The ART OF LIGHT

I had a chance to have one on one coaching with Joao and it blowed my mind. I am a professional commercial photographer and for some time now I thought I hit some sort of wall. It is really hard to receive an honest opinion this days and I think we need this if we want to grow. Talking with Joao was eye opening. After our conversation I finished my webpage which was under my TO DO list for around two years in just a week. I look at my work a little different now. Can’t wait to talk to him again.

My first workshop with Joao was back in 2011 when he visited Toronto, Canada. It was an intensive three day workshop on Fashion photography. And to this date, it is the best workshop I have attended. During that time, I noticed on many occasions Joao would spend some focused time with each and every attendee to make sure they understood the assignment and give suggestions on how to approach it. I remember on one assignment, I was having difficultly finding an angle that suited the model and the wardrobe. Joao came over and looked at the back of my camera to scroll through the images I had taken already. He turned to me and said that I was allowed to take only one more shot. This forced me to really look at the way I approached taking a photo and discover the difference of taking a snap shot and creating an image. Through the years we have kept in touch through social media and most recently on an online one-on-one consult. I value Joao’s generous sharing of his knowledge and experience. I not only consider him an exceptional instructor but also a mentor.

João is an outstanding mentor; my discussions with him proved to be incredibly valuable, particularly in refining my thoughts to enhance a portfolio website. Furthermore, his support was a beacon of positivity through the uncertain times of lockdown. I wholeheartedly endorse him to those eager to expand their knowledge and skills. Engaging with him is a learning experience I recommend earnestly. For his invaluable guidance, I am profoundly thankful.

"I had the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with João Carlos, which was something I really needed. I felt stagnant, and João's reviews and insights were very effective in identifying many of my faults and served as motivation to improve. João is very assertive and direct in everything related to photography but is also a natural communicator, which makes the whole conversation very fluid. It's also much easier to accept criticism when it is indeed constructive and from someone with a lot of knowledge and experience."