Season 2, EP 2:
Daniele Torella – Wedding Photography – Publishing Content

Justin: [00:00:00] Welcome to after the Shoot, a podcast where we take a peek behind the lens to get inspired by the stories, challenges, and ideas of some of the most successful photographers in the business. I’m Justin Benson from After Shoot and AI cuing and editing software that. Give photographers like you your time back so you can focus on what you do best.

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Danielle: If you are, pictures are not beautiful enough. It means you’re not close enough. I’m always more excited and more creative when I work for the first time in one place.

The only jealousy I feel is that they, they don’t have to do group photos. Okay. That, 

 Justin: that’s, 

Danielle: that’s my main jealousy about videographer. Yeah. 

 Justin: In today’s episode, [00:01:00] we get to chat with one of the most talented photographers in Italy, Daniella Torella. His amazing insights into the photography industry and wedding photography specifically are going to give you so much knowledge, and I’m so excited for you to learn along with me.

Enjoy the show.

Welcome to the show. Thank you. Thank you, Justin. No problem. So I’m gonna go through my normal process, which is the first and most important question. How did you become a photographer? 

Danielle: My casually, because, uh, I studied cinema at university. Okay. Cinema. Even now it’s my main passion, even more than photography.

Yeah. As you can see, um, about my tattoo or about movies. So I studied Cinema University and I did the exam about history of photography. Okay. And then I fell in love, uh, with uh, this incredible art and I’m here. 

 Justin: That’s amazing. So I just to go, my story is actually very [00:02:00] similar to yours. Um, so I studied film in New York City.

Uh, so I went to film school in New York City and I studied lighting for film. And I ended up getting my first job as a locations person. So I would go help them find locations and and whatnot. So the first task I had to do was take a camera. And go walk around New York City and photograph places for them to film the TV shows.

So I was like, oh, I’m gonna be a cinematographer or I’m gonna go, yeah, same here. Yeah. But, but it ended up being that I was just like the low guy on the pole and I was working for, uh, like a TV show called 30 Rock. So I would go around and just take pictures of places and say, Hey, can we film here? Do you wanna film there?

Uh, but because I was walking around New York City, I was just taking photos of really cool things, ’cause New York City. So I would see buildings and places and that sort of stuff. And then from there it turned into a passion, passion and a love for photography. So funny that you were, uh, cinematic and that was also my style.

Yeah. We, 

Danielle: we have the more or less the 

 Justin: [00:03:00] same pop. Exactly. Do you feel any, um, jealousy. Towards, uh, videographers when you, like, let’s say you’re photographing a wedding and you have a videographer, do you ever look and say, Hmm, I could do that, or, I wish I was able to do that? 

Danielle: The only jealousy I feel is that they, they don’t have to do group.

Photos. 

 Justin: Okay. That, 

Danielle: that’s, that’s my main jealousy about the 

 Justin: videographer. Yeah. Okay. That’s fair. I mean, for me, when I, when I’m photographing and I, sometimes I’ll look over and see the videographer with their gimbals and they’ll be moving through things and getting all these creative shots, and I do feel jealous of that.

I look at that and say, oh, I wish I could do that. You know, I think the, the big difference with the photography and the videography is we’re capturing. A precision, a precise moment, and the video, they can move through a moment and it’s okay. Yeah, 

Danielle: maybe they can. The only jealousy I have a part, of course beside the group quality [00:04:00] is that they can add music.

Uh, I think adding music is really. Easy to get emotional. Yeah. I mean, you could add music to 

 Justin: your photos. Make a slides show. Yeah. I’m slide show, but it’s not the same. Yeah, not the same as that, that moving camera and that piece. Um, cool. So you, you started at, in cinema, you studied, you studied. Found your love for photography.

What was your first kind of introduction to photography like were you hired to be a wedding photographer or were you, how did you get started? 

Danielle: So, more or less, 15 years ago mm-hmm. I started to work for, um, old fashioned photographers, like, uh, 90 style. With all this post picture with a bride on the sofa with a booker looking at the camera all the time.

But I didn’t like these kind of pictures. Uh, and I did, uh, those things just for money. Mm-hmm. But once we did the [00:05:00] wedding of Ricard, Foley is one of the most famous singer Italian singer in the Italian history. And, uh, he told us, guys, I am always in front of camera today. I want just to have fun, so I don’t want to be bothered, uh, from you.

