Starting Package Fee: $4,500* Home State: CA, California Additional States Coverage: Hawaii, New York Additional Traveling: Country and World Wide Photographic Equipment: Digital Shooter Negative Availability: Yes Video Capability: No Phone: 415-283-8040 Web Site: www.markkuroda.com   Additional: Photography Blog

About Mark Kuroda

I studied Commercial photography at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. My love for photography probably started from picking up my father's Nikon Film cameras and playing around. This led to a gift that would change my life. I was enthralled, and soon after took 50 rolls of black and white film with me to Europe. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a photographer.

While at Brooks, I photographed everything I could to try and get a feel for what I wanted to do later. This led me to photographing cars, fashion, food, and documentary. I think each of the experiences taught me about lighting, working with people, and has created a much more diverse style than had I only done one. I still love photojournalism and go a few times a year to photograph causes that I believe in. The latest was to document the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.

My favorite photographers that I've drawn a lot from are James Nachtwey, Annie Leibovitz, and Walter Iooss Jr. All 3 do a fantastic job of lighting, subject and background integration, and finding true emotion. Also a lot of inspiration is drawn from music, spending time with my creative friends, and motion pictures. When I photograph, even though we may ask to set up in an area that has a pleasant background, and good light, I believe it essential for true interaction to take place, to photograph great moments.

My approach to photojournalism

I think choosing a photographer is a key decision on your wedding day. There are many different situations, times where it's best to be invisible, and let the moments materialize into what they are supposed to, and there are times when it's best to direct, to help the family come together, and use the short amounts of time for photos to happen. Also if it's a matter of moving a dress a few inches to make for a better photograph, I believe it's right to enhance to asthetic, to match the mood and memory of the day.

I think with the quality of digital cameras these days, the shift from film was relatively easy. It is also extremely fast, enabling me to have a slideshow up within days, proofs within the week, instead of months like it was before. The quality of the image is so good now too, no longer do we need to lumber around with the huge tripod and huge camera, we can be nimble and quick, paying more attention to the frame and moment, than coercing people into fulfilling their vision.