WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH ! I still can’t believe it but I made it !! I AM ONE OF THE 30 RISING STAR OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
I want to thank Rangefinder Magazine since it’s incredible to be in a list with so many talented photographer, it makes me so proud!
As some of you might know I started very late my career as a full time professional photographer, on march 2019 I quit a very well paid and safe job as a salesman in a big company to try myself, to push me beyond my limits. It was a bold move but it worked.
I’ve put a lot of efforts, soul and sweat into this but I have always felt like the “new guy from nowhere” in this industry (having no background as a photographer since I was alway more interessed in paintings).
Anyway I am an ambitious man so I gave myself some goals for my first 5 years as a wedding photographer (I just miss working in the U.S. so far, I achieved all the other ones) but I never even dared to dream to be amongst the 30 RISING STAR so…. this REALLY came out of the blue, it was totally unexpected when I received the e-mail saying that I had a nominee and could send my best 30 pictures. Honestly I thought it was a joke from some colleague !
I admit it. I cried when I got the news that I made it and it was one of the rare time when I had no words, then I realized I could have not made it just on my own, I have a lot of people to thank for this moment:
Thanks to my family for letting me the freedom to work without any worries even when I am not home for days, thanks for the daily support. I am not good at words but this will be remembered, I promise.
Thanks to all the customers that trusted me for their special day and to the wedding planners that gave me the freedom to work the way I love.
Thanks to Alessio for being the friend that you are and the most reliable second shooter ever, I love you bro.
Thanks to my main inspiration in the industry:
Francesco for giving me all the support about the big step last winter when I became a full time photographer and for the endless whatsapp chats and the headshot.
Silvia, she was the first one giving me the trust I needed to believe in my work (she even got me my first wedding ever), she has the most amazing, purest and incredible talent I have ever witness and working side by side with her was pure gold.
Thanks to my ego, it’s overlwhelming sometimes but it keeps pushing me to try and do better and better every time.
I am a happy man and this is a short video with the pictures I submitted
https://www.rangefinderonline.com/rising-stars/matteo-innocenti-30-rising-stars-of-wedding-photography/