Mm-hmm. And, uh, we were, uh, we were forced to take candy shots and to not, uh, pose him all the time. And then after that day, I discovered that I was really in love with that style. So really elegant images, but not always staged. Something really candid, really spontaneous. 

 Justin: That’s amazing. So I really wanted to focus today on, on that idea of candid and that was the perfect introduction to it.

I think you are a master of candid photography. That’s right. So you absolutely. The images are incredible and I’d love to kind of understand how you go about that. So I, myself, I’m probably your [00:06:00] old boss, right? Everything’s very posed and I try and, and make them interact. But I, you won’t find me kind of hunting around looking for moments as much as me telling them, okay, go in the corner, look at each other, close your eyes and touch noses, whisper something dirty in her ear or whatever it is to make them laugh.

How do you say your style? ’cause you know both ends, you know, the traditional pose, look at camera and you know the completely far away. How do you blend that together? On a wedding day or are you pretty much like, where, where is Daniele? He’s capturing moments. No, 

Danielle: I, I don’t want to be like an invisible photographer.

I want to be, uh, really close to the couple, even if I don’t do post pictures. Mm-hmm. Because I want to be present in the. I want to be part of the scene. I don’t want to spy them from, uh, like 100 meters. Mm-hmm. I’m like a war photographers as, um, Kappa used to see [00:07:00] if your pictures are not beautiful enough, it means you’re not close enough.

 Justin: Mm-hmm. Okay. See, so I don’t, 

Danielle: I don’t like to use, uh, zoom. I don’t like to use tele. I like to use, uh, lenses like, uh, 35 or 50. Yep. Because I want to be in the scene. I want that the scene, uh, will live in my pictures. 

 Justin: That’s great. So. So you’re really, you’re, you’re in your scene, uh, which is amazing. Do you direct at any point or do you kind of just let the day unfold?

You’re just there capturing everything or are you saying, okay, we’re going to go here ’cause the light is good and I want to take this photo? How do you interact with your couples? 

Danielle: Yeah. Mostly are candid shots, but of course if, uh. I’m looking at some, some nice cut of light I can tell the bride and go, guys, go over there because the light is awesome.

So I can [00:08:00] direct some things, but my main goal is that in my pictures, everything will be perceived like natural and canid. Uh, my main, main goal is elegance. So I try to find elegance in positive pictures, but also in candid shots. And you know that in post pictures you can find easy elegance, but canid shots sometimes you always messy, always read expression.

Uh, I can be, um, it can be more difficult to find elegance and editorial looks in candid moments. 

 Justin: Yeah, so it’s, it’s really. It sounds like you really are. You are just letting the moments unfold, but you will step in to guide them towards a moment. So let’s say we were in, if we were in this room, we’re the bride and groom, and we’re sitting here and we’re enjoying our day, and you’re capturing some photos, and then you say, oh, you know what would be amazing that [00:09:00] that pocket of light over there.

Yeah. Do what you’re doing over there. Yeah. But you’re not saying, Hey, go over there. Stand by the window, pose like this and do that, all that. How do you. How do you find that your couples naturally interact that way? Do you see, do you have to kind of say, Hey, you, you have like three chins. Can you pick your chin up?

Or, or how? You know, I guess the struggle I would have as a photographer with candid shots is that my couples aren’t very natural. When I say, Hey, go over there and stand by that window, the light is really good. They kind of go, what am I supposed to do now? How do you get over that? Do you teach them that?

Are they learning that on an engagement session or. Or are they just naturally really good at it? 

Danielle: Uh, since I never work in Rome mm-hmm. Nowadays I work all in all Italy and sometimes even outside Italy. Mm-hmm. So I, I can do engagement pictures. Okay. Uh, it’s almost impossible to me. Yep. But, uh, it is really important to me [00:10:00] to build a nice relationship with them.

Even just by video call, like Google Meet or Skypes. So during the wedding day, they’ll perceive me like a friend. Mm-hmm. Or someone, uh, they trust and not just a vendor. So if I’ll tell them guys, go over there because the light is nice. Uh, will do a really nice photo. They usually follow me. Okay. 

 Justin: I, yeah, I mean, I, I could see that they would, but how, I guess so they’ll fall, they’ll go where you tell them, but what comes next?

Like, how do you make sure that they don’t look bad? 

