Shot in Castle Durrow, Co Laoise, Ireland with their ceremony in Abbeyleix Church. Images by Shane O’Neill www.aspectphotography.net
The Lens & Light Honor is awarded to twelve photographers each year who are true leaders in the world of wedding photography. We look for photographers who produce stunning, modern, artistic imagery at the frontier of the field and for photographers who have achieved a rare level of success and recognition among brides, fellow photographers, and others in the wedding industry. We are proud to recognize Nik Pekridis with the Lens & Light Honor.
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A third generation photographer, Nik Pekridis has been shooting for more than 25 years. Since he turned his attention to weddings, Nik has catapulted to the top of the wedding photography field, and has become especially well-known for his incredible portraits. Actively engaged in the industry, Nik is the co-founder of photo wedding stories, and is a regular speaker and judge for conventions and contests such as SWPP.
This summer Nik put on an excellent 5-day workshop in Santorini along with Adam Alex, Sofie Louca and Paul Karaolides. Coming up in October, Nik will join the dream team of 7 master photographers (Nik, Yervant, David Beckstead, Bambi Cantrell, Michael Greenburg, Laslo Gabany, and Graham Monro) at Yervant’s Grand Workshop in Corfu, Greece for a week of intense seminars, hands-on photo sessions and a fair bit of fun, too.
How did you get into wedding photography?
Well, first of all thank you. It’s a huge honor for me to be featured on Lens and Light especially because I live in a small country. And even though I have been a photographer from the age of 12, my epiphany actually came in 2007. So, while I have been shooting weddings a long time, I feel at the age of 42 that I have only really done weddings for the last 4 years. I got into wedding photography because of my dad who was also a wedding photographer. I actually shot my first wedding at the age of 12 back in 1981. It wasn’t pretty: Manual focus, flash on camera and bad pictures. I am serious. I was a very bad photographer until 2007 when I attended a Yervant’s seminar in my city. He is the guy who “pushed the button” in my mind. Because of him, I started over and found my true photographic self. I will always be thankful to him and admire him.
How would you describe your style?
My style changes all the time, and it has especially changed from before: as my friend Rocco Ancora says, “The definition of a photography style is the journey and not the destination.”So now my style is romantic, moody, and “dark”… ha ha ha.
Can you share some of your favorite images?
Who or what inspires you to create great imagery?
I love the low saturation Rembrandt light-dark images. I am influenced by, and “steal ideas” from, great photographers like Nick Ghionis, David Beckstead, Rocco Ancora, Megaloudis, Shembri, Yervant, Garner and so many others. I believe that we all have something to share and to give. My favorite images are ones I usually get in low-light conditions, and even though I am usually shooting in ambient daylight, I often use a flash and/or a video light.
What cameras do you shoot with, what’s your favorite lens, and what’s your favorite accessory other than your cameras/lenses?
I use Nikon D3 & D700 cameras and my favorite lenses are the 50mm 1.4, the 85 mm 1.4, and the 70-200 2.8.
How important is post processing in your final images?
For me, post processing is 30-40% of the image. Even the greatest image can gain from a proper photoshop tweaking.
What is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?
I think a good wedding photographer has a very challenging job. He or she needs to have the ability to shoot still life (for the detail shots), portrait and fashion for the photo shoot session, and photo journalism skills for the ceremony, first dance, etc and all of the above without second chance!
Congratulations on this honor!! You deserve it.
Phenomenal imagery — I especially love your fourth last shot. Brilliant!
And now you are an inspiration to those us just starting out in photography. The circle of life!!! I have admired your photography every since I found this Best of Wedding Photography website.
I really enjoyed reading your interview and appreciate your photography. You are so humble and so genuine. I can certainly believe that you have been shooting images since the age of 12.
Congrats! You have a very unique style!
Your imagery is spectacular!
Such a wonderful interview and continuous beautiful images. Thanks Nik!
Congrats Nik … a beautiful honor and testament to your skills as an amazing photographer.
Any eye-opener with respect to your interview. Thanks so much for sharing such honest and open communication. By the way, your imagery is fantastic. You are truly a great photographer.
Thanks for sharing your photography journey with us. Your work is top-notch!
Kudos and congratulations to you Nik on this honor. You really deserve it. You have been posting awesome blogs for quite some time now .. and you have proven over and over again that you are just that one step ahead of the rest of the crowd.
Well deserved recognition! Kudos to you. Just loved your first image and continued to enjoy the whole series in your blog posting.
Thanks for sharing, I think I finded what I need
Nik … it is so wonderful to see your magnificent talent and artistry front and center. Your work is beautiful, awesