Name: Ioana Azoica
Current camera: Panasonic Lumix S5
Favourite type of photography: Portraiture
Website: www.ioanaazoica.com
Instagram: @ioanaazoicaportraits
Location: Rochester, United Kingdom
How did you get into photography?
I was in high school when a classmate showed me a photography magazine. It got to me there and then! I started with the family point-and-shoot camera, then got an entry-level camera and I was off to the races! My parents were supportive of my hobby, so I was lucky.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I am a certified professional photographer according to the Ministry of Education in my home country. Took a 5-6 months accredited course back in the day.
What’s the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
The family albums were among the first I saw when I was young. Photos of me as a baby/toddler were mostly black and white and shot on film. My grandpa had a Russian Kiev camera.
What do you love about photography?
Now, we’re always in a rush, always on our phones, always complaining about lack of time, being busy and so on. For me, photography has the power to capture the moment as it unfolds, to look back on and remember how we were then. Memories are what time is made of, so I’m honoured to be able to create them for people, for my family.
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What do you wish you’d learned about photography earlier?
I wish I’d learned flash and studio photography more in-depth and earlier than I did. Natural light can be soft and beautiful, but learning about using artificial light can take photography to the next level.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
Find me a window and I’m happy. I like to shoot backlit a lot. But I also like playing with artificial light and creating shadow and drama, so my home is often the place for that. I wish to own a studio one day.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
Outdoors, I like a good lens flare if I can get it! Indoors, I like shooting backlit against a window or playing with artificial light. Composition-wise, I don’t shy away from the rule of thirds or a lot of negative space.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
Since my genre is portraiture, the basics I need to get right are white balance and good-looking skin, so my processing is mostly about that. I also like to remove distractions from backgrounds or clothing. I sometimes will do colour grading if I want to play a bit more.
What’s your favourite lens?
My 85mm 1.8 from Lumix.
Do you have a favourite accessory?
The Peak Design Leash.
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Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
Nope, I have two and one is too small, the other one too big! Maybe I should try a backpack.
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Oh, I have a few! Sue Bryce in her Creative Live era, for her glamour work before the genre took off, her posing advice. Lindsay Adler for learning studio lighting and posing. Hannah Couzens more recently because she is a mum of two like myself and she inspires me to keep on going!
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram?
Hannah Couzens @hannahcouzensphotography and @corina_margarit
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don’t have yet but you’d like to buy at some point?
I would love to upgrade to a Panasonic Lumix S5II. There are a few lenses from Sigma that are simply stunning for the L-Mount, like the new 135mm. I would love to own a telephoto lens, but I’ll see if the prices drop a bit.
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven’t tried yet?
Sports photography most definitely! Hard to get into, I think, I wouldn’t even know where to start!
What’s your proudest photographic moment?
Working with the local Council for a Baby & Toddler event back in June. It came out of the blue for me and I’ll be forever grateful for that!
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
Getting authentic expressions out of people in front of my camera. It’s something that I want to learn more about. There are people like Peter Hurley, Chris Orwig and Mitzi Starkweather who are great resources for how to connect with people, if anyone wants to go deep into this topic.
Your favourite baked goods are?
Sourdough bread!
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m 37 years old and a mother of two. I’ve always been a maker of things. The things I enjoy relate to the creative in one way or another, like baking, knitting and drawing. I could live in a library if need be. I’m also kind of a nerd, if I get started on something, I try to find the most I can about the topic. Entrepreneurship and business are in my blood.
