Photography begins long before the shutter is pressed. It begins with how we see.
In this presentation, we explore how photographers develop a heightened awareness — a sixth sense that allows them to notice what others overlook. At the heart of this awareness lies light: how it moves through a scene, how it shapes emotion, and how it quietly reveals stories before they fully unfold.
This way of seeing takes different forms. One is reading a scene — understanding light, space, and atmosphere, and envisioning what could emerge when a couple steps into the frame. Another is reading moments before they happen: sensing emotional shifts and human interactions as they build. Here, the photographer doesn’t stage reality, but helps create the conditions for it — shaping the atmosphere so genuine emotions can unfold naturally. This instinctive approach is at the core of how John Makris works in wedding photography.
