DWF – Let’s start off with a little bio, tell us a little bit about yourself.

YERVANT – Well, I have been known to be quite controversial in my style, I have broken so many traditional rules that I ought to be locked up, but, in my 25+ years, I have seen my madness criticised and then followed by masses as a new trend. I like this ! I love the challenge of reinventing, I like challenging my peers all over the world as I do not see what we each do as competition, it is a huge wide world out there, plenty of business for each of us. I started photography from a very young age, I was about 7 or 8 when I used to go to my father’s lab to print color images for his clients, I accompanied my dad on many of his jobs, specially when he went to the Emperor Hailée Silasée’s palaces. I am of Armenian origin but born in East Africa (Ethiopia), I was one of the worst students in primary school, my mind was either on music, photography or girls, every year the priorities changed, most of the time it was girls though, that is why I love shooting weddings, I love women! On a wedding day, a girl is her most beautiful self from inside and out, she glows, she is at her best, she is a star and I love capturing her as MY star that day, make all her glamorous dreams come true in my images so she can enjoy it for ever. I enjoy pushing boundaries and wait and see what my peers will say or do next, that is no doubt my father’s influence. At the age of 11, my dad entered one of my African landscape images to a professional photographers’ competition, the image won first prize, then when the association found out that it was mine, just a kid of 11, they decided not to give me the official BIG trophy, but they gave me a little one instead, then the King Hailée Silasée somehow heard about the awards and that a kid had won the main prize, he sent for me, I remember being dressed in my Sunday suit, hair parted on the side and glued to my head, shiny school shoes and waited for the palace limo to come pick me up from home for afternoon tea with the King my new friend, he talked with me, he laughed, watched my images and gave me a gold medal and sent me back home. My parents sent me to Italy (Venice) when I was 15 to study Art and Photography, I lived there for 5 years, chased more girls, photographed a lot and basically had a great time with my mates. Then my parents moved to settle in Melbourne Australia, I joined then and went to a private photography studies college, my tutors kept on telling me that I should not be at that school as I had no interest in commercial-advertising photography, I wanted to do wedding photography, they kept telling me that you don’t need to study for that, must grab a camera and go. Well, how things have changed since those years!

DWF – How did you become a wedding photographer?

YERVANT - I always wanted to be a wedding photographer, I have always liked the spontaneity of this event, all real time, no double takes, one opportunity to get it right and still tell the story. I have said ” I am a portrait photographer, fashion photographer, landscape photographer, photojournalist, best man, dress fixer, confidante and so many other things all within any 5 minutes of a wedding day” Lately, I am also their GPS! I love the fact that we not only have to shoot technically but also emotionally on a wedding day for the best results, no re takes, no stylist, no polaroid tests, just see, shoot and deliver!!

DWF- Who or what inspires you as an artist?

YERVANT – European films! I love the light and the camera angles used in most EU films. Spanish, French, Italian movies really amaze me with their artistic skill, they don’t rely on high tech effects etc, they SHOOT to make art, every angle tells a story, every angle is thought about and included for a reason. Also, music inspires me, i have always loved music, all sorts all genres, all languages and all ages. Sometimes when I hear a piece of music, I see images like beautifully crafted movie in my head, it makes me want to shoot to that music, it gives me the mood in which I see and shoot.

DWF- If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?

YERVANT – Well, that is a difficult question for me, you have to ask Anie, she will tell a million reasons why you must book me, but as for me, if you are looking for an unconstructed day which will be more fun than the reception party, and you may end up with a picture or two, then you should book me.

DWF- If you had to pick a favorite “Tool of the Trade” what would it be? and why?

YERVANT – Apart from all things that say Canon and Apple, I will be cheeky and say Page Gallery. I originally created my own software to make all my albums as doing it in PS was taking far too long and I was so behind in production that all the fun in making individual albums was wearing off. So I started making my own actions and templates and layouts, then Anie thought she could sell that too, so after I resisted for 2 years, I gave in and exposed it at WPPI in Vegas about 7 years ago. All of a sudden it took off, I started upgrading and more and today, I am rather proud that it has become a very popular tool in studios worldwide. I have become addicted to it too, but this time, I like creating new layouts for it, new concepts, new features, like the slide show to music feature which was in the last upgrade. I just tested it with the new Snow Leopard and it worked smoothly! I am so happy. I am working on new features for the next upgrade.

DWF – Care to share your favorite photographs?

YERVANT – Ok, my favourite has to be Amanda and Terry’s sexy image. This image was the last I shot on location, we had finished everything and my French groom was leaning on the car, Amanda was leaning on him and all of a sudden he lifted her dress to show his buddies her sexy legs, I was on the ground packing my gear and I just captured the moment. I then decided to turn it into an art with some PS. This pic won me Gold at AIPP here in Australia and took my scores high enough to receive my first Master bar. It features on my book cover, is is always in my studio as it is somehow dateless and couples still LOVE it. I have received so many requests from Brides to do the same shot for them, some brides … well uhm.. no way but they still ask.

Another is my most recent Gold scoring image which I took at an Orthodox Jewish wedding where men and women celebrate in separate rooms at the reception. I was standing there and watching and the place just took me into an ancient world, busy with so many people, lots of noise but everyone was doing their own thing. The little kid at the front really caught my eye, here he is with all the men, cakes in front of him, it looked like he really wanted some cake and had his fist clutched and almost ready to go get a piece. He was in his world, and every one was in their own worlds and all at the same time at the same place. I had to make this a sepia toned image.

DWF – How about some final words to live by?

YERVANT – Words to live by, hummmm, I have to say the same thing that I have said for ever “Just enjoy what you are doing and have fun”. If YOU are having fun, your clients see it, feel it and join in, the experience is worth more than any money, any award and any other thing in life. ENJOY and LOVE what you do than you leave this world a happy person for sure!

Location – Melbourne Australia

Business Name – Yervant Photography International

Years in Business – 26

Websites & Blog - www.yervant.info

Be sure to check out the Yervant & Anie Workshop 09

Dublin 30 Sept – 2 Oct
London 6 – 8 Oct

3 FULL days of INTENSIVE tutorage

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