter my years in photography, whenever I get genuine compliments for my work, from a customer, a coworker, a competitor, a fan, is giving me tons of fuel to continue doing what I do and put more and more energy to it.In my opinion, it's a job that if you don't love, like truly enjoy and be satisfied from it, it is very difficult to succeed .

—Apakah yang paling anda tidak suka mengenai kerjaya anda?

—A common answer to this , is I guess dealing with couples that your communication had difficulties. But what greater challenge than having to cooperate with people that you have very opposite points of view? I am a person who I really enjoy challenges, since they really push me forward, even if they make me feel stressed!

—Apakah masa depan fotografi?

—Well this, I will never know. The big question here is weather someone can adapt to the new stuff. Cause this is what keeps a freelancer alive, the ability to adapt to new challenges.

—Apakah yang istimewa dalam genre fotografi yang anda sedang mengkhusus?

—I wouldn't say that I specialize in a specific genre, more like I incorporate stuff from some styles.For example, I love the emotion, the surprise, and the feel that you're looking through a keyhole on someone's life, that Documentary Photography has. Additionally, Traditional photography, like big family pictures, are timeless and a request of all couples, so I love to give them these shots.Black and White, in my opinion, gives also a filmic mood on wedding photos, making the people in them looking like protagonists of a 50s , 60s movie! And, have I ever told you my love for Cinematography?!Last but certainly not least, Landscape Photography it's a big passion for a lover of travelling like me! This style of photography , I really aim for when shooting Prewedding, Next Day or Engagement Sessions. Humans are a part of their environment and I love to show the connection between them.

—Bagaimanakah cara anda menangani kritikan?

—Well, I'm a people's person, so I really like to be liked! I accept criticism but I will always try to find out why someone's opinion of me or my work is not in accordance with them. I'm an unrest soul and I most certainly will try to change my image towards the better!

—Adakah wujud sebarang trend dalam fotografi?

—Of course, and they're changing by the minute. It's important to also take into account the different cultures and religions, since trends differentiate a lot according to those.

—Apakah sepatutnya menjadi kriteria untuk seorang pelanggan memilih jurufoto?

—That's a question that I can give some advice, but the part that each couple puts the importance on is completely subjective!First, is the style of the photos, from an aesthetic point of view, as well the moments that each photographer captures. For example, you like vivid colours, or moody, desaturated ones? You dream of looking like an instagram influencer, a romantic princess, or a contemporary woman? You have some amazing poses in mind, or you want to see some shots of you and your loved ones, interacting as you usually do? Look through some photographers' portfolios!Then, when you find your top 5, read carefully about the services they offer, and info about pricing, delivery etc., and you will find your perfect match!

—Apakah perkara yang patut dielakkan semasa penggambaran?

—Nothing! Come as you are!

—Apakah perincian yang selalunya terlepas tanpa disedari namun boleh disedari oleh seorang jurufoto?

—Unwanted people on the background, some details on the clothing that can be fixed and light directions, are some things that our couples usually don't see, and it's the photographer's job to notice!

—Apakah yang boleh mempengaruhi nilai sekeping foto? Apakah elemen nilai itu?

—That is a question with very subjective answers , since each couples values different elements! What I can say from my experience, is that a type of photo a couple is crazy for, another one doesn't really care!

—Siapakah individu yang boleh menjadi simbol abad ke-21 menurut pendapat anda?

—This question restrains a lot my thinking! Depending on the filed, there are quite a lot people that are symbols of our century, and I'm sure many more will be born!

—Siapakah yang mahu anda rakamkan dalam foto?

—Well people- obviously-, landscapes, urban sceneries. I enjoy still life photography, but not in all forms.

—Adakah anda ada sebarang tabu profesional?

—Taboos, in my opinion, are holding society back. So, no, but I do respect people's preferences.

—Siapakah orang yang anda mahu merakam foto bersamanya?

—Hmm, I'm open to collabs :) !

—Apakah yang merisaukan anda, dan mengapa?

—To be honest, in these times, about Covid and only.

—Apakah detik paling mengesankan dalam hidup anda?

—I'm not that easily impressed!

—Siapakah yang menjadi sumber inspirasi hidup anda dan mengapa?