Danielle: I basically told her guys, now enjoy each other, and there’s some. I do some jokes. So for example, my, a classic, uh, of my style is, guys look each other, you the room, stay on her, kiss her neck, stay on her like a pit bull. And she, she is going to [00:11:00] laugh. You laugh.

No, I take the shot. Okay. That’s good. I like that. That’s so they, they will be together. Enjoy the mom. I’ll do some stupid jokes, some silly things. They smile, they laugh, and I take this moment. So the moment will be, uh, that moment. Natural. Yeah. Because they are laughing For real. Yeah. But it’s also staged because.

I up on a nice, like with a nice background and with a nice 

 Justin: pose. Well, I mean that, yeah, that’s what you have to do. Would you set up a pose in that case, would you say, okay, groom, go behind the bride and squeeze her, or, 

Danielle: yes, yes. Nothing to stage, so I, I don’t want to direct them too much. So keep your chain like this.

Take care. I can give them some, uh, direction. Not little tips. Yeah, little tips. Yeah. Yeah. Just little things to 

 Justin: improve the photo slightly, but [00:12:00] not really telling them how to, you’re not their boss. You’re just saying, oh, you know what? You would be cute if you, if you held hands instead of having your hands down by your side, or if you picked your chin up, it would look nice.

So that, that’s, that’s cool. Such a fascinating thing for me. So as a, like, I, as I said, I would be your old boss, right? So I’m like the, uh, come on, you’re 

Danielle: good. He was not. 

 Justin: I look, 

Danielle: I, I love post pictures. Yeah. I love editorial styles and this epic, uh, post with this bride groom, but I don’t like lame pictures.

Yeah, 

 Justin: that’s, I appreciate that. But yeah, it’s, it’s, you know, for me. Uh, the, the candid stuff is so hard as a wedding photographer, it’s easy to say, oh, I’m gonna just go and let things kind of unfold, and I’m gonna take pictures as I see them. But for me. I feel too much pressure. So I feel like, okay, if I don’t, if I don’t force my hand, I won’t get what I [00:13:00] want.

Yeah, sure. So I’m always like, okay, I’m gonna just make what I want your phone focus 

Danielle: on. 

 Justin: Yeah. Yeah. So I found my comfort zone, but one of the things I always wish I could do is be more candid. Um, so for those who are listening, how would you say, I mean, you got probably the best deal. In the whole world.

You had somebody who said, do not pose me. Do not just take pictures and, and do the thing. How would you suggest or recommend a photographer like myself to get more comfortable in candid photography? Um, 

Danielle: I used to practice on the street. Mm-hmm. I’m really like, uh, the street photography. So I was, um, going, uh, to work on the streets, especially during my travels because I, I really love to travel and take, uh, kind moments, take can picture of people on the street.

And this was a big deal to me because it allows me to not, uh, [00:14:00] have fear. Of them so I can be really close to them, uh, when they are eating or they do something. Sometimes this can be also dangerous because especially in some weird places like, uh, Rwanda, I had, uh, big problems with people because they don’t like to being photographed.

Okay. But, uh, it’s really important to me because you can master the light. You can muscle the moment, the composition. And also be able to take the emotions without posing them. Yeah. So that’s a, that’s a good exercise 

 Justin: actually, so you can, yes, yes. It’s really important. You can really just, uh, the best, uh, that’s probably the best advice I’ve ever gotten on how to get more candid is go be candid.

Go, go actually into the street. Force yourself to learn. To anticipate. 

Danielle: Yeah. Anticipate 

 Justin: is the key because it’s anticipation. Yeah. On a wedding day, you kind of know what’s gonna [00:15:00] happen. Yeah. But you don’t really know. So being able to prepare for what’s coming without really knowing what’s coming, I think is a, is a big piece of the candid.

And that’s how you would get that, uh, is street photography. That’s really the easiest way. It costs nothing. It’s something you can go do anywhere in the world, wherever you, you are. If there’s people walking on the street, you can take photos and, and learn how to get comfortable. A, taking photos, uh, b. You know, A, taking photos of people, but b, taking photos without staging them.

Exactly. Uh, which I think is good. I, from my experience, um, I had photographed a funeral once, so a, a friend of mine, his father had passed and he asked if Iowa was traditional Vietnamese culture to photograph the funeral For me as a not candid photographer, that was the hardest assignment I’ve ever had because not only was I trying to photograph moments that were very sensitive, yeah, I was.

