Artist Feature – Afonso Godinho

Afonso Godinho is a wedding photographer born and raised in Porto, Portugal, with a background in computer science engineering. His love for photography started as a child with a Canon compact camera, which he would bring everywhere. Later, he dedicated himself to learning the ways of Wedding Photography. Afonso Godinho Photography’s approach to wedding photography is rooted in photojournalism, capturing genuine moments as they unfold rather than staging artificial scenes. Those little stolen moments is what he strives for, and what delights him and his clients the most.

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Please share a bit about your background and how you got started in photography? How long have you been a photographer?

I’m a Computer Science Engineer, but I am also a Wedding photographer, and I have been for at least 7 years now. I always liked photography, and one thing I found that is really important is to start with some workshops. Then, I started photographing small clothing stores. This allowed me to be more comfortable working with models, and it helped me to gain creative angles and to try and always catch the best perspective.

For people who are thinking about doing wedding photography, I would definitely recommend working as a Second Photographer [before becoming a Lead]. This was what I needed to up my game and it led to developing my own brand.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

The first photographer I admired was Cliff Mautner (Wedding Photographer). I started watching many tutorials made by him, and he taught me that it is possible to shoot at any time of day. You just need to look into your surroundings and control the light. After that, I started looking into other photographers, which is where I found Pye Jirsa, the true influencer of my style. He is not only an amazing photographer but also an incredible teacher. Despite many years passing, I still continue to learn from him and without a doubt will continue to do so in the future.

What would you say is the most important marketing strategy for your business?

Without a doubt, the most important marketing strategy is when I shoot weddings and people take notice of me, either by my personality or because they like how low key I usually am. This usually leads me to some recommendations. Also, in today’s world, we really need to push social network marketing to the limit. Doing so gives you a lot of visibility. One thing I usually do is prepare some Reels of the day and the couple sessions, and I share them with the bride and groom. Now, we have more than one person sharing your images and this brings more attention to your work.

Every client is unique. How do you tailor your approach to photography to reflect the individuality of each client/event you photograph?

I always try to maintain clear communication from the start on what the clients can expect from me and also what they desire most, especially in regard to what they envision for their great day. One key thing I always say is that this is their day, and I really want the photos to reflect their personality. They can also always count on me to not only be discreet but also to catch what they value the most.

Besides that, the couple session is really important because I get to know the bride and groom and vice versa. This results in them being much more relaxed with my presence on the wedding day.

How do you manage the pressure and responsibility of capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments for your clients?

It is impossible not to feel that familiar nervous feeling at the start of the day. I have been doing this for many years and yet I still have that feeling, and you know what? This keeps me wanting to do better every time. So, I welcome it.

Another thing I always think and live by is this quote from Cliff Mautner: “It might be your 100th wedding, but it is their first, so always give your best.” That said, I try to keep in mind and capture the photos that are most important for both the bride and the groom.

Do you have a signature editing style that clients can expect from your work, or do you mix it up?

I have my own signature style, with bright and vivid colors. I usually always deliver this style of edits, unless the client asks me to do something different, which can make things interesting and fresh.

How has Impossible Things (IT) AI Photo Editing benefited your business?

Impossible Things allows me to save precious time. With each iteration, it is getting better. I am expecting in the future iterations to keep my revisions to only a quick glance. This, of course, helps me relax and have a little more time to focus on the brand.

Do you have recommendations for users who are considering Impossible Things; or do you have recommendations for users who are first starting with Impossible Things?

Have some patience and custom tune your presets. You will still need to make some adjustments. Software development takes time. Trust me [as a Computer Science Engineer], I know. But, like I said, with each iteration, IT is getting better.

What is your favorite Impossible Things feature and why?

Being able to edit with my own style and use Impossible Things to reproduce the same editing style across a thousand images, for me, is the best thing IT has given me.