How does photographing a wedding with a digital camera compare to the days of film?
"For a wedding, before digital I would use a maximum of 10 films, each with 36 shots. Now it's 10 times that number and workflow and retouching can become a problem. So the better you shoot, the less time you spend in post."
How do you divide your time at a wedding?
"I spend three hours before the ceremony photographing the bride getting ready, and 30 minutes with the groom. Then I'll be with them all day, for between 10 and 12 hours, capturing intense and beautiful moments, finishing up with the first dance and cutting the cake."
What's been the most valuable lesson you've learned during your career?
"That it's okay to go your own way. When I started I knew I didn't want to do poses, I didn't want to follow a particular style, I just wanted to be myself. That was the best decision I ever made, because if you copy someone else's style, you're stuck, and obliged to copy it again and again."
What is the wedding genre missing right now?
"All the pictures are the same. You see different styles but they all have the same look. These photographers are all missing the most important element. They should respect the fact that every couple is different, and not be closed in to a style of their own."
So how can a photographer really excel in this competitive industry?
"Shoot for the clients, not for awards. I don't want to hear 'you're an artist', I just want to hear that my pictures bring back the emotion of the day. Their memories are more important than my career."