—Several artists, people who overcame difficulties. Luckily we live in an era that many people can share their personal stories through social media.

—Bagaimanakah anda mentakrifkan kejayaan? Bagaimanakah anda mengukurnya?

—Success for me, is close to happiness. Of course happiness is moments, but I would measure it by the amount of harmony you have in your life. Like a balanced person.

—Mana satu yang lebih penting bagi anda, disukai atau dihormati?

—I always thought of respect as a form of putting someone high, like taking into account his status. I don't really like mind who take their status that seriously, I would prefer to feel equal among others. So, I like to be liked, cause of my behaviour and opinions.

—Apakah kesilapan terbesar yang pernah anda lakukan ketika bekerja?

—Not gonna lie, in the past I have done too much of a compromise to not make a customer unsatisfied. But now I have made things more clear for my prospective customers, so we don't end up in confusions later!

—Apabila anda pergi mengembara, apakah yang anda bawa bersama anda dan mengapa?

—It's my partner, since we both love to discover.

—Adakah sesuatu yang anda harap anda tidak pernah beli antara banyak gajet milik anda? Mengapa?

—No, there are gadgets that I really want to buy!

—Bagaimanakah anda meningkatkan diri untuk merakam gambar yang lebih baik?

—Through researching new styles and photographers.

—Hasil kerja siapakah yang paling mempengaruhi anda sebagai jurufoto?

—Andrei Tarkovsky, even though he's not a photographer, had really influenced me on my imagery. Other people are Wim Wenders, Paolo Barretta etc.Now, for wedding photography, I do admire Jordan Voth, Michael Pappas and a lot more other artists.

—Apakah satu perkara yang anda harap anda telah tahu ketika mula merakam foto?

—The amount of editing :D

—Apakah yang ingin anda sampaikan melalui foto anda?

—The most common answer – a story. Really though, I want to capture the events of the day, with an approach that insorporates my style, and the couple's personality.

—Apakah yang memotivasikan anda untuk terus mengambil gambar?

—The fact that I make art. And as I said before, positive feedback!

—Bukankah ibu bapa anda pada satu tahap patut bertegas?

—I think they were perfect, not strict at all (I was quite a revolutionary child, so I think it would have been difficult to try and set more limits!).

—Jika anda boleh kembali ke masa lalu, apakah yang akan ada lakukan dengan cara berbeza?

—Maybe I would have follow my heart, instead of losing some time doing things that I felt that I had to do. Because in the end, it's very difficult to succeed in something you don't put all your focus on.

—Bagaimanakah kehidupan di planet lain?

—Well, I feel that universe is too big to be alone!

—Siapakah hero anda?

—Everyday people.

—Siapakah orang yang anda tidak hormat kepadanya?

—People who are not humanists.

—Apakah yang anda lakukan pada masa lapang?

—Going on long walks, music lessons, excersising.

—Apakah sisi diri anda yang tidak pernah diketahui umum?

—This would be too public to tell!

—Bilakah anda akan benar-benar berpuas hati dengan kerja anda?

—When I feel inspired with my work, and my customers are smiling!

—Adakah anda percaya dengan peranan tradisi bagi lelaki dan perempuan?

—Not a lot, but of course our growing up shapes us a lot.

—Adakah anda mudah berkawan?

—Real friends, not that easily.

—Di manakah anda suka untuk tinggal?

—I like a lot where I live. Nowhere is perfect, and I feel pretty good with my home land!

—Masih adakah kehidupan selepas perkahwinan?

—Marriage doesn't change your routine. Marriage it's a love oath.

—Anda suka anjing atau kucing?

—Cat person here!

—Perkara terbaik dalam hidup ialah:

—Love? That's what I think at least.

—Adakah sesuatu di sekitar anda yang anda ingin ubah?

—I wish that people had more critical thinking. Myself included.

—Bolehkah anda berikan beberapa petua untuk jurufoto yang baru saja bermula?

—Do it with passion, try, and don't stop believing in what you do. Nothing comes without hard work!

—Jika anda dipanggil untuk penggambaran sebuah filem, apakah yang akan menjadi genrenya?

—I think a Drama.

—Esok saya akan pergi dan melakukan...

—My Covid quarantine routine!