Vangelis Beltzenitis is a wedding and portrait photographer seeking to create breathtaking imagery and turn life’s moments into works of art. His vast experience during the two decades that his career spans over allowed him to rise to international status and led him to the development of a personal, well-defined photography style; a blend of creative storytelling and editorial with timeless aesthetics.
He views every wedding as an orchestrated event in which a different tune is played every time by the orchestra. Drawing inspiration from his couples, he always pushes the boundaries to create authentically elegant, emotionally-charged images with a perfect balance between candid and artistically directed pictures conveying the mood of the day. His ultimate goal is natural, soulful, alive photos that his couples will admire for the rest of their lives.
AN INTERVIEW WITH VANGELIS
How Did You Get Into Photography?
My love for photography has been taking over from a very young age. I have always been taking pictures from the moment I got my first camera in my hands at 9 years old. As I was growing older, the way to express myself was through a Nikon FM2 camera, a 50mm lens and countless rolls of Tri-X 400 Black and white film. I have spent many hours in the darkroom processing my own films because I wanted to have the control of the whole procedure from the beginning till the end. A bit later I received a scholarship by the Greek Ministry of Culture to study photography and what started as a passion evolved to a profession.
Who Are Your Inspirations?
My first personal touch through workshops with the legendary documentary photographers Josef Koudelka and Konstantinos Manos from Magnum Agency as well as Ed Kashi from National Geographic was certainly highly influential. Edward Weston's use of forms in his photos also had a big impact on my work on the human body in the mid 90's. However, I consider the refinedly strong and poetic fashion and portrait photography by Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, David Bailey and Herb Ritts to be decisive in the formulation of my own style in photography.
Which Photography Genres Are Your Favourite?
My favourite genres are Wedding, Documentary as well as Fashion & Editorial Photography. I'm basically a wedding photographer but the other two genres are always present in the way I shoot because wedding photography is essentially an intertwining and constant interplay of other photography genres. So, apart from the reportage documentation of the moments and emotions of the day, my wedding photography style is influenced by fashion photography.
How Challenging is Wedding Photography?
I consider wedding photography one of the most demanding and challenging photography genres. To be a good wedding photographer you have to master many different photography fields (such as documentary, portrait, still life) and you also have to be effective under the stress of time pressure. Moments happen only once in weddings. You can't stop the action to repeat your shots.
What Should a Photographer Keep in Mind During a Wedding Day?
A wedding photographer should keep in mind that they are responsible of preserving the memories of one of the couple's most important days. There is no room for mistakes due to inexperience or lack of organization. They should also remember that the couple is their priority. When I shoot, I always think how my couple will look good in the photos. I'm looking for timeless quality, that's why I developed a style that is not part of a trend that may fade in a few years. My brides in particular are my source of inspiration and I like to bring out their inherent beauty and sensuality.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
MAMMA MIA BACKSTAGE
In 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Mamma Mia! film crew. I documented the whole filming procedure and gained valuable insights I applied on my own work. An overall life-changing experience I will never forget.
