Vangelis Paterakis is a Hotel & Food photographer. A man whose talent led him to work with prestigious tourism businesses around the world.
Mr. Paterakis discusses with Hospitality Ambassadeurs, about his passion for photography,Instagram influencers and gives us an insight on how talent & professionalism, can make the difference.
H.A: What led you to be occupied with professional photography?
V.P: My love for photography starts at the moment I first encountered my brother’s photo camera. After so many years, has ever been a single moment not to be imbued by the need to reflect a day’s moment, either personally or professionally. Ever since I remember myself, my life, my thought and my soul were affected by art and more specifically architecture. Photography has been the means to combine them by following the path of architectural photography.
H.A: What is your favorite hotel project and why?
V.P: Ι deal with every project in a unique way making it favorite…every space needs a different treatment, other light. Out of every project emerge different feelings and many perspectives. One of the many I stand out, due to its distinctiveness, is Αman-i-Khas in Ranthambore, India. A breathtaking autonomous oasis in 10 acres, surrounded by the virgin dessert of Aravalli Hills in the countryside of Rajasthan acquiring 10 opulent visitor tents reaching 6 meters. Ιt was a destination and a tourist property with special standards, providing me with the opportunity to feature, apart from the property’s specifications, the whole creation’s experience.
H.A: What are the conditions you set before you take over a hotel photo-shooting project?
V.P: Before I set the conditions, a discussion with the people in charge needs to be proceeded so as the purpose of photography is to be determined. What they want to tell to a client, what is the kind of identity they want to define, what to communicate. As long as we end up on this, the basis conditions include setting up the space based on the identity and image of every property. It must be properly taken care of, clean and completed. The rest will be arranged by the photoshooting itself.
H.A: What is your point of view regarding Instagram influencers? Do they affect your profession?
V.P: It is clear to us that Influencers weigh in with the audience. They have suceeded in developing a contact with it, through a continuous interaction offering quality content. With the same way, however, they create needs, create trends so to me is an interesting motivator for my work. I can even say that they occasionally evolve me. Generally speaking, they have influenced in a significant way both photography’s field and our work but under no circumstances can they replace a professional photo-shooting addressing on specialized platforms or sites, important means in tourism sector.
H.A: In the era of up to date smartphones how can a photographer «persuade» a business to entrust him with a project?
V.P: A business that wishes to promote its product will not be addressed to the skills anf filters of a smarthphone no matter how good it is. No subject is raised to be a business convinced wishing to promote its services. The process remains as to who is the most appropriate photographer on each project.
H.A: What does «click» to others when they meet Vangelis Paterakis?
V.P: Click is made during a photoshoot. What makes them an impression but to me is quite simple and natural is how intent and devoted I am on what I do. I have a great passion about photography and never get bored on discovering new aspects of my profession making it easy for me to see what to other sis not visible, a new perspective, the light in an image. I am not at all throughput.
H.A: You are involved with Food Photography. How, would you evaluate the level of Greek Chefs?
V.P: I was fortunate enough to work with incredible Chefs in my career and I do not hide the fact that Ι have a real soft spot for gastronomy. Partners such as Stelios Parliaros, Christoforos Peskias, Dinos Foteinakis and many more others, do not allow me but being sincerely proud of Greek Chefs’ level. They have talent, diligence, passion, creation and an insisting attitude for creation. What more can you ask for?
H.A: Are there any “ secrets” when taking a photo? Expensive equipment or talent?
V.P: Equipment is clearly an exceptional tool for a photographer. The combination of two can skyrocket the level of a picture. Equipment , on the other hand requires experience. Coming from the era of films and Polaroid, an era with demanding prerequisites on pictures, I believe that the image asks for charisma, talent, imagination and honesty.
Specialized equipment is exactly the very thing that will optimize the work of a talented photographer.
H.A: What do you like to to photograph the most?
V.P: Speaking on a professional level architectural photography is the one expressing me the most. After all I come from publishing houses and magazines such as Maison Decoration, Vogue Casa, Maison Figaro, Vima Deco and others. I personally find satisfaction capturing emotions with my camera, wherever I find them.
Outstanding photography captions
English (UK) 
Ελληνικά