Meet Gaetano Drago

We recently connected with Gaetano Drago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gaetano, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from working in environments where there are no second chances. A wedding day moves fast, emotions are high, and once a moment passes, it’s gone. I learned early that I couldn’t rely on ideal conditions or perfect plans — I had to stay calm, adapt quickly, and keep working no matter what was happening around me.
Over time, that pressure became a teacher. Difficult lighting, tight timelines, unexpected changes — they stopped feeling like problems and started feeling like part of the job. Resilience, for me, is the ability to stay focused and present when everything else is moving fast. That mindset allows me to do my best work when it matters most.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a Los Angeles–based wedding photographer focused on documenting weddings as they truly unfold. My work centers on real emotion, quiet moments, and the natural energy of the day, approached with an editorial eye and a documentary foundation. I don’t direct heavily or chase trends — I focus on creating images that feel honest and timeless.
What excites me most about this work is the unpredictability. Weddings compress an enormous range of human emotion into a single day, and my role is to stay present and responsive as those moments happen naturally. I approach each wedding with the same intention: to tell the story clearly, without interruption, and with respect for the people in it.
My brand is built around trust, consistency, and calm under pressure. Couples who work with me value authenticity over performance and want their wedding remembered as it actually felt. I work primarily in Los Angeles but take on select destination weddings when the story and connection are right.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The first is the ability to stay calm under pressure. Early on, I learned that talent means very little if you can’t think clearly when things don’t go as planned. Weddings move fast, and unexpected situations are guaranteed. My advice to anyone early in their journey is to put yourself in real-world situations as often as possible and learn to work through discomfort instead of avoiding it.
The second is observational awareness. Understanding light, timing, and human behavior has been far more impactful than any piece of equipment. The strongest images come from noticing small moments before they fully unfold. This skill develops by slowing down, paying attention, and spending time observing people rather than directing them.
The third is consistency and professionalism. Showing up prepared, delivering on time, and communicating clearly builds long-term trust. Talent might get you noticed once, but consistency is what sustains a career. For those just starting out, treat every job like it matters — because it does, and people remember reliability.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

My ideal clients are couples who value authenticity over performance. They’re less focused on trends or perfection and more interested in experiencing their wedding day fully, trusting that it will be documented honestly as it unfolds.
They understand the importance of presence — with each other, with their families, and with the moment — and they appreciate a photographer who can work calmly in the background while capturing meaningful details and real emotion. When that trust is there, the work becomes collaborative, natural, and deeply personal.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://dragogaetanophotography.com
• Other: @dgwedding_photographer
  New Instagram Page