Photographer Andrey Lukovnikov Interview: Photography is a part of my life, my passion, and my favorite business.
Swanky Magazine Interviews the wonderfully talented photographer - Andrey Lukovnikov
PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT | Andrey Lukovnikov. Born and raised in St. Petersburg
Q1. Swanky Mag: Hello Andrey, Can you introduce yourself to Swanky Magazine's readers? Can you tell us a little about you?
Hello! My name is Andrey Lukovnikov. I was born and raised in St. Petersburg and began my journey into the world of photography in this city as a concert photographer.
Between 2014 and 2019, my camera captured over 1000 different concerts: A-Ha, Christina Aguilera, 30 Seconds To Mars, Apocalyptica, Skillet, Poets Of The Fall, Nickelback, Deep Purple, KISS, Il Volo, Scorpions, and many many others.
My photographs were used to decorate the covers of music albums, by both Russian and foreign artists: DOPE (Live from Russia '2015), Mara (War and Peace' 2015), Banana’s cream (Stop it! I know '2018).
In 2018 he graduated from the School of Academic Photography in St. Petersburg and continued to develop not only as a concert photographer but also as a portrait photographer, to study the artistic side of this profession, to immerse himself more in its creative component.
Since 2020, I have been living and conducting photo shoots in Spain. I also travel to other European countries.
Q2. How and when did you get into retouching?
I took up retouching at about the same time when I decided to do not only concert photography but also portrait photography.
Q3. What does photography mean to you?
Photography is a part of my life, my passion, and my favorite business.
Q4. Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.
If you describe in three words what I do, it will be sincerity, beauty, and emotions. Although, lately I've been leaning more and more towards a more creative and artistic portraiture.
Q5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration is always around us, you just have to catch it... Movies, music, books, magazines, I love comics...
Q6. Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?
Usually, yes! We think over each new shooting with our team, make a mood board, prepare references, a storyboard. Of course, there is always an element of improvisation on the set, without improvisation the shooting process would be a bit boring.
Q7. Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?
May I answer this way, a hobbyist becomes a professional when he is paid for his work.
Q8. What has been your most memorable session, and why?
I remember all my sessions. They are all special to me, and there is something to remember from each of them.
Q9. Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
Nikon! But lately I've been doing most of my filming with Fujifilm. There is no favorite lens, I love zoom lenses. It’s just that I’m a little lazy by nature and sometimes I’m too lazy to change lenses during shooting or take a set of fixes with me.
Q10. What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer/retoucher looking to start their own business?
Everything is very simple. Don't stop and believe in yourself and what you are doing!
Photography:
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