Visual Storytelling Through Wedding Photography: Hitchbird's Exclusive Interview with Flipmax Bali's Aditya

Hitchbird recently met up with one of Bali's most sought-after wedding photographer, Aditya, for an exclusive one on one.  His masterful penchant for capturing raw and unguarded emotions during weddings has created for himself a portfolio of compelling and visually stunning photographs.  See @flipmaxphotography for yourself on Instagram to see that we are not kidding! 

Thank you for taking the time to meet us.  We know how busy you are.  It is lovely to finally meet you!  First off, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself, where are you from and what kind of work you do? 

My name is Aditya Mahatva Yodha, but people often call me Aditya or Adit. I am a photographer from Banyuwangi Regency, a region in the Eastern Java Province. I started my career in photography as a photo editor. I marvelled at the beautiful photos that I was editing and that has motivated me to go behind the camera and take the photos myself. I then decided to join one of Bali's most famous photography company officially as a photographer to develop and hone my craft.  And after 5 years, I have decided to start Flipmax, my own photography company. 

Did you study photography or are you self-taught? 

I consider myself to be an entirely self-taught photographer.  I believe that experience is the best teacher and this is how I developed my skills and technique. Photography courses and workshops can help you learn the basics, but I still advise all aspiring photographers to go out there and just start taking pictures.  Be critical of your work, experiment, find your inspiration and just acquire as much camera experience as you can.  That's the best way to learn.

Tell us more about your style (style of photography/art and shooting style)?

I would describe my style as a combination of candid and fine art. I love taking photos of raw emotions, but I still ensure that the composition of the photograph is beautiful.  I love photos that are beautiful to look at but also tell a story.

What made you get into wedding shoots?

As I said, I enjoy capturing moments and emotions through photography.  It is especially rewarding as I get to share the happiness and excitement of a couple on their big day. I believe that photography is an art and photographs have the power to convey messages better than any amount of words can.  This is what I love most in wedding photography. 

What are your hobbies and interests outside of photography?

I am very fond of football, I am a fan of Manchester United FC & Paul Pogba. I play on my day offs and I collect football boots.

You travel quite a lot, shooting weddings and engagement sessions. Tell us about your favorite place/destination or experience? And why?

Labuan Bajo is my personal favourite within Indonesia.  There are endless spots to explore where I can also experiment with my skills and shooting technique. New Zealand is another place that I love to shoot because of the country's natural beauty.  The stunning landscape and views provide a great backdrop on both locations.  They are both a photographer's dream. Labuan Bajo is my favourite place to do a shoot within Indonesia because it has so many great spots where I can explore and experiment my skills. Another location I would love to take photographs at would be New Zealand.

There are several photographers out there.  How do you manage to keep yourself creative and relevant? 

One must never stop learning and there is no limit on creativity.  It is always important to keep experimenting with new photography & videography styles to stay up to date with trends, techniques and technology.  Travel and exploring new locations provide me with great learning opportunities and insights as well.

What is it that keeps you passionate about your job?

I am blessed to have a job that allows me to be part of probably one the most memorable event in a person’s life.  That is great motivation for me already. 

What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve shot?

I believe every wedding is memorable and special. They are all dear to me because I get to experience the couples exchanging their vows.  It is hard to choose just one because each wedding has their own beautiful story.

Other than the wedding couple, what details in the wedding that you are excited to shoot?

I like taking pictures of the decor, flowers, wedding gown and anything that makes the wedding unique. I believe that each couple take the meticulous preparation of all these things and I believe that it is my responsibility to immortalize them through photographs.  It will be nice that the couple can look back into each of the details that made their wedding day special. Tell us about your post-editing process in enhancing the emotions in your photos. What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?

Tell us about your post-editing process in enhancing the emotions in your photos. What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?

I emphasise a lot on the style of my shoot itself. I try to get the best I can get out of the shoot so I do not have to edit much. Simple colour tones and lighting edits are part of my post-edits.

How about your early influences? Any photographers you looked up to or you still look up to today?

Gabe McClintock, a Canadian photographer, has always been my source of inspiration. I think he does an excellent job at capturing emotions while keeping his photos stylish.

Other than photographers, do you have other sources of inspirations?

I find inspirations in daily life, sceneries of locations I visit especially islands and waterfalls. I also get inspired when I scrolling through Instagram.

In your opinion, what is it about Bali that makes it such a popular wedding destination?

I think it is the emotions evoked by Bali as a location. Sceneries of the beaches, cliffs and sunsets, are among the factors that contribute to the romance and mystery of the island.

Where do you see wedding photography heading in the next few years?

It’s hard to tell where it would be heading, but I am sure that Bali will remain as the most popular wedding destination.

Photography packages by Flipmax start at USD 1,000.  For more information and bookings, visit https://www.flipmaxphoto.com/ or you may contact Dayu at +62 878 6043 1421 or Aditya at +62 878 6116 5185.

Looking for more wedding photographer in Bali? Click here.

You can check out wedding venues in Bali, here. You can also check out wedding packages in all across Indonesia here.