Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello, I’m Dazza but my real name is Darryl. I’m Singaporean, music makes me happy and alcohol gets me drunk. I’ve lived in the East side of Singapore all my life – grew up skateboarding around East Coast Park, Katong, Bedok and Changi. My favourite colours are yellow, black and blue. Oh, and I really love coffee.

Why the name ‘Dazza’?
I lived in Melbourne (Australia) a few years ago and it was my first week of living on campus that a senior walked past me. From the look on his face I knew he was struggling to remember my name and I think he gave up and went ‘Heeeeyyyyy, Da…zzaaaa…’ Shortly after, I learnt that it was common to have nicknames, like ‘Jasmine’ would be ‘Jazza’, ‘Damien’ would be ‘Damo’, or even ‘David’ would be ‘Davo’. Naturally the name stuck and I have gone by it since. I do know however, that there is another ‘kind of celebrity’ associated with that name, which is just a funny coincidence.

How did you get into photography?
Photography was something that I was always interested in, something I enjoyed doing and learning about when I was still in Uni.

So you studied photography?
Not really. My background is actually in the creative line – design, I studied and also worked in the design field back in Melbourne. I specialized in multimedia, which has so many facets – web design, animation, interactive media, film editing – basically jack of all trades, master of some . All creative stuff, so my peers and I just really enjoyed creating art, illustrations, short films and graphic design. It was also during this time, that a small group of us were invited in the first ever Melbourne-Milan Young Designers Award, where I had work exhibited in Italy.

So why the switch?
The story is, on returning to Singapore I joined a local Ad agency as a designer in the interactive arm. Over a fairly short time, I was promoted to manage a team, conceptualize and strategize regional online campaigns. We did some decently good work, and even got a couple of award mentions for various things. But at the height of it all, I found myself going through some personal challenges and that I was yearning for other less frivolous things. So my boss suggested I go on a sabbatical and the short of it is, I never went back.

So why did you pick photographing weddings?
There is a rather poetic story to that. At the point of time I left my job, the personal challenges I was going through had me reflecting on the unity of relationships and of the fragility of life. I find that at weddings, the bride and groom, their families and friends, are at one of the happiest times of their lives. I was drawn to this ‘spirit’, feeling the warmth from the union of all these people together in celebration. So I found myself looking, hunting and seeking to capture this spirit in precious moments, so that I could ‘read’ and ‘tell’ stories about these couples.

Tell us about your studio Dazza Pictures.
Dazza Pictures is – me, myself and I. While I do have associates who help me out at some shoots and administrative stuff, what you see is what you get – I’m the dude who couples meet and I’m the dude who shoots their wedding, not an assistant or another representative.

What are the top 3 questions couples ask you before or during a meet up?
One.
Q: Do you shoot destination weddings?
A: Yes.

Two.
Q: Are you available?
A: Depends, I’m single but attached.

Three. The most asked, a rather personal one oddly -
Q: How much is your package?
A: Erm…not for sale? For private use only?

Finish this sentence. My photography style is…
Not about me, but about you.

Right this moment, describe one moment from a wedding you shot that comes to mind.
One of my favouritest moment is a shot at the botanic gardens, where a little flower girl was left behind from the entourage and was chasing after them. I wrote a post on my blog here.

A memorable wedding story to share?
It would have to be one pretty small wedding, attended by maybe a party of 20, held in the garden of a friend of the couple. It was a very personal and intimate celebration, but not just that – the couple had everything planned and all the details were ready – decorations, flowers, the catering – all set for an outdoor garden wedding. But alas, Singapore’s unpredictable weather turned and the rain washed their efforts away. At first it seemed like all they had prepared for would have been for nought. But what remain resilient in the weather was the couple’s perky, happy go-lucky nature, that turned what some may consider a disaster to something wonderful. Because all the couple wanted was to be married to each other, nothing was going to stop them and that energy transferred to everyone at the wedding. I left that wedding on a high.

Could you share with us somemore of your wedding work and tell us a bit about them?
Yuppers.

This would be the most recent image I’ve shot. The Bride and Groom are a Norwegian couple who were getting married on a stopover here in Singapore. The Bride had found me in one of the most interesting ways – she had seen me in an episode of “Scene City: Singapore” in Norway, googled me and voila.

Dragonboats and pre-wedding photography are the coolest. Stephanie and Chung-ky organized their pre-wedding session with their Dragonboat team because it was there that they met. The Dragonboaters, and yours truly included, hopped into 3 boats and paddled from Marina Bay Reservoir down to the Kallang River.

This image was created in collaboration with Jeremy of Redco Photography as a series of images for his pre-wedding portraits. We thought it was Booms.

