Here’s congratulating the impeccable visual content creators, Abuzz Studios for their win at the DWP ACE Awards! Their wide range of photography and videography content related to the weddings and luxury events inspires the creation of lasting memories. We had a chat with Manuel Rico, the Principle behind Abuzz Studios who spoke about his company’s accomplishments and their contribution towards capturing marvelous moments at various revelries.
How does it feel to win this prestigious award?
It is an indescribable feeling to be honored with this award amongst your peers. I have so much respect for the DWP Congress, because it brings together the best of the best in the destination events industry and this moment provided Abuzz Studios with the recognition for the hard work that the team has put forth in capturing amazing, memorable moments for destination coverage.
How was your experience at the luxurious Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2019 that took place in Dubai?
Dubai as a city is always over the top and I knew that this year the Congress was also going to reach new heights of grandeur, and that was certainly the case! With several speakers sharing their knowledge like the incredible Preston Bailey, Dubai’s own Ali Bakhtiar, Vandana Mohan, Steve Saporito among many others provided a quilt for the sharing of knowledge. We also became aware of new trends that are prevalent across many destinations and cultures. To be able to meet and greet such a diverse set of planners and vendors opens up a world of business connections and networking among like-minded individuals.
What motivates you to be so active within this dynamic wedding world?
Culture. I love for the Abuzz Team to capture moments and creating memories which will last a lifetime. Whether is a gentle touch, a tear or a smile, a kiss or any movement in that instance is visually captured for generations to enjoy and cherish. Ultimately, it is culture and its traditions which must be held to utmost respect to be able to properly document the any destination-based event.
Tell us about your overall journey and how you have achieved this milestone?
I started at the age of 17 and worked as an assistant to Chris von Wangenheim, who was one of the top fashion photographers of the 80’s. Little did I know that working at his studio would open up so many opportunities and paths for my photographic career. I worked in fashion for a while but then became interested in tennis photography and represented the magazines from Spain all over the world for close to 20 years. About 10 years ago, I photographed my first wedding in India for a very prestigious family and I haven’t turned back around since then. Abuzz is trusted with some very discerning customers and it is our moral duty to keep their privacy and choices in check. For every single customer, we create a bespoke experience which is exclusive to each individual couple or event.
What are some of the most gorgeous weddings you have captured across the globe?
From a visually gorgeous perspective, a destination like the Maldives or Bali are over the top. The amazing turquoise colour palette of the Maldives creates a background of splendid beauty while Bali’s verdant greenery provides for the picturesque cultural destination captures. From a colorful perspective, in my heart India wins hands down. The variety of colors which are used to represent tradition and culture over a multiple day wedding ceremony depicts the family and its ancestry beautifully. Designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar and the current bridal sensation Manish Malhotra are constantly creating pieces which exalt with vibrancy and exuberance. Moreover, there is so much sensitivity in a Thai village wedding, when the bride and groom pay respect to their parents during the ceremony which is absolutely beautiful to capture. The word “gorgeous” is inherently represented visually, culturally or emotionally through various destinations all over the world.
Please provide a word of inspiration for the new, upcoming set of individuals who strive to follow in your footsteps and make it big in the wedding industry?
Be as curious as a child! Learn about the different cultures and traditions and specially architecture. As Pina Bausch, the German choreographer said once to me, “keep your eyes open all the time and find the dialogue in your creativity through your eyes”. It is through keeping your eyes and senses alert all the time that you capture the true essence of a couple.
All Photographs Courtesy: Abuzz Studios
