Having recently diversified the Egzotique offering, which now includes the design and creation of celebration and wedding dresses, we find ourselves immersed in the world of Special Occasions and are thus becoming increasingly aware of the relevance this topic holds among girls and women alike. Wanting to encourage further exploration of all things festive, we are delighted to announce Egzotique will now be looking to organise regular expert lead meet-up sessions for keen enthusiasts to share their experience and receive specialist advice on topics ranging from female well being and beauty to wedding planning and so much more… We believe these get-togethers will offer valuable insights and provide an environment of inspiration to each and every guest.
Without further ado, we are thrilled to be kicking our meet-up series off with a proud introduction of a person who plays a crucial yet often anonymous role behind the scenes in any well organised wedding – the photographer. Meet our close friend Monika Rukaite, who for a long time has been hiding behind the lense at numerous Egzotique photo-shoots, which have long been a topic of interest among our audience enquiring about the author behind the beauty.
Monika has been with us from the very start – she got involved in one of our kick-off photoshoots what seems to be forever ago, and quickly set our minds to rest that the search for the perfect like-minded creative partner is over. Like many hidden gems, we appreciate that Miss Rukaite‘s work may not ring an overwhelming number of bells in the first instance, but rest assured – those who have been exposed to her passion in photography have rarely gone unimpressed. We are overjoyed having had the opportunity to grow and develop our brand side by side with Monika‘s ever increasing expertise and talent and couldn‘t be happier about our joint accomplishments.
Monika, would you mind giving us a short glimspe into your life as a photographer?
For as long as I can remeber, a camera has always been a part of my family life when I was growing up, regardless of how little or prominent the occasion. Noticing even the littlest of things was something instilled by my mother, perhaps that‘s where it all started… Honestly, I‘ve been learning ever since. I can‘t quite pinpoint where my passion for photoraphy began, though i do remember loving playing with water colours as a child. Fast forward a few years, i recall finding myself analysing my surroundings without a camera in sight wishing i could freeze time to capture a particular moment. I‘d say embracing my hobbies as well as progressing through art school laid the groundwork and gave me direction towards something i have always had a genuine interest in. I can‘t say I was certain at that point of what i will want to do in life, but my interest and drive only continued to grow.
How did you end up venturing into professional photography? Where did your interest in special occasions come from?
It all happened quite organically actually – I did a few photoshoots for my friends and then subsequently their friends, who all seemed to be really pleased with the results. I‘m sure you can imagine how honoured i then felt when quite a few of them asked if I was interested in capturing moments of what is deemed by many as the most important day in ones life – their wedding. I was as intrigued as I was overjoyed!
Would you say there a set way in which people celebrate special occasions these days and what they then expect from the photographer involved?
I guess you could say that about some aspects. But increasingly people seem to be more and more aware of their own individual preferences and bold enough to follow their unique style.
What is the most captivating part of wedding photography?
Love, of course! And the opportunity to capture and immortalise that feeling.
What is the key thing you aim to achieve on that special day?
I work to capture moments that convey the feelings and atmosphere of that unforgettable day, paying due attention to the small details and catching the big moments at the right time.
Have you found that weddings are often centred around conveying the couples‘ love story? Is that your mission?
Aside from snapping pretty pictures, you always want to make sure that the couple are enjoying themselves. I don‘t believe there is a recipe for success with these things, and not everyone hopes to offer a ‚walk-through‘ of the history of their relationship at the wedding. Often the newly-weds simply want mementos of the cute, cosy, and fun moments of their special day, which is why i try to make sure they feel comfortable and free so that we can really capture something that‘s real and looks natural.
Is it difficult trying to capture the bond between the couple on that special day? It must be quite challenging to cut through all the noise and buzz associated with weddings?
Of course, weddings are all about people. Decorations and surroundings simply provide the backdrop.
What would you say is the key element of a good picture?
Honesty.
What are the biggest challenges that couples often face when it comes to wedding photography?
Tension, if you can call that an obstacle. I don’t think there’s much to feel anxious about on ones’ wedding day… So the only challenge to overcome is people being a little nervous.
Monika’s Instagram – @monikarukaite
Egzotique are looking to welcome you all to what we hope will be a cosy yet highly informative first meeting with Monika, where she will share her experience, unique insights and advice around wedding photography to inspire each and every attendee.