Is post-processing a big part of your photography or are you a purist?
I have a special bottle of magical pixie dust that is sprinkled over every image to achieve the Dazz-nature look. While every image does go through some form of enhancement one way or another, cosmetic retouching – removing eyebags, blemishes, or digital weight loss – is not the focus of my post-processing.

Do you focus on pre-wedding or wedding day photography?
Both are of equal focus, they are after all portraits of real people whether it’s an image that tells the viewer who they are or what happened in a candid intimate moment. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I think what I am are trying to tell is a real love story, of who the couple are and the tale about them.

Tell us about the typical ‘Dazza’ approach to wedding portrait photography (pre-wedding).
We talk, we laugh and we just enjoy being ourselves. I feel that there is a joy within every couple just knowing that they love each other and that they are getting married. I just try to capture them for who they are as real, as natural and uncontrived as we can. I think we remember moments and hold them closer to our hearts when we know that there is a meaning or a story behind it. For all of us, that is a bit more meaningful than an image that is just pretty. And I think we look back in fondness at precious photos and recall “Remember that day when this was shot and we were happy just being together. This is us”.

Mr and Mrs Chua celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and decided to get some portraits.

How about your approach to wedding day photography (actual day) then?
I’m a smiling ninja. I try to let people relax around me, but I do my best to get out of people’s way. Things happen as they happen and I’m not there to contrive events. I may offer some input in regards to an angle or lighting, that may allow us to photograph a better image, but I mostly try to blend into the background.

What is the most challenging thing about shooting weddings?
Shooting a wedding in IMax 3D.

In regards to wedding photography today, what are couples looking for?
The beauty of it is, we all love different things. I’m not sure if there is just one thing all couples are looking for, but couples that choose to rock \m/ with me, have a preference for natural, candid and the quirky. While everyone is concerned with how they look like one way or another, I do find that more and more couples appreciate things that they can relate to. After all, these are real people and not models, so it doesn’t have to be high fashion or a supermodel look, because they typically express that ‘posey’ or ‘drama-mama’ shots are not their cup of tea and I’m totally cool with that.

If you could shoot a destination wedding anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Iceland. It would be beautiful, alien and somewhere I’ve never been to before. Also, one of my favourite bands – Sigur Rós – is from there .

Besides wedding photography, what else do you enjoying shooting? Any of these shots to share?
Maybe I grew up with too many toys, because I’m working on a series of tilt-shift miniature urban-scapes. It is a work-in-progress and I collect more shots all the time.

Who would you say most inspires you when you look through the viewfinder?
For weddings, it is definitely the couple. When you put two individuals in love, in a comfortable situation that allows them to enjoy each other’s company, they start being themselves. They put their guard down, they start chatting, hug, maybe they give each other a kiss…genuinely…*click. I find that these are the little things that attract and inspire me.

If it was not photography as a profession, what would it have been?
A barista with a push cart. Serving coffee in the morning till teatime, then ice cold beer from the late afternoon.

What’s the one thing that you cannot stop thinking about when you’re shooting a wedding?
Is my fly open?

Tell us something that not many people know about you.
I can twitch both my ears.

Any tips for the wedding couple.
This day happens only once. Relax, cherish and enjoy.

What advise would you give to someone beginning their career as wedding photographer?
Always wear clean underwear and comfortable shoes. Very important.

Since you are still not married, which photographer would you pick to photograph your wedding when it happens?
Hahaha! That is a loaded question! If I were to be politically correct, it would be ANY of the WPN photographers But I’m not sure if I would want to make these friends of mine work.

Any parting words?
Live long and prosper \V/.

More of Dazza’s work can be found on his facebook page, website – weddings.dazza.sg or on the blog.dazza.sg

Website: http://www.mindytanweddings.com

Tell us a little bit more about yourself?

Most of my work deals with wedding photography. Aside, I also photograph sports and other documentary genres. I sometimes write + shoot for the travel section of Her World magazine. Recently I’ve also been invited to conduct photography workshops, such as for the Singapore Sports Council, where I am sharing tips and knowledge.

Where is home?

I spilt the year between Singapore and Berlin. Singapore where my roots are, and Berlin where my fiancé lives.

What is your current state of mind before we continue with the interview?

I’m in Berlin right now prepping for my own wedding in two months and taking a short breather after a hectic line-up of shoots in Singapore. At this stage, I couldn’t be happier  doing what I love most and investing energy into one’s own business and creative exploits. There is also much anticipation and excitement for the future ahead.

What got you started in wedding photography?

Call it accidental fate.

