Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gui Bittencourt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gui, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
My way of keeping my creativity alive is dabbling in many art forms, mostly movies, books, music; getting to know new artists and their craft; going to museums, movie theaters, and watching plays; talking to people and finding out about their passion. Another element that plays an important role in creativity is nature. Going for a hike, sightseeing, smelling the air, looking closely at a plant or animal, stopping and watching, being in the moment. I believe that art often takes elements from nature itself – I try to keep my art as organic as possible, using earthy, pastel, organic tones, not adulterating pictures in terms of modifying people’s bodies; taking in as much as I can from the environment to capture the essence of the location where people are being photographed; keeping it real and light at the same time. There’s something about candid shots that speaks the truth about the occasion.
However, sometimes I let my creativity loose, trying new things, adding elements, mixing and matching. It’s surprising what you can come up with when you let your mind roam free.
Lately, I have been tuning into movies, and after a few hundred and working with photography, automatically, I start to pick them apart, analyzing the acting, color grading, script, cuts, directing, set design, etc. It’s a fun way to “watch” a movie (even though you’re mostly analyzing). I have a friend who just went to watch a movie for the 7th time in the theaters. Each session, he would pay attention to the score, then cinematography, script, acting, the movie as a whole, and so forth. I think it’s a way to keep the left and right parts of the brain oiled and functioning.
I guess my best advice is to keep creating in as many mediums as necessary.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been working as a photographer and videographer in Los Angeles since 2018. I shoot many types of events, but I specialize in weddings. What gets me excited about working with people on their special days is that every ‘day at work’ is different. Sometimes it’s an adventure in itself; it’s always creative, and I get to meet nice people and experience their customs.
During these over 5 years of shooting events in Los Angeles, I have worked at many different locations. To name a few: Churches, beaches, parks, wedding venues, banquet halls, boats, cars, islands, people’s backyards, city halls, photography studios, streets, restaurants, etc. It’s always new and fresh arriving at a place because, even though I know what I am looking for (taking good shots), there’s an element of surprise in each location, couple, and who they bring with them to their special day.
I have worked with people from countries like the United States of America, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Chile; Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Somalia; Portugal, Spain, France, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova; Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Syria, Afghanistan; Pakistan, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Japan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mongolia… These are the ones I can remember. Each country has so many different traditions, and each time I find something new, I feel like a kid that just discovered a curiosity.
It’s always a good time and an honor to be presented with customs that people bring from their countries. The money dance from Mexican tradition; the colorful weddings in Indian and Pakistani culture; the peaceful Buddhist weddings from China; the act of just letting the bride and groom leave the venue after paying money in Romani culture; The Jewish custom of breaking the glass and saying ‘Mazel Tov!’; the jumping of the broom from African Americans… And just the gathering of family and friends for a really special day. That makes my work fresh every time, gives me joy, and makes me feel less of myself and more of a whole. There are so many beautiful cultures brought from other countries, and there’s space for all of them. Los Angeles can be so plural and at the same time individual in these aspects; that’s what I like the most about this city.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe a mix of areas of knowledge, skill, and quality includes customer service, computer skills, and curiosity. I had contact with these areas since I was a kid, especially working with computers in the DOS era and playing with my grandma’s film camera when I had a chance. Knowledge about how to work with people came later in life when I took courses to learn how to treat customers well, make sales, work with colleagues, etc. College was also a great area that taught me how to work in teams, appreciating different points of view and different realities. My greatest advice is to try to get in contact with as many areas, hobbies, people, and experiences as you can. It’s only after you’ve tried a lot of things that you can comprehend what you like and what you dislike. You’ll never know if you like something until you try. And nothing is better than starting early, with as much contact and as many experiences as possible, to be able to one day make something out of it. The hobby and experience of today might be the business you’re looking for in the future.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who appreciates my work. It’s always easy and positive when someone reaches out complimenting my work and decides to book me for their event. It feels like we are on the same page; they know what they’re gonna get, I know the type of work they’re looking for, and in the end, there’s always an element of surprise on how well the deliverables turned out and how positive an experience that was for all of us. That left me with some wonderful reviews and great memories to turn back on. I appreciate all of that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.guibittencourtphoto.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/guibittencourtphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/guibittencourtphoto
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@guibittencourtphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gui-bittencourt-photography-los-angeles
- Other: www.guidietician.com www.instagram.com/guidietician www.facebook.com/guidietician www.youtube.com/@guidietician
