We chat to Nick Ghionis who has been shooting weddings for almost 30 years and you can tell by his work and hear in his voice that he loves his job. You can’t fake passion. Whether he’s travelling to an exotic Mediterranean location or the suburbs of Melbourne, Nick is invested in creating authentic, original and beautiful images. In this interview, Nick shares his approach to planning, posing and shooting a wedding and the importance of capturing the person rather than hacking out a one size fits all formula.
We discuss: how Nick plans for a destination wedding, lessons learned from his first wedding, shooting intuitively, how his first jobs as a security guard, waiter and barista taught him how to connect with his clients, how he plans for a shoot, what a second shooter does, shooting with the Olympus mirrorless system, favourite lenses and lighting systems, the importance of capturing the couple on the day and not shooting to a formula, and what you need to your pre-wedding checklists and interviews.
Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast.
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Show Notes
For years my Bio consisted of my achievements and awards, which always made me cringe when reading it as if that is what defines me.
If that is your jam, then let’s just say, I have my fair share of awards and accolades a mile long, both nationally and internationally.
My biggest awards are the people that I get to photograph and their stories, their legacies.
I have an aversion of talking about myself which some may call humility, I just call manners.
As a photographer, it is a privilege documenting people’s lives, and my ability to listen and communicate has enabled me to capture even the most intimate of moments.
I cry, I laugh, I am vulnerable. For in order for me to capture the true essence of the people I photograph, I need to be invested with them in that moment and be my authentic self.
With over 25 years’ experience photographing weddings, portraits and fashion, a photo to me is more than just a pretty picture.
It needs to have soul and depth. After all, I am not in the business of photographing mannequins.
My photography and teaching has taken me all over the world to destinations I could only have dreamed of.
I am honoured and grateful to be recognized as an Olympus Visionary and Australian Elinchrom Ambassador.
But my biggest achievements are my family and my long life partner, wife and soul mate Sharifa.