I wanted to be photographer and follow in the footsteps of James Natchwey, but soon after graduation, the editor sent me to become a reporter instead. I very fond of the job but after 4 years, a nagging itch developed. “What if…?” That prompted me to resign for a plunge as a freelance photographer, because I knew if I didn’t do it, I would have everything to lose.

The initial intention was to produce investigative picture essays in an almost anthropological manner. Shooting weddings, and 101 other wacky ideas, was to be a way to feed myself. And who should know I would soon enough fall in love with wedding photography? Perhaps it is a girl’s natural instinct to take liking for all things soft, beautiful and romantic?

There is much more fulfillment photographing for the individual and their personal albums, as opposed to feeding through wire images or dealing with corporations. My ideal of true photojournalism took a swing, as if I hadn’t understood before what it truly was, until now - Photographing the everyday, and what is closest to people’s hearts, has more sense of purpose than seeing that photo essay published.

Did you go to school to study photography?

I majored in Theatre and Sociology for my first degree, and later got a first class in Graphic Design. In some ways, photography came up with the modules but I never did receive formal training. You pick up nuances as you shoot.

How long have you been a photographer? Professionally, 3 years.

How would you describe your style? Evolving! Depending on the type of shoot, the climate, the mood. I always seek a judgement/a personal interpretation of the situation, while documenting it. Essentially, the photographer can choose what to see, and how to see it. With wedding imagery, I tend to pull away from the ‘hard-truths journalistic style’, moving towards romanticism, and yes, closer to fine-art while at the same time, journalism.

What type of cameras do you shoot with? Two Nikon D700s. It’s important and only fair for clients that a photographer shoots with a back-up camera body. Important occasions demand royal treatment. Recently, I’m also using the Nikon D3s. Its high ISO capabilities, of up to ISO 12500, can record images my eyes hardly see.

What is your favourite photography accessory, other than your camera? The ability to make my clients feel at ease. It can make or break a picture.

If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?

The Nikon 50mm F1.4. This nifty little piece of glass is good for portraits, close-ups, works well on the street, and if you move away from the subject it can also capture landscape at an appropriate (not too wide) perspective. It is light, and can fit into a large pocket or my handbag.

Do you plan on buying any new equipment and if so what do you have your eyes on? Not at the moment. I just purchased the new Nikon 35mm F1.4. It is stunning, sharp, and I can never quite get enough of it.

Ain’t your gear too heavy for a female?

With two cameras hanging down the shoulders for 10 hours, you bet! On the job I don’t think about it but the strain comes when the work ends. Fitness is an important factor to do the job well.

What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

A pair of German expats flew me to their wedding in Sulz,in the Blackforest of Germany. I arrived a few days earlier and joined the family at their delicious home-cooked meals, cycled around the village and enjoyed the late summer. They drove to a sunflower field to get flowers and transformed their whole family garden into a gorgeous venue. It was an eye-opener how close to nature, how domestic things can be done with your own hands, as opposed to walking into a shop in Singapore with a your credit card to purchase all our wedding supplies.

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?

Every wedding presents different situations and is never the same, even if it is held in a familiar setting such as a particular hotel’s ballroom, a certain church or type of home. Situations, sense of space, light temperatures, emotions of people, all can change very fast with the pace of the wedding and the photographer must be alert ALL THE TIME. I second photographers who say “If you can shoot a wedding, you can shoot anything.”

Can you share some images with us from a single wedding?

Can you share some of your personal work?

Here is an image I worked on in Berlin.

Get cosy with Yuhsin from tinydot photographyas he shares more bits about himself and of the ‘klutz’ in him.

Let’s start by telling us a bit about yourself. For privacy reasons, age is not required.
I’m by nature a reserved person and am certainly not expressive in a big sort of way. The problem is – words and creative writing aren’t my forte either. So that kind of left me with expressing myself through imagery. Since drawing and painting weren’t my thing, I figured photography was next. I would be what some would call a late bloomer in the photography. You’d want to know that I don’t take life very seriously – I prefer to laugh things off and see the better side of people. So if we’re to go out for a movie, comedies are a better bet.

What got you started with wedding photography?
Being a photographer didn’t start out that way. I’ve always been kind of the geek – math, computers et all – and ended being an IT consultant for a larger part of 10 years after graduating from the university. Work became mundane when you *ahem* became good at it, and corporate politics just didn’t jive well with me. Wedding photography gave me an avenue to create things that made people happy. The other option was going down the path of Deuce Bigalow, but I quickly dismissed that thought since most people have good taste. Seriously though, helping people with documenting their memories gave me an immense sense of satisfaction. I can’t think of many other jobs that lets you be around happy (and drunk) people celebrating one of the biggest days of their lives all day long.

