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It’s1998. Monica Mendez Aineros lands in England from Galicia, leaving the warm colors of Spain for the colder, greyish shades of Northern Europe. She doesn’t know yet that photography is going to become a key element in her life.
Fast forward 5 years and Monica is now a successful photographer who has found a rewarding environment in London. But Spain remains a strong influence in her work: many of her exhibitions pay homage to the traditions and people of Galicia, her native land. We had the chance to meet her in the British Capital and ask her about her story, her work and how you turn a passion into a full time job.
I read your story. It’s particularly fascinating to learn how you started. Definitely it was not the usual route, was it?
Indeed. My passion for photography started when I was still living in Spain. I taught myself the basics of photography with the help of some magazines. Then I borrowed an old Olympus camera from a friend and began shooting.
But then photography fell off the back of your mind for a while. Until you decided it was time to move to the UK…
Yes. I took the hard decision of leaving, for the first time, my small village in Galicia. When I arrived in England I didn’t speak the language so I began working as an au-pair and then in a residential home for ex-servicemen and women. It was while working there that I enrolled in a photography course. Once the course was over I started working in entertainment photography, mainly red carpet and film premiers. Then I was given the chance to work as a press photographer in Aberdeen. So I packed all my stuff and I moved up to the North Sea. After one year as a press photographer and a good number of images featured in the national papers, I moved back to London, starting my freelancer career and putting together my exhibitions.
This is how my interest for photography slowly turned into a passion and then my full time job!
What photographers inspire you and why?
The first photographers who inspired me were Henri Cartier-Bresson, Diane Arbus (the iconic photographer interpreted by Nicole Kidman in the critically acclaimed movie Fur, in 2007), Annie Leibovitz, Sebastião Salgado among many others. I particularly like photographers who do documentary or street photography.
Photographers inspire us and allow us to build our own vision. When it comes to take photos for a living our vision may clash with the one that clients’ have. To what extent do you compromise your vision when working for a client? On the other hand, have you ever had a client who was unhappy because you didn’t want to make compromises?
Working with clients is always very challenging. You need to be clear from the first minute you talk to a client, so there won’t be surprises later. When a client starts asking for something that I don’t do, because it’s not my style, then I tell them. At that precise moment. It is better to stop before it is too late. This way you avoid having problems and dealing with complaints from clients. It is very important to keep an open communication from the very beginning. On the day of the shooting I normally talk to them before starting to take the pictures. I explain what is going to happen and what we are going to do, so that they know what to expect. If you do that, you avoid a lot of trouble. Listening to clients it’s also very important to get to know their needs and what they like. To sum up, communication and respect are pivotal to keep clients happy.
On the topic of gear: what cameras do you use?
I use a Canon EOS 6D and a 5D. I own a few different lenses with different focal length.
Most challenging thing in your photographer’s life?
Marketing. Still struggling with it! Nowadays with the big influence of social media channels, as a photographer you have to learn a lot of things. Keeping up with all the social media apps, with editing and writing is really hard for me. I’m a photographer and I love taking pictures. It’s incredibly hard to keep up to date with all the rest!
Yes, it’s true! It’s difficult to keep up with all the things which don’t relate to your core activity. You literally have to learn everything anew, and you can’t avoid it. By the way, you made me think of how photography and technology are deeply related today. Some photographers are strongly again retouching and photoshopping their work. Others make a strong use of retouching, like the Italian fashion photographer Giovanni Gastel, who said “being able to master Photoshop is as important as taking pictures.” In an interview he said that “Taking a good picture is easy. Taking a great picture is much more difficult . In order to take the latter kind of pictures you need to know how to process the image.You need to fully master the technique (...) knowing how to retouch a photograph is pivotal. Mastering tools like Photoshop is very difficult and equally important. I had to learn to use it. You need to control the tools to take great pictures. The machines contain an aesthetic and you have to learn to find the limits of the system you use. Of course , discovering the limits of Photoshop is not as easy as it is constantly changing. (...) Taking a great picture has become more difficult because in fact you need to keep your skills constantly updated. Photoshop doesn’t facilitate the life of the photographer, it makes it more difficult!” So basically, the technique of taking pictures evolves - and you need to evolve as well. Where do you stand?
I do agree that taking a good picture is easy, but taking a great picture that stands out is difficult and challenging. Most of the great photographers have been recognised for excelling in the latter.
I am not a big fan of heavy retouching. I do minimal retouching to my images. With my personal work I only use the basic of photoshop such as levels, contrast and a few more tools. For wedding and portraiture jobs I usually do a bit more of retouching, but nothing too extreme. I like pictures that look as natural as possible. When you look at an image and you can see it has been heavily retouched it kind of loses interest to me, it doesn’t have the same effect. One thing is taking a great picture on camera, and another thing is to make a good picture with processing. I personally prefer the first option, good picture on camera and then simple photoshopping. Nowadays almost any picture can change dramatically if you’re skilled at photoshop, even the bad ones. I guess it’s up to your personal taste to decide, I don’t judge anyone who does heavy retouching but it just doesn’t work for me.
You also do portraits. Any tips you use to break the ice with your subjects?
Portraits are challenging, especially when you work with people who are not used to have their pictures taken. Before I start shooting I talk to them and I explain what we we would be doing, this way they relax and they know what’s going to happen. Taking small breaks every now and then works for me too.
One final question, that is going to be interesting for many young photographers who just started. How do you look for clients? As you said before, you need to learn and struggle with social media. Any other tips?
A lot of my clients are referrals, they are coming from other clients. I do also use Facebook, as I said. And of course I have a website. You can find it here! www.monicamendezaneiros.com
Credits for all pictures: Monica Mendez Aineros