My name is Martina, but from the moment I could talk I called myself BADU. My nickname stayed with me throughout my childhood well into my adulthood.
I fell for the art of photography while studying the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno. I was attending the Studio of Sculpture under prof. Michal Gabriel. Taking photos was a natural part of my studies there. I took my first pictures with my grandfather´s old Practica camera, then I switched to Flexaret – twin-lens reflex camera with aluminium body taking square “6x6” format photographs on a 12 roll film. I had fun documenting student parties, exhibition openings and my mountain escapades. I captured everything on photographic films and subsequently spent hours in darkroom processing them.
When I discovered the world of digital camera, I still kept thinking about every picture and all it´s details as I did before, taking my time looking for the right composition and layout.
I feel the same today when taking pictures of expecting mothers: their inner force, harmony and beauty in front of my cameras eye. I think women are most beautiful in these moments and I do my best to capture their beauty for them to remember after their babies are born.
I myself have three kids, full of life, running around, and I know too well, that some moments are so unique and won´t happen again. Your kids can surprise you every single minute of the day. You have to be ready with your camera and catch quickly the situation, which can last only few seconds before your kids move on and run away again.
That´s similar in documenting weddings, capturing moments full of emotions. Every wedding is special, as is the couple who is starting a new part of their together life. Although weddings are planned usually to the last possible detail, there is always something unexpected happening around. I try to be a careful observer looking for all, the planned and surprising moments worth remembering. My goal is to let people feel relaxed and comfortable with me taking pictures around them. When going through the documented photos after the wedding I suggest my clients those pictures which will make them smile and cherish their memories even after several years go by.
I hope these few words help you to get acquainted with my style of work and my personality.
I'm looking forward to meeting you, in my studio or at any other beautiful place.
Yours
BADU