We were lucky to catch up with Elaine & Rodolfo Vanmarcke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elaine & Rodolfo, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
As photographers, we focus a lot in family and events related to milestone moments of those families. From engaged couples’ photoshoots through the maternity stage, birth, Bar-Bat Mitzvahs, senior photography, nuclear and extended family photoshoots, birthdays and so on. From all the branches of our studio (commercial, fashion, product, food photography, etc.) it is truly fulfilling to watch and document families growing in time. Within this field, we’ve seen how professionals tend to portrait their clients more posed, looking at the camera, smiling, and maybe in a more generic setting. Our photography is oriented to personal storytelling, and with that comes what is natural to their unique personalities. When we do a photoshoot, we have a brainstorm session to understand how the clients are, what makes them feel “them”, and we stick to that.. so we can capture them as they truly are. Besides that, our approach is more observational and fresh, meaning not stiff and way too guided; instead, we pursue the magic that unfolds in front of the camera when things are let be. We could be catalysts of moments to develop, yet what we try to photograph is what comes out of those real situations. We believe this is what makes us different in our own personal way.

Elaine & Rodolfo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The Lunch Box is a creative photography studio that combines the aesthetic and artistic value with the commercial approach to deliver completely edgy, unique, sincere and highly crafted photographs. How do we do that? Simply because we are two visual artists that merge all our experience in photography, fine arts, filmmaking, advertising and music to serve te client’s needs. Our services go from personal photography like family portraits, maternity, love & engagement, to commercial photography like advertising, product, food, etc. We also do documentary filmmaking, from corporate videos for businesses and brands, to personal videos that explores the personality of an individual. After more than 10 years of experience in taking photographs, we believe that the final look is as important as what a picture can make you feel. This is why we give huge importance to listen to our clients, in order to capture that special message they want to transmit or that they are feeling in the moment of the shoot. Our Studio is driven by what we call the “lunch box” attitude. We are always fresh and surprising. We are the break you or your business deserve. We are a space where you don’t have to worry about a thing, because we are the ones who prepare your lunch box… and at the time of opening it, you’ll get what you truly crave. This is the spirit that makes us truly different! Period.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
We believe that the most rewarding aspect of our photography is being able to dilate special moments and feelings through the passing of time. When you take a picture of something meaningful, the client is able to revive that moment every time he or she sees that photograph again. Through photography, we are able to perpetuate those feelings, creating living memories over and over again. We can travel in time, and we can travel in emotions. That to us, is precious. Another rewarding aspect of being the photographers we are, is our capacity of connecting with the experience of others. Being a photographer entails having an unselfish soul. You pour your heart, your eye and your creativity into the shoes of another person. That is an act of sincerity towards what you are seeing through your lens. If you don;t have that sensitivity, you cannot create photographs with a connection. The expression of it becomes just… dull.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Word of mouth has definitely driven our new clientele in the studio. Since or “product” is offered locally and serves local communities, what others recommend to their friends and family becomes quintessential to finding new clients. At the end, you always trust more a recommendation that comes from someone you know; specially in our photography industry where we are focusing on family and family events: that requires a lot of caring, sensibility and understanding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thelunchboxphoto.com
• Instagram: @thelunchboxphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelunchboxphoto
• Other: https://vimeo.com/thelunchboxstudio

Image Credits
Photography by The Lunch Box Studio