Interview: Photographer Guilherme Lechat (Brazil)
Can you tell us a little about you?
I’m a fine art nude photographer. I've been a photographer for 30 years. I wrote the first book on artistic nude photography in Brazil. I publish my authorial work in international magazines.
How and when did you get into photography?
I was 18 when I became interested in the world of photography. It was 1990. I was studying arts at the university. I started photographing dancers, actresses, painting models.
What does photography mean to you?
Photography is communication, a way of telling a story. Like a poem. It is an important part of my life. A real school for sensitivity.
Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.
I try not to be agressive or shock. I like to please and to be soft. And what I ask of the models is that they act in the same way.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I look for inspiration in the work of great photographers, painters, filmmakers. Beautiful images are everywhere.
Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?
Yes of course. Photography is a form of personal expression. You can't say something you didn't think about. And, as a technique, it also requires planning. Previous study, preparation.
Studio, on location or both?
Location, always. I like wide views, with a lot of landscape inserted in the image.
Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?
I’m a professional photographer.
What has been your most memorable session and why?
A shooting that I will never forget was one in which a rut collapsed over the model. She was not seriously injured. But it disappeared before our eyes. We were very scared.
Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
Both. They are big companies with excellent equipments. My favorite lens are the canon 85mm F1.8, canon 24-105 F4, and canon 70-200 F2.8.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?
Choose an area of expertise. A theme. Study a lot about it. Submit your photos for publication only when you are ready to do so. What you show will be part of your name from then on.
What do you think of our new magazine?
The new magazine is very elegant. And it is an honor to have my work published in it.