Roberto Valenzuela is one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the industry. An artist in every sense of the word, Roberto is in that rare group of photographers know as Canon Explorer’s of Light, along with artists such as Rick Sammon, Lindsay Adler, Joel Grimes, Peter Hurley, and more. Looking through his website gives you a sense of why he is so in demand. His portfolio is a never ending stream of artistry, and his about page is inviting and personal. I now want to ask my wife to marry me again, just so we can get pictures from Roberto Valenzuela!
Roberto has the ability to tell a story with light like very few others. It’s as though the light enters the room, stops for a moment, and then asks him what it should do. Seriously, it’s amazing to see the results of someone with the knowledge he has.
Roberto limits himself to 20 weddings a year, so that he can maintain the attention to detail and quality his clients deserve. That says a lot about how he sees his craft. He was a professional concert classical guitarist and educator before becoming a photographer, and he brings that discipline to his photographic work and education. With the mindset that “it is not talent but, deliberate practice that is at the core of skill and achievement” he has traveled the world motivating and educating photographers. He helps people break down the various elements of photography in order to master them through goal setting, self-training, and constant dedication.
The knowledge that Roberto brings to his art, and his teaching, serves him well as a chair or judge for some of the largest photographic print competitions in Europe, Mexico, South America, and the most celebrated International photography competitions held in the United States through the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) in Las Vegas, NV.
You’ll often find Roberto at a photography convention teaching a private workshop, seminar, or platform class. Having been an International first place winner three times, and nominated by his peers as one of the ten most influential photographers and educators in the world, you’ll find those conference sessions are always full.
Speaking of conferences, Roberto is also one of the instructors of the Photo Creators Conference & Experience. This event features Roberto covering On and Off camera flash, and flash modifiers. Joining him as instructors at the conference are Joel Grimes, a fellow Canon Explorer of Light, and Nikon Ambassadors Jen Rozenbaum and Rocco Ancora. You can check out details at the link below.
Taking his wedding photography expertise, and merging it with his education skills, Roberto’s first book “Picture Perfect Practice” is a #1 best seller on Amazon for the wedding photography book category. His second book “Picture Perfect Posing” is equally successful, as is “Picture Perfect Lighting”, which is at the top of charts for lighting books. His newest books, “Wedding Storyteller Vol 1: Elevating the Approach to Photographing Wedding Stories” and “Wedding Storyteller Vol 2: Wedding Case Studies and Workflow” are resources every wedding photographer should read. In fact the cover of “Wedding Storyteller Vol 2” is the image we talk about on this show! It’s no wonder his books can be found in bookstores worldwide, and have been translated into numerous languages.
With over 100 International awards for his wedding portrait photography, and having been named to the Top 50 Wedding Photographers in the World by Junebug Weddings, Roberto is in demand. For many years he has been featured on the exclusive “Platinum List” of hand-selected photographers by Grace Ormonde, the editor in chief of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine.
To close this post out I want to share a few things from Roberto’s about page…. Roberto has degrees in economics, marketing, and international business. (Yes, I am clearly not living up to my potential.) He loves a good hot sauce – so at least he and I have something in common. And most importantly…he “still get[s] nervous before photographing every wedding”.
Join world renowned wedding photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Roberto Valenzuela and me as we discuss his process for creating such amazing artistic wedding images, on this episode of Behind the Shot.
Connect with Roberto
Website: robertovalenzuela.com
Instagram: @roberto_photo
Facebook: Roberto Valenzuela Weddings
The Photo Creators Conference & Experience
thephotocreators.com
Roberto’s Workshops
Website: robertovalenzuela.com/workshops
Roberto’s Books
Amazon: amazon.com/Roberto-Valenzuela/e/B008K83308