I couldn’t pose anything. I had to step back and just photograph these sensitive [00:16:00] moments. But then I also had to like fear what if I’m crossing a line or if I’m making it too? And that’s exactly, I think what a street photographer used to. Just, like you said, you were like, I’m gonna take a picture of somebody who doesn’t want their photo taken and it didn’t go well.

Yeah. Uh, in Rwanda. But you can, you can absolutely do that. Um, which is, which is great advice. And I think I’m gonna do it. I think I need to implement that a little bit more. So. Throughout the day, you come to group photos. This is probably the next big question with, with candid photography, group photos tend to be a little bit more posed.

Are you posing that? Are you running that, are you in charge of that part of the day? Uh, or are you kind of just like, oh, bride, what do you wanna do? 

Danielle: No, unfortunately, yes, because I have to do it. But truth to be told, I don’t like to do it. 

 Justin: Yeah. Yeah. How, how much involvement do you have with that? Are you telling like.

Everyone where to stand and how to stand and, and kind of getting that posing or are you like, oh, you want a picture of you and your, 

Danielle: just look at me. Okay. [00:17:00] 

 Justin: That’s it. Yeah. I don’t like to 

Danielle: do it. 

 Justin: Yeah. So, so if the brides, so does it, do your brides give you a list of photos that they want or anything when it comes to family or, 

Danielle: yeah.

Yeah. I am happy to receive a list of group pictures because, uh, I think it’ll be faster in that way. Yeah. But I don’t want to have, um. A list of to do photos, not a group photos approved, but photos during the, the day. Mm-hmm. Because since my style is creative and is pretty candid, I don’t want to follow a list.

I don’t want to follow a scheme. I want to be be creative and be fresh. That’s great that they don’t want to 

 Justin: follow rules. So you have, um, let’s, all right, so let’s say you have a, your group shot. I give you 10 photos that I want for family. Okay. Do you kind of just call out the names and then they Yes.

Come together? Yes. You don’t, you don’t tell them where to go or anything? You’re just like, okay. No, I just, mom, dad, sister, brother. I just [00:18:00] to find a nice background with a decent light and then I shoot and then you shoot it and then their interaction with each other is, again, candid. Because if dad likes his other daughter better than the bride, he’s gonna go stand 

Danielle: with her.

Yeah. Basically. I look for the moment in between. Okay. In between the picture. So when they smile, dad, your tie is wrong. That I took this picture. Yeah. Because in my opinion, a picture like this, it’s, it tells more than a group photo. 

 Justin: Yeah. Uhhuh. That’s great. That’s, that’s beautiful. So when you are, um, couples.

For instance, myself, I use, uh, our CRM Studio Ninja. So my clients, we have the everything in our Studio Ninja account, right? And I send them over a questionnaire beforehand and the questionnaire asks them what time I’m supposed to be there, all of the events for the day and everything. That’s where I get all my group shots and shot sort of stuff.

Do you have, do you do something like that? Or you just say, [00:19:00] Hey, tell me where to be and I’ll show up and then I just follow you the rest of the day. 

Danielle: Uh, more or less tell me when and when. Uh, that’s great, and I’ll be there, especially when, um, wedding planner. I hope, um, no wedding planner will look this interview because, uh, wedding planner send me this huge, uh, list of the timeline.

But I just take a look at the moment where I have to get the bill, and at the moment I have to go out. 

 Justin: That’s, I mean, that’s, that’s pretty, that’s a pretty good way to do it. I think, uh, when I get, I get the same thing from a DJ or a wedding planner, and they, this is the schedule of events. I only want to know what I ask my couples, right?

So I ask my couples where I’m going. What time I need to be there. But I also wanna know all the, the important things for me, like ceremony. Exactly. First look, the, the timing of things and then that group list shot of my family portraits. That’s all [00:20:00] I need. 

Danielle: I love to be surprised. So I don’t want to know everything from the day before.

Mm-hmm. I want to get there and, uh, then be surprised. Be happy to discover things, discover people, discover places. 

 Justin: Yeah. 

Danielle: And it’s really important to me, for example, to not work only at the same venue. 

 Justin: Yeah. 

Danielle: Because it can be really boring. 

 Justin: Absolutely. That’s, that’s great advice. Do you get, do you end up at the same place more than once 

Danielle: now?

