"I love wedding photography because I love working with people," says Igor Demba. "For most couples it's the best day of their lives, and I get the privilege of being part of it. At the same time, I love to travel and discover different locations and cultures, so being a destination wedding photographer is the perfect job for me."
Born in Portugal, Igor lived in several countries around Europe with his parents, who were missionaries, before eventually settling in the UK. He first began shooting images – mainly street pictures and portraits – while studying graphic design at university.
WEDDING / TRAVEL
Igor Demba
Igor enjoyed the experience and delved deeper into the world of shooting weddings. "I was especially inspired by the work of wedding photographers in the US and Europe and saw it was a clear art form," he says. "Those photographers all had their own voices – their own clear identity and style."
He threw himself into wedding photography, made as many contacts as possible and, by the time he was leaving university, he was shooting 20-30 weddings a year. For the first few years after graduating he combined building up his business with working as a graphic designer, before taking the plunge and becoming a full-time pro wedding photographer in 2017.
Specialist area: Weddings
Favourite kit: Canon EOS R3
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
Since then, he has photographed hundreds of weddings in almost 30 countries and has won several accolades for his work. They include being chosen as one of Rangefinder Magazine's '20 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography' in 2016 and one of Harper's Bazaar's ‘Top Wedding Photographers in the World' in 2020.
Although he thrives under the pressure of having the responsibility of capturing a couple's big day, he says he's "quite a chilled guy" by nature and his friendly, relaxed approach helps put people at ease.
"I don't tend to pose my clients," he says, "I give them general directions rather than telling them exactly what to do. By starting with the basics and letting people behave naturally, I capture details and intimate moments. At the same time there's always an aesthetic element – I love the fashion on show at a wedding and I also love incorporating architecture and landscape settings. I see lines and textures all over the place in my compositions."
Igor's business changed during the pandemic when "the whole wedding photography world was turned upside down" and he began sharing his expertise online. He also offers mentoring and workshops for other photographers alongside his destination wedding photography work.
When shooting weddings, Igor's ultimate aim is to produce a set of beautiful, creative, memorable images with a strong narrative element. "Once the couple press 'play' on their slideshow and view their images, the way I tell the story creates a narrative," he explains. "It's one that will transport them straight back into the day, whether they're looking at the photos for the first time, or many years into the future."
When you're going to a new wedding location, how do you scout it?
"I tend to travel to a location one or two days beforehand so I can acclimatise to the venue and general environment. I'm always looking for light, and I start creating a plan based on what time the light will hit specific places. I also have a backup plan if the light's completely flat on the day. Then I go into the architecture of the place and figure out compositions, trying to create a journey or path I'll walk with my couple for the portraits."
In what ways do you incorporate the location into the pictures?
"After selecting the locations, it's all about textures, really. I like to introduce little details that very much give a flavour of the place – it might be something as simple as a specific plant you only get in that region, or certain elements of the architecture that are unique to that particular place."
Do you shoot video at weddings?
"I have recently started shooting video at weddings. Our industry is changing so fast. If you don't learn video and adapt it will be detrimental to your business, so I'm working towards it in the future."
What's your favourite time of day to shoot?
"Golden hour is beautiful and pleasing to the eye and its warm tones create amazing pictures. But I also love to shoot in blue hour when you get the last remnants of sunlight. It interacts with skin tones in a different way."
One thing I know
Igor Demba
"As wedding photographers we are observers of the world around us, so having a strong sense of documentary and the ability to create beautiful images from any situation is crucial. When you're starting out, you have to develop that ability by shooting as much as possible with your family and friends, and learning from it. It's also important to train your eye by studying successful images by other photographers and understanding exactly what makes them so good."
Instagram: @igordemba
Twitter/X: @igordemba
Website: www.igordemba.com
Igor Demba's kitbag
The key kit that the pros use to take their photographs
Cameras
Canon EOS R3
With speed at its core, this is the camera that photographers have been waiting for. "The EOS R3 is perfect for hybrid shooters," Igor says. "The feel of it with its dual-grip, and second-to-none weather sealing makes it superb for wherever you may be shooting in the world. Weddings are fast-paced events, so having a quick and accurate autofocus system that also has Eye Control AF means the camera can truly become an extension of yourself."
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
This latest iteration of the popular EOS 5D series includes innovations such as Dual Pixel RAW and 4K video, making it a camera for all occasions. "This camera is very much an extension of me, and I've learned it thoroughly, so I know exactly what I'm doing," says Igor. "The focusing is incredible and I love the colour profile – it's so pleasing with skin tones."
Lenses
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM
The professional's wide-angle lens with L-series optics and a fast f/1.4 aperture, making it ideal for low light. "Using this lens, when I shoot quite close to someone, I'm able to create a great sense of intimacy," says Igor. "It's perfect for shooting on the dance floor when I want to show more of the room and what's around the subject."
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
A professional-grade wide-angle lens with a natural perspective, an f/1.4 aperture and low light capabilities. "I love this lens because it's so versatile – I use it for landscapes, documentary-style work and portraits," says Igor. "70% of my shots are taken with this lens."
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8
A tilt-and-shift lens offering an angle of view similar to that of a 50mm standard lens. Tilt-and-shift mechanisms provide complete control over depth of field and perspective. "It's an unusual lens to use for weddings, but it has allowed me to create a dreamy look that's unique and recognisable," says Igor.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
High performance, f/1.4 aperture USM lens for general, low light and portrait photography. "I'd advise anyone starting out in wedding photography to use this lens because you can do so much with it," says Igor. "The bokeh you get from it is beautiful."
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
This lens offers a short telephoto focal length combined with a large maximum aperture and fast autofocus speed. "The EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is perfect for so many shots, especially portraits from a distance because it gives a beautiful compression between subject and background," says Igor.
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
A professional telephoto L-series lens with wide f/2 aperture ideal for portrait and low light photography. "This is a tighter lens than the 85mm, but I use it in the same way, especially for the ceremony or the speeches where I'm able to focus more on emotions and expressions," says Igor.
Accessories
Canon Speedlite 580EX II
"I have two of these Speedlites, which I usually use for shots on the dance floor," Igor says. "I tend to use them with the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM and sometimes set the flash as if I'm shooting a lot tighter to create a vignette around the subject."
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