Fotograf Hector Nikolakis

—Zuallererst - wen können Sie als besten Fotografen in Thessaloniki, Griechenland nennen? :)

—Except my self? Tough question!
Kidding aside, I really love the work of many of my colleagues here in Thessaloniki. I always look for inspiration in other photographers...

—Sind Sie fotogen?

—Not so much! Except when people are taking pictures of me while working...
These are the ones that i always love.

—Wie sind sind zur Fotografiebranche gekommen?

—By chance! It was not always my number one choice to be a wedding photographer. I was a computer geek for many years. A good friend of mine introduced me to the world of photography in my 20s. After that i never looked back! Photography became my number one priority!

—Was macht Ihrer Meinung nach ein gutes Foto aus?

—For the technical staff i would say Light and Composition. But the real important component for me is the people in front of the lens and there emotions...

—Reisen Sie gern?

—Yes my wife (who is also a photographer) and i really love travelling all over Greece and Europe. Usually we travel for weddings from June to September allover Greece.

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am meisten?

—The food at the reception! :)
The fact that we work with people in there most important day (so far) in there life... We love to work with people and being part of there wedding day. Its very important for as to help them create there visual legacy...

—Was gefällt Ihnen an Ihrem Beruf am wenigsten?

—Ankle bob with the cellphone camera or the ipad! He is present in all weddings (like jesus christ) and he manages to enter the composition in the most appropriate moments...

—Was das Besondere an dem Fotografiegenre, auf das Sie sich spezialisiert haben?

—The special thing is that through photography you are going to touch the life of a couple...

—Wie gehen Sie mit Kritik um?

—I love constructive criticism thats why i always take part at photographic competitions all over the world! Just to hear the comments of the judges.

—Gibt es irgendwelche Trends in der Fotografie?

—Yes ofcourse! The trend now is the really white images with the pal colors. I love color so in my work you will find plenty of natural color. I usually don't follow the trends. I always try to create my own style that some people are going to love and some others are going to hate!

—Was sollten die Kriterien für Kunden bei der Wahl eines Fotografen sein?

—There are only two criteria:
1. They should fall in love with your work instantly!
2. When they meet you they have to really want you as a guest to there wedding and not just as a photographer!

—Was ist bei Fotoaufnahmen strikt verboten?

—Don't make your special day about the photos! Just relax and have fun! In the process you are going to get some amazing pictures to have for the rest of your lives!

—Welche Details werden häufig übersehen, die ein Fotograf aber erkennt?

—A wedding photographer should have a keen eye for the little stories that tells the whole story of your wedding day.

—Was würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—People! I am a people photographer! I always love to interact with people and finding out everything about them. After that you can take a meaningful portrait of them.

—Mit wem würden Sie gern fotografieren?

—My wife! We try to always shoot together! Together in life, together in photography

—Welche literarische Figur oder Filmfigur wären Sie gern und warum?

—I would be Sean Penn in the role of Sean O'Connell from the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". One of my favourite movies.
Because in my travels i like to observe the world around me with my eyes and then if i get the chance take my camera and capture the magic in front of me.

—Wer inspiriert Sie in Ihrem Leben und warum?

—I am always inspired by people that succeeds in life and work. That balance is very important for me...

—Wie definieren Sie Erfolg? Wie messen Sie ihn?

—Success for me is to do what you love for living!

—Gefällt es Ihnen mehr, wenn man Sie mag oder wenn Sie respektiert werden?

—Liked by my customers and respected by my colleagues.

—Was nehmen Sie mit, wenn Sie auf Reisen gehen und warum?

—A toothbrush, a second pare of shoes, cloths that i don't feel comfortable in (always style over confort) ooo and a camera with the nifty 50mm for portraits or the 35mm if i want some landscape photos.

—Haben Sie Apparate oder Ausrüstung, die Sie lieber nicht hätten kaufen sollen? Warum?

—A lot of things! I really like buying camera gear... In the end i usually use 50% of the staff that i own...

—Wie bilden Sie sich weiter, damit Ihre Bilder noch besser werden?

—Though seminars and workshops from people that i admire and respect about there job.

—Welche Arbeiten haben Sie als Fotografen am meisten beeindruckt?

—I would say Fer Juaristi. I love his style A LOT!

—Was hätten Sie auf jeden Fall wissen müssen, als Sie mit der Fotografie begannen?

—That to be a better photographer you don't need a tone of gear! You just need to work on your self and people.

—Was möchten Sie mit Ihren Fotos zum Ausdruck bringen?

—Your story... Nothing less, nothing more...

—Wenn Sie zurückschauen, was hätten Sie besser machen können?

—What kind of time travel are we talking about? Fixed Timeline, Dynamic Timeline or Multiverse?

—Was halten Sie vom Leben auf anderen Planeten?

—There IS life on other planets! What about it?

—Wer sind Ihre Helden?

—I would say Batman. Working for the good of his city from the shadows! Taking the hard decisions even if it hurts him.

—Was tun Sie in Ihrer Freizeit?

—I really love watching movies, watching documentaries, walking paths in forests ooo and some times i take pictures!

—Welche Seite Ihrer Persönlichkeit bleibt dem Publikum verborgen?

—Angry me! I am good at keeping my angry self to my self!

—Wann sind Sie mit Ihrer Arbeit in jeder Hinsicht zufrieden?

—I am very happy about my work, i am never completely satisfied!

—Glauben Sie an die traditionellen Rollen von Mann und Frau?

—No!

—Schließen Sie schnell Freundschaft?

—Yes very easily. Thats why we are friends with most of our couples...

—Wo würden Sie gern leben?

—On an island, in a house next to the sea!

—Was war das Dümmste, auf das Sie sich je eingelassen haben?

—Wax my manly chest... A lot of pain... Was it worth it? No...

—Das Beste im Leben ist:

—Having children! There are no words to describe the feeling of creating life...

—Das Ärgerlichste im Leben ist:

—Traffic lights! I love roundabouts...

—Haben Sie ein paar Tipps für angehende Fotografen?

—Train your self constantly. If you thing you are there, you are not! Keep getting better!

—Wenn Außerirdische auf der Erde ankommen und Sie sind die erste Person, die sie treffen, was sagen Sie zu ihnen?

—Hello!! Can you please take my with you? Do not dissect me! I just want to see your home world!

—Angenommen Sie erhalten den Auftrag, einen Film aufzunehmen. Welches Genre würden Sie für den Film wählen?

—Of course a cheesy 80s or 90s movie!