This week we have with us Mark Pacura, a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Glasgow, Scotland (he’s originally from Poland) who travels worldwide for weddings. Thanks for sharing Mark!
Editor’s Update: Mark will be speaking at Choo Choo Camp this October, 10 - 13th 2016, in NYC! If you want to hear him speak, sign up here.
1. What is life to you? What it should be?
Life is a gift. A gift full of surprises. I try not to take anything for granted and enjoy every single moment of my life. Living in the civilized countries we tend to forget how lucky we are, but you only need to watch the news for a couple of minutes, for a quick reminder that for many of us life can be really difficult.
Life should be more about following your dreams, and less about worrying about things that are not so important. I try not to care to much about the things that I can't change, and appreciate the world the way it is. I'm lucky enough to be married to someone who shares the same vision, and we follow our dreams together.
2.Where did you grow up and how did that play a part in your photography?
I grew up in a village in Poland, that was so small that I knew everyone who lived there. I never appreciated how beautiful and unique it was, until I came back there 15 years later. Most of my friends loved motorsports and that's how my journey with photography started. I bought my first camera to photograph the rally cars going at some crazy speed, there was not much romance in it, but plenty of action :)
3.There are a lot of professions out there why be a photographer?
There's only one reason why you should be a photographer. It's the same reason why you should be an architect, a policemen or a vet. You've got to love it. I don't think you can succeed doing something, if it's not what you want to do in the first place. I'm lucky enough to have a job I love, to meet different people every week, and to visit some amazing places around the world. I have to admit it's hard not to love it.
4.What is your favourite non-photography pass time?
Motorsport is still my passion, and that will probably never change. I don't have much free time these days, so most of the time I watch it online rather than live events, but I'm still as excited about it as I was 15 years ago. I promised myself that one day I will take part in a World Rally Championship round, unfortunately I would have to sell the house to afford it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though, as I said, life can be full of surprises.
5. What TV are you watching?
I love documentaries and I'm a big fan of David Attenborough's work. It would be a dream to work on one of his projects. I started to watch House of Cards last week after some strong recommendations by my friends, it's actually the first TV drama I've seen in years. I've watched 16 episodes in 4 days, so I think it would be fair to say that I'm hooked.
6. Are you more of a one-frame-tells-the-story artist or do you prefer collections?
I know the term is being overused these days, but I'm definitely say I'm a storyteller. When I photograph a wedding I want my photos to have the ability to bring back my client's memories back to that day, regardless on when they going to look at them. That's my focus, and that's what I'm aiming for in my work.
7. Is/Are there any project(s) you wish you could do or might do?
I've been living in Scotland for the last 13 years, and I'm still as amazed by it's beauty as I was when I came here. This year I started a project called #scotland2015, it's basically one photo from Scotland on my instagram every day. I'm not a landscape photographer by any means, I don't have time or patience to wait for days for the perfect light. The project is more about visiting places I've not seen yet, and exploring this amazing country.
8. Do you shoot with your left or right eye?
I actually don't know. Both, I think. It's complicated as I'm a left hander but I write with my right hand.
9. Are there any unseen experimental images in your attic you’d like to show us now?
I shoot for a story and I don't like to over complicate anything. I understand the appeal of different experiments and techniques, but for me photography is all about the moment. I know my gear inside out, but for me it's still the photographer who takes the photo. No experiments in my attic :)
10. If you were to start all over again, is there anything you would do differently? Why?
I'm quite happy with my journey so far, so I wouldn't make many changes. I think everyone makes the same mistake of compering their work to other photographers for too long, instead of trying to find their own voice. I try not visit to many wedding photography websites and look for the inspiration elsewhere. At the beginning, I struggled to find the work – life balance, having the full time job and running a photography business at the same time, was really hard at times. So, one thing I would change would be to have courage to leave my job much earlier.
Follow Mark