Featured Photographer #52: Renato Ribeiro
Hello, my name is Renato Ribeiro, I’m a Portuguese photographer based in Porto but working worldwide.
I’m passionate about life and people. For me photography is art and I bet on a new approach: simple and with love. More than faces and expressions I want to shoot feelings and emotions!
What did you want to become in your childhood and are you that person today? Well, I’m fortunate with the childhood I had. I was a very happy child with a good family support and like all children I was a dreamer. Most of the projects I dream about … I have managed to achieve them, but there are still plenty to do. However, the most important was to become a happy, a good person. I think I achieved that! And is that not the most important thing?
Where did you meet photography or where did photography meet you? I’ve always been an art lover! Especially photography. I have always had the need to draw, paint … well, express myself artistically. Photography has always been a passion that accompanied me throughout life, I can not identify an exact moment for our meeting. She was always there! 
Nevertheless, I just start to dedicate my life more seriously to photography for about five years now when many photographer friends started almost “forcing” me to show my work. Social networks played a central role in this.
What do you do when you don’t have a camera in your hand? Oh I start to get really nervous! Hahaha…
Usually I always carry one small camera with me. It’s really hard to live without it! Besides … it’s an addiction.
Your personal story with photography in 12 words. Photography — it’s love! It’s my life. Does that say it all right?
What do you want to achieve? Don’t really know yet. For now, if I can conquer people’s hearts in some way or another it’s more then perfect.
It’s hard to talk about me and about my work like that. There are other people who should make that judgment but I would say that one of my “superpowers” is the great love I have for photography and the honesty that I have with my work. I always worry to create a good and close relationship with everyone I shoot and I try to capture their essence. Above all I want to shoot feelings and emotions and not just faces and expressions.
Weaknesses I have a lot! Hahah… Every day I try to improve my photography because I really think you never know nothing! You can always do better.
The craziest thing you ever did as a photographer? Have you ever got yourself in trouble? Crazy things? Many! Hahah … and yes, I’ve got myself in some trouble. 
During a phase I explored some quite old and abandoned buildings to shoot. There can and do happen a lot of “little” troubles. Also I have had some jealous boyfriends who did not like very much to see the result of photos of their girlfriends! But I always invite everyone I photograph to bring to the session whoever they want. I do not hide my work from anyone and so it does not bother me anything. I keep it very cool like that.
In your opinion, where is the social barrier between the photographer and the subject? That depends. Usually I think that you should not shoot or at least show anything that could seriously harm the person in the picture. There must be limits and I think personal life and especially human dignity must always be preserved. We are all humans!
What annoys you the most in this profession? Oh … bad people! But unfortunately they are in all professions. I also confess that annoys me a bit when some people ask us to work for free. When I go to buy some bread I do not ask to bring them for free!
What’s in your camera bag? Well, it constantly changes as the work I have to do… but usually in my bag never miss: a
Full-frame camera (normally 5D ii or iii), a 50mm 1.4 lenses and a Fujifilm XT10 just in case!
When do you rely on your instruments and when on your feelings? Always in my feelings. Always.
Pearls of wisdom for fellow photographers to be? Just be yourself and work with love.
Ansel Adams or Annie Lebowitz or Martin Parr or Alec Soth? Very difficult choice! Uhh… maybe Ansel Adams. Hahah… can stay here all day! But I will say Henri Cartier Bresson because like that I can say all the masters!
Links or anything else you would like to share!