Almost never. Okay. Because, uh, uh, this is the most, my favorite part of the, of being a destination wedding photographer. So now since I don’t work in a room. I work all above. So every time is a different band. That’s 

 Justin: great. That’s, that’s gotta be amazing to have such variety and Yeah. Being able to go anywhere it is.

Um, with that being said, since you, since you are kind of going everywhere and, and traveling and whatnot, [00:21:00] I think the hardest question I’m gonna ask you today, it’ll probably wrap up things here. Uh, the hardest question I would say is how do you get. People to, uh, to book you like that. So for me, I have couples, they, they, they book me because I know that venue and I’ve been there before.

People hire you as a destination candid photographer, having never seen, you may never have seen the location. You may never have been to that town. Maybe. Why do they trust you and how can you build restaurants? 

Danielle: Maybe the Arizona that in my portfolio I have, uh. All the type of weddings. Mm-hmm. So I did a wedding of, uh, Palestinian guys in Jordan.

I did a wedding in, uh, uh, California, in England, in Greece, uh, in Turkey, in Macedonia. So they know that I can manage all the type of situations. So travels. I can speak three [00:22:00] languages, I can be. Relax in front of a, uh, killer in front of a prince. Mm-hmm. So I can be like, uh, you’re versatile. 

 Justin: Yeah. Versatile.

And you show it in your portfolio so they know. Uh, when they inquire, do you say like, let’s say I’m a new couple for you and I say, I want you to come photograph me and my wife in Connecticut. Have you ever been to Connecticut before? No. You just say it now. 

Danielle: And, uh, sometimes they ask me, can you send me, uh, a gallery of a wedding?

You shoot in that villa. Mm-hmm. And, uh, for me, the, the thing that I never been at that villa is a nice thing, as I told you before. Mm-hmm. Because I’m always more excited and more creative when I work for the first time in one place. 

 Justin: So that’s your selling point actually. Yeah. It’s, if I haven’t been there, that means you’re getting the best work I’ve ever [00:23:00] created.

Yes. Which is, that’s cool. That’s, that’s actually, I’ve never thought of it that way. I’ve always frozen when I get the question, have you shot at our venue before? I say no. And they go, oh, okay. Sorry. Yeah, but that’s actually, that’s great. No, the first time I’m there, it’s the best work I’m going to do. Pick up plan.

When they ask 

Danielle: something like this, that’s great, but it is the, uh, sincere.

This is something I really believe so that I am always more excited and more creative when I first work, uh, at a venue. 

 Justin: That’s amazing. That’s awesome. So. I can sit here and chat with you all day, but I’m gonna let you go, but I want you to let the audience know where can they find more about you, uh, like say on Instagram or you know, I know you teach some workshops and you’re traveling the world and showing off amazing work.

So where can they go follow along and learn more about you? 

Danielle: Yeah, definitely they can follow my Instagram page. So is Daniel Toll [00:24:00] Photography is my name. More photography and, uh, I used to do some workshop I’ll do in the future, but, uh, right now I want to rest a little bit, but of you’re, you’re busy. Yeah, a little bit.

I believe 

 Justin: at the beginning you were right before this chat, you were saying you were in Abi, you were in Malta or, yeah. 

Danielle: In the past two weeks. Yeah, in the past two weeks. Uh, it was insane, but also. Really great experience and, uh, I’m also one of the member of NFM. Mm-hmm. The most famous and important, uh, Italian association about wedding photography and, uh, since they really now bond with you of after shoot.

Yeah. I’m always, uh, uh, at the, at the event, um, talking about, uh, after shoot, uh, how I can, uh. [00:25:00] Uh, get along with you guys. Uh, I will after shoot I, me as a wedding photo. 

 Justin: Yeah. No, that’s amazing and we appreciate it. Thank you so much for, thank you for hanging out with us. I think anytime anybody is in Rome, they need to call you and come take a workshop or do something with you.

Yeah. ’cause it’s been so great. If you’re even in Rome at that point. The only problem 

Danielle: is I leave me at Rome, but I’ve never been in Rome. 

 Justin: Thank you so much for joining us, Danielle. It’s been amazing. I appreciate you so much. Thank you. My pleasure. Ciao. Bye. Thanks for tuning into after the shoot. You got any burning questions for today’s guest or just wanna keep the conversation going?

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