Interview with a photographer featuring Rebeka Vidas

Interview with a photographer featuring Rebeka Vidas

Cotton Carrier: Where do you call home?

Rebeka Vidas: Home is beautiful Coquitlam, BC (Coast Salish, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stó:lō land).

CC: How long have you taken photographs for unprofessionally and professionally?

RV: I began documenting my travels around the world and explorations through BC’s mountains in 2015. I worked with some outdoor brands testing their equipment and creating content for them. I only started professionally capturing photos for people in 2019. Just this year, I went full-time capturing weddings, elopements and couples.

CC: How would you define your style as a photographer?
RV: Adventurous, moody and nostalgic with an emphasis on the outdoors.

CC: Have you ever gone to photography school?
RV: I haven’t! I am completely self-taught. I learned through watching videos, reading blogs and experimenting on my own.

CC: Where is your favorite place or thing to shoot?
RV: Anywhere in the mountains. The rugged beauty of the mountains draws me to capture them in all their glory. Something so beautiful and unforgiving at the same time.

CC: What Camera(s) / Lenses do you use?
RV: My go-to is my Sony A7iii with a Sony f2.8 24-70 mm G Master lens

CC: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get “The Shot”?
RV: Too many to remember as an adventure photographer! My most recent crazy thing I have done to get "The Shot" was hike three hours in the dark on a trail in grizzly country.

CC: Who has inspired you as a photographer?
RV: I seek inspiration most from Jonah Peterson and his talent for storytelling, Anni Graham for her love of the outdoors and Cara Mia for her creativity and pushing boundaries in photography.

CC: What advice would you tell an aspiring photographer?
RV: Practice practice practice. Don’t think you need the newest and best gear. Become an expert with what you have. Then shoot everything. Not only will it push your creativity, it can help you niche down. And most importantly, don’t compare yourself to others. Remember you’re uniquely you and everyone was a beginner too. And don't forget - there is plenty of room at the table.

CC: Can you share a photographic resource you personally use?
RV: Lightroom is my saviour. I do all my editing with Lightroom and Photoshop.
Most of my time is dedicated to it - but I love it. I spend my weekends shooting and my week working on marketing, editing and any backend work. I don't see photography as a job or chore, but an activity I love, that has taken me places, connected me with incredible people and the flexibility has also allowed me to focus on other things that make me happy.

CC: Where has photography taken you, and made you experience?
RV: It’s taken me to the most wild locations and I’ve met so many talented creatives and like-minded people. I've travelled and hiked to places I used to dream about. Most recently, it took me to the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and Utah where I went on some epic adventures.

CC: Any exciting photographic events in coming up you’d like to share?
RV: You bet! I’m planning on travelling to Oregon and California this winter and Iceland next summer for some styled shoots hosted by other talented photographers.

CC: Anything else you’d like to add?
RV: Don't be scared of failure. Failure is an opportunity to try again. You won't learn if you don't fail. I did plenty of times, and I have to thank it for where I am now!

Find more of Rebeka's work below

https://ventureoutphotography.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ventureout.photography/?hl=en