Capturing moments of consummate elegance — Salma Jammal style

Saudi wedding and portrait photographer Salma Jammal has been taking photographs for seven years. She has spent two years as a professional. She also teaches photographic courses in Jeddah. Salma is a college student and divides her time between her passion for photography, family and studies.
After seeing her work on social media websites, Arab News interviewed her about wedding photography, cameras and her future plans.

What attracted you to photography?
I've always been into art, I used to draw and sketch a lot before getting into photography. When I was searching an online art community, I was fascinated by how a photograph could be so meaningful and expressive. A great photograph can tell a story just like descriptive text. The saying is true that 'a picture is worth a thousand words.'

Did you study photography?
I'm 80 percent self-taught, but I took a couple of courses to get more knowledge from local and international photographers.

What type of cameras do you shoot with?
I shoot with Nikon full frame DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras.

What kind of photography do you do?
I do weddings, engagements and portraits.

What are the pros and cons of being a photographer?
The pros of being a photographer for me is doing what I love and being passionate about it. I can't say it has cons but sometimes it gets hard when you deal with people who don't appreciate art.

What is your favorite kind of wedding photography, and what is it about weddings that interest you so much?
I love to do it in a documentary style mixed with romance and glamour. I became a wedding photographer because I wanted to capture the love and emotions involved. I also love everything about weddings!

How did you make the breakthrough to becoming a full-time photographer?
I've always wanted to have my business in photography, to work at something I'm passionate about. My husband supported me a lot every step of the way.

What kind of equipment do you use now and what did you start with?
When I first started photography my equipment was a camera and sunlight, but now I use studio lights sometimes when shooting a wedding, or sunlight if the wedding takes place early.

What is the one lasting impression you want to leave with your photos?
To see a smile on their faces when they see the pictures that is an eternal memory of every detail of their wedding.

How long have you been a photographer?
It's been almost two years since I started my business.

What is your most used Photoshop tool?
That's a hard one! I guess I use Clone Stamp the most, and color balance of course.

What is your dream location to shoot a wedding?
A beach wedding with the perfect weather and the bride and groom walking barefoot on the sand beside the ocean.

If you could shoot any celebrity wedding, who would be the lucky couple?
Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman would have been my first favorite because I loved her dress and the location was beautiful. My second choice would have been Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned and what advice do you have for new wedding photographers?
A wedding photographer should always be safe and back up everything, just in case! Also, be relaxed, organized and flexible at the same time.

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