What’s the brand of that fuel that you use to keep the passion burning?
Family: They are my inspiration for all the work that I do. Having them behind me 100% of the way keeps me going like an energizer bunny – an old one at that! Having said that, the match stick that sparks it off would have to be the many wonderful clients that I’ve had, who drive me to better my work day-in, day-out.

If it was not photography as a profession, what would it have been?
Some kind of corporate executive maybe? If I can’t do what I love, might as well make loads of money doing something else.

What was the first wedding image you shot that made you decide you were born a wedding photographer?
I was born a geek.

Do you prefer to talk about yourself or your pictures?
I enjoy talking about other people more – but that would be gossiping. My pictures aren’t earth-shattering. We are documenting people’s memories after all. A lot of times, the simplest of images mean the most. I hate to talk about myself too, that would be so egoistic but that’s unavoidable when I meet with clients.

What’s the love/hate relationship like with the wedding photography business? What’s to love, and what’s to hate?
I love that clients love what I do. Hate that a lot of people still think it’s a cushy job and money comes easily.

What’s a typical day like shooting a wedding?
Tiring. It’s like taking a 10-hour fitness and psychological test. You have to be alert every minute, be on the constant lookout for things that are happening. Moments don’t just drop at your footstep – you have to go hunting for them. There’s a lot of running around, crouching, bending or whatever it takes to cover different angles, getting the good light, capture different people, all this while trying to keep incognito. Ninja-tsu is a difficult art to master.

Have you ever created a scene before – tripping over, cracking glasses, breaking a lens in the middle of a ceremony etc? What was THAT like?
I’ve tipped over a vase once at a church I shot at because there was really no room when I got cornered. It didn’t happen during the ceremony – so I was really thankful for that. Given that I can be quite a klutz, I’m amazed nothing major has happened in the past couple of years (knock on wood!). My head is too big to hide in a hole.

In 5 words, what’s the most surprising reaction you’ve ever had from a client who’s seen their wedding day pictures – i mean – memories?
Absolute silence followed by tears (of joy).

Name 3 subjects you would photograph at a wedding if you had no choice.
The bride, the groom and the wedding entourage.

Now name 3 subjects you would photograph if you totally free rein.
I would photograph everything that caught my eye.

Do you see the world in Black or white, or colour?
Colour mostly. Except on days when I don’t get enough sleep.

When you hear the words “Wedding Cake”, what’s your first reaction – foam or cream?
Foam.

Do you ever run out of photography ideas at a wedding?
Every wedding to me is different. I don’t generally prepare myself by having pre-conceived ideas of what the images will look like. Since each wedding in itself is unique, I’ll document each scene as it makes sense to. So the long and short of it is – no.

If the bride tells you that they’ll have another friend photographing their wedding, what’s the first words that come out of your mouth?
Nothing. I’d be speechless. Seriously though, I think friends should just be that – have them enjoy the wedding and let the photographer do his/her work without having to worry about blocking shots, tripping over etc.

Finish this sentence. My photography style is…
Something that’s not loud and results in an end-product that you will cherish for years to come.

Who would you say best influences you when you look through the viewfinder?
Many greats at photojournalism but none as much as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa. One for how he frames and captures images in a decisive moment and the joy of photography, and the other for teaching me that if the image is not good enough, I’m probably not close enough.

What’s the one thing that you cannot stop thinking about when you’re shooting a wedding?
Sitting down.

What’s your dream wedding destination?
I don’t have A dream wedding destination. I find destination weddings interesting because of the environments they are usually held in. Besides, everyone is generally more calm and relaxed, and are able to enjoy their wedding when it’s held away from Singapore. That makes photography a lot more enjoyable too!

Are you a photoshop extremist?
Photoshop doesn’t fix bad images. I make it a point to do things right in camera.

If you were a colour, would it be Shocking pink or luminous green?
Luminous green. How did you guess my favorite colour?

5 words of advice for aspiring wedding photographers.
Have passion, work hard, Godspeed.

Kicking off the interview series, is KC Wong of tinydot photography as he shares with us not just how he got into wedding photography but also how he likes the colour pink.

Let’s start by telling us a bit about yourself. For privacy reasons, age is not required.
I grew up in Malaysia and on a diet of Hongkong comics depicting the pugilistic world, and thought one day I would be a comics artist (is there such a phrase? Cartoonist is for animation right?). Then as I stepped into adolescence, I aspired to be a lawyer because of Andy Lau’s character in one of his breakout movies. I was led to believe that studying Humanities in junior college can really boost my English standard and give me a leg-up in entering Law school. Amidst the cynical confusion of my late teenage years and early adulthood, I became fascinated by the intuitiveness and empirical application of econoimics. Before I go any further, I wish to remind you that I am now a wedding photographer. It has been a dream ride, and I am no where near the destination yet, wherever it may be.

What got you started with wedding photography?
The story didn’t start with another hand-me-down old camera (I’ve heard that story plenty of times), even though I DID have an old Nikon FM passed down to me by my father (because he didn’t know how to use it) but unfortunately I sold it years later because I didn’t know how to use it. The truthful answer is money. I started taking wedding photographs because I thought that was the fastest and easiest way to earn some pocket money while working as a photojournalist with a local newspaper. ‘Fastest’ because it “cash on delivery”. ‘Easiest’ because telling stories with cameras is already what I do best in my day job.

What’s the brand of that fuel that you use to keep the passion burning?
Humans: I love a handful of them, I like many, and I dislike some. I think it’s important I care about human beings, about my relationships with them, and my communication with them. You don’t become a good photographer because you are good. You become a good photographer because you love the subjects you are photographing.

If it was not photography as a profession, what would it have been?
A writer. I think it’s the same thing. Instead of using images, I use words.

What was the first wedding image you shot that made you decide you were born a wedding photographer?
Is there such a thing? Someone who thinks he/she is natural-born wedding photographer? God help his/her clients.

Do you prefer to talk about yourself or your pictures?
When I want to be a good photographer, I talk about my pictures. When I want to be a photographer who can sell, I talk about myself.

What’s the love/hate relationship like with the wedding photography business? What’s to love, and what’s to hate?
Love the fact that clients respect my freedom to create but hate the fact I have to expend my energy looking for these clients.

What’s a typical day like shooting a wedding?
Exhilarating and knackered. I try not to shoot back-to-back weddings nowadays. The reason is a wedding is one of my clients’ most special days in their lives. At the end of the day when I’m back home facing the computer, it’s a privilege to be able to savour the past 10 hours I have shared with them and that moment of reflection really puts meaning to what I am doing, as opposed to them relegating to another invoice number. It is emotionally very draining, but in a positive way.

Have you ever created a scene before – tripping over, cracking glasses, breaking a lens in the middle of a ceremony etc? What was THAT like?
Thankfully, no. The worst moment was when I tore my pants as I squat down to snap a picture. Luckily the ballroom was noisy and chaotic, and nobody noticed, I think.

In 5 words, what’s the most surprising reaction you’ve ever had from a client who’s seen their wedding day pictures – i mean – memories?
(Looking at pictures)This girl is my wife?

Name 3 subjects you would photograph at a wedding if you had no choice.
The bride, the bride and the bride.

Now name 3 subjects you would photograph if you had totally free rein.
If I have free rein, I wouldn’t be approaching the wedding with an agenda.

Do you see the world in Black or white, or colour?
Colour. I wish I could see it in black and white. I thought only dogs can do that?

When you hear the words “Wedding Cake”, what’s your first reaction – foam or cream?
Foam.

Do you ever run out of photography ideas at a wedding?
I don’t think it really applies in my case. I am a documentary photographer. I don’t create things in a wedding. I see and feel what’s happening, and I document it in the best possible way with the help of my patience, anticipation, my equipment, the light, and luck. My emphasis is on real moments, so it’ll be weird if I go up to the bride and say:”Hey! I’ve got a great idea! Why don’t you dab some tears on your cheeks and I’ll go get the groom to do the same and have the both of you stand here, in this perfect light?”

If the bride tells you that they’ll have another friend photographing their wedding, what’s the first words that come out of your mouth?
Guy or girl?

Finish this sentence. My photography style is…
Documentary and understated.

Who would you say best influences you when you look through the viewfinder?
James Nachtwey. No, I don’t mean to visualize my clients as angry Palestinian protesters, but my sense of timing and composition are very much influenced by photojournalists like him, Raghu Rai and Sebastian Salgado.

What’s the one thing that you cannot stop thinking about when you’re shooting a wedding?
Magic light please, magic light please, magic light please!

What’s your dream wedding destination?
Abu Dhabi? I heard the sheikhs can have seven wives. It’s an oilfield out there! On a more serious note, destination is never a prime motivation for me. I’d love to shoot a couple in some difficult regions where there’s nothing else but them and people who love them and whom they love. No pretense, no charades and what I see is what I get and is what I capture.

Are you a photoshop extremist?
Yes. I’m declaring jihad on Photoshop.

If you were a colour, would it be Shocking pink or luminous green?
Shocking pink. I’m already pink as a human.

5 words of advice for aspiring wedding photographers.
Are you very very sure?