Michele Monasta: wedding photographer in Toscana

In this regard, we have decided to interview one of the most qualified photographic professionals. Michele Monasta, who for years has contributed to making the most evocative moments of countless wedding days special and unforgettable, and with whom we have had the pleasure of collaborating for a long time. We reached him in Florence, where his office is located, to answer some of the questions you ask us most frequently.

How does a professional photographer stand out from an amateur?

Let’s start by saying that a professional photographer is a working photographer. It is not a second job or a hobby. “Photographer” is like saying “doctor” and you cannot go to a Podiatrist for a problem to the heart, therefore it is not enough to take beautiful pictures of landscapes or fashion to be able to say that you are a “wedding photographer”.

First, we have to ask ourselves how much importance we want to give to the photos and obviously the budget we have; based on this we can decide the type of photographer to whom we can entrust the story of our wedding.

If photos are an option in planning your wedding, perhaps it is not worth reading further. If instead there is the desire to fill the drawer of memories with images that will excite you forever, then the only possible choice will be a professional wedding photographer … and not an amateur photographer or a photographer specialized in fashion or still-life, and not even rely on a studio with a big name who, however, cannot guarantee in advance who will take the pictures on a fateful day.

Contact only a photographer whose photos you have seen well, you liked them, they excited you and whom you can trust. It will be the option that will cost you the most because it will be the “real” cost for a wedding photoshoot.

A professional wedding photographer must first of all have sufficient experience to guarantee a high level of service offered in terms of reliability, quality and human relationships. This is guaranteed by years of experience, the number of weddings carried out but, above all, belonging to “official” groups that select the best wedding photographers to guarantee the spouses a safe choice. The most important (of which I belong) are ANFM – Associazione Nazionale Fotografi Matrimonialisti; ISPWP – International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers; WPJA – Wedding Photojournalist Association.

By choosing an expert photographer for weddings we are dealing with a person who guarantees his presence at the event, knows perfectly what his responsibilities are and has the experience of being able to do his job in peace and in full artistic expression.

What are the characteristics to look for in a photographer for the wedding?

Without a doubt, it is very important to know well the style of the photographer you want to engage because the photographer, like the painter, has a personal way of portraying the reality that may or may not reflect what your desire is.

We can cite at least four different styles of wedding photography. Some now historical, others more modern, others anchors widespread especially in some territories. I can better explain what they are to understand who the right photographer could be for you.

Traditional photoshoot

The classic posing photos. With these few words, we could summarize the traditional wedding photography, in which the photographer “directs” the spouses, in some moments of the wedding day, in order to take “perfect and clean” images. For a long time it was the only option for the newlyweds and even today, for those who prefer to have photographs studied, it is still a valid solution.

Artistic style / fine art

Artistic wedding photography requires very important post-production and photomontage work. We need special lights, unusual angles, unexpected compositions to create artistic images with a strong emotional impact.

Fashion wedding photography

Especially in the fashion capitals, some spouses choose a fashion photographic style, which puts the spotlight on the details of the ceremony and the participants. The bride’s dress, the groom’s shoes, the centrepiece of the ceremonial hall also become protagonists of the photoshoot that uses tools and languages ​​typical of fashion photography.

Wedding photo reportage

We come to the wedding photo report. So let’s get to the photographic style that belongs to me and that I offer to the spouses who choose me as their photographer.
Mine is a photographic style “without poses”. My goal is to tell what I see without interfering with the ceremony and the party. Like a true photojournalist, I watch and shoot discreetly, camouflaging myself in the crowd, without losing the most important moments of the wedding ceremony.

The involvement of the photographer is fundamental for this type of photography. The images I shoot tell what happens but do not predispose it. The wedding location is transformed into the frame of my photos and I am committed to making the best of the spontaneous moments of the entire event. Naturalness and spontaneity guide my hands and my photographer’s eye in order to better tell the wedding day.

What are the details to agree on for the wedding day photoshoot?

The right question to ask would be “who is the right photographer for you?” and the answer depends on your needs. If you want your wedding to be told with spontaneity, naturalness and beauty, you can choose a wedding photojournalist like me. If you prefer other more built or classic styles, you have a wide range of offers to choose from. There is no absolute right photographer, there is the right photographer for you.

In any case, the right photographer is also the one who always updates on the world of photography (and photojournalism of weddings as in my case) and whose quality is witnessed and guaranteed by associations such as ANFM, the National Photographers Association wedding that welcomes only selected photographers among its members, or the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers, the international organization that gathers the best wedding photographers. I am a member of these and other photographic associations.

What advice do you have to choose a photographer for the wedding?

I recommend giving preference to the style you like best and then talking to the photographer … he will have to tell the story of your wedding so you must be convinced professionally and humanly to entrust him with the most important service. Do not give in to the game to the bottom … it will not be 200 euros saved which will ensure you the best memories.

Can you recommend a photographic style suitable for telling the wedding day?

Well, I’m a wedding photojournalist whose style is the artistic “reportage”.  So I like to tell the “real” story of each wedding by giving up forced poses or false smiles, in the most natural and spontaneous way possible.

I like to think that the photographer is there to tell your party and not vice versa, so I participate in the day without doing “direction” but mixing discreetly with the guests to understand their personality and shyness in order to make the atmosphere as serene and spontaneous as possible.

I invite you to look at my photos and understand if this is the style you are looking for and that excites you most. This means nothing (or very few) posing photos. The photojournalist disappears from the scene, moves discreetly, works “behind the scenes” and writes the story of your wedding through his own camera.

It is important to understand that wedding photo reporting is not just the trend of recent years. It is using the story as a means by which to capture the most important day of your life. Do not use it as a last-minute fashion, choose it for the uniqueness it can give to the shots of your wedding.