One of the perks in managing WeddingsAtWork.com is that we get to know about up and coming wedding suppliers by means of submissions via the free listing in our online directory or through our Classified Ads section.Towards the end of June this year, we got an email from a budding wedding photographer whose name sounded familiar. We didn’t know if the guy is the same Raymond Fortun that we see representing clients in high-profile cases. We immediately viewed his website and we found out he’s one and the same.

We felt it would be interesting to ask why a successful lawyer like him would dabble in another totally different profession like wedding photography. We found ourselves wanting to ask so many questions and we assumed others would too. We immediately asked him if we could interview him for this feature and he gladly agreed. We sent him our questions and we got to know the man outside the courtroom and beyond the legal gobbledygook.

Q & A

John & Benz: When did you start with photography?

Raymond Fortun: I am literally a “babe in the woods” when it comes to photography. I got my first DSLR only in late August 2007, so I could produce beautiful pictures of my family. I was inspired by the thought that during the debut of my daughter or the wedding of any of my children, their guests would gasp at the images of their childhood during the slideshow presentation.

J&B: Obviously, you are very busy as a lawyer. How do you find time for photography?

RF: My passion for photography must take a backseat to the demands of being a lawyer. However, since I am the only partner of my law office, I can adjust my schedule to allow me to go on shoots and/or do work for my camera club. Anyway, most weddings occur during weekends, and court hearings and meetings are usually set on weekdays.

J&B: What made you decide to dabble in very competitive arena of wedding photography?

RF: Because it is the hardest and is an artistic mix of all the photographic disciplines. It requires a quick mind that recognizes scenes before they even develop and it demands the best equipment to handle low light. It is mentally draining and physically taxing. There are no “second chances”. Simply put, wedding photography requires the most from the equipment and the photographer, and only the best will survive. I enjoy that challenge to myself, and I impose the required discipline upon myself. Truth to tell, the ‘competition’ comes from within.

J&B: Did you have somebody mentoring you when you were starting?

RF: Like any lawyer, I am a voracious reader. Since a lot of photographers have been shooting a lot longer than me, I stocked up on several books and e-books on wedding photography to get their inputs. My passion for portraitures was nurtured by Mr. Ross Capili. In events and weddings, I was mentored by Mr. Frank Dizon of Imagineer Digital.

J&B: Describe to us how your very first wedding coverage felt like? What did you learn of that first hands-on experience?

RF: My first wedding coverage was as a back-up for Frank Dizon. Even before the day itself, I had already primed myself on what images I should produce by reading my wedding photography books and viewing the websites of established wedding photographers like Patrick Uy, Dino Lara, Bern Mejias, Lito Sy and Chito Cleofas.

What did I learn? People do not realize how difficult wedding photography is until they try it. It is 10 to 12 hours worth of coverage where one has to literally always be on his toes, where teamwork with other co-photographers is essential, and where one’s creative juices are going to be put to an ultimate test.

J&B: You’re used in handling high-profile cases. Would you also like to cover high-profile weddings (i.e. kins and scions of your clients)?

RF: I’d be honored to do the weddings of my clients or, for that matter, to do high-profile weddings. The would place the same amount of dedication in my work as a photographer as I would in handling legal cases.

J&B: On TV, you appear to be a no non-sense counsel. Are you that serious during a wedding coverage or will couples see a different side of you?

RF: [laughs] I’m a totally different person when I’m outside of a courtroom, and my friends would vouch for this. I’ve always been a good motivator, and love to impart my knowledge to others. This carries over in photography. I just love capturing people at their best (and on the lighter side, at their worst). I love giving instructions to record that perfect smile/pose, or to take the perfect image of love at its finest moment. I enjoy candid shots of laughter and happiness, and making people laugh just to get that “moment.” Being a known personality helps. When I say, “all right guys, I
want a reaaaaal wacky shot”, NOBODY dares to be ‘pasaway.’ [laughs]

J&B: Since you handle high-profile cases, soon-to-weds would naturally think you must charge a leg and an arm for a wedding coverage. Would
you like to clarify that with them.

RF: Please forgive me for being honest, but I really do not need the money when I go on a shoot. Photography is my outlet for creative passion.
Thus, my package for weddings is solely to answer for actual expenses — gasoline, the stipends of other photographers, the expense of layouting and
album-printing and the like.

BUT I will not resort to cut-throat pricing. I recognize that other photographers shoot because photography is their means of livelihood, in order to put food on their tables. Thus, it is my responsibility to my fellow photographers to keep the package reasonable and competitive, for to drop my price would also affect them. Just to satisfy my passion, I will not price myself at the expense of others. I am quite reasonable, but I refuse to hurt the industry.

J&B: What do you specialize in wedding photography (i.e. portraiture, candid, photojournalism etc)?

RF: Everything, actually. I had been mentored in portraitures by Ross Capili; I believe I have been trained well. However, I enjoy the photojournalism side of wedding photography — the crazy angles, the special moments, those once-in-a-lifetime images.

J&B: What would you do if a couple who hired you for a pre-nup pictorial casually ask you for advise for prenuptial agreement?

RF: Pre-nups would become a consideration only in cases where there is a disparity in wealth between the bride and the groom. In such a situation, of course I would advise them properly. However, they would have to be charged legal rates if they ask me to prepare a ante-nuptial agreement for them. That’s extra work beyond my job as a photographer [laughs]

J&B: How would you feel if a groom or bride who hired you to cover a wedding will ask you to be their counsel for his/her annulment?

RF: I have actually been asked that question before. It must be noted that my engagement was as a photographer, NOT as counsel. Thus, my engagement by one of the spouses in a legal matter would not be covered by conflict of interest rules. Simply put, I can be hired by either of them in the event of marital problems. Of course, you can expect me to pointedly say, “Are you telling me that those beautiful images I took of your wedding are all going to be wasted?!!” [laughs]

J&B: Say, a couple booked you to cover the big day a year in advance and a court hearing to an important case has been slated on the same date.
How would you handle that?

RF: Easy. I would tell the court that I am not available on that date because of a prior engagement. Conflicts in schedule occur quite often in the life of a lawyer, and the filing of a Motion to Cancel/Reset are not uncommon. Again, I do not think that this scenario would be possible since weddings are usually set on weekends (while court hearings are held on weekdays).

J&B: Where can soon-to-weds find samples of your work?

RF: I dump my creative work in http://raymond42n.multiply.com. My website, http://web.mac.com/raymond42n is a work in progress. I could be reached for inquiries and bookings at raymond42n@mac.com.

Sought-after

Whether you like the clients he represents or not, there is no denying that Raymond Fortun is currently one of the country’s most sought-after lawyers because he does the job right. We won’t be surprised if he stands out the same way in this new passion of his.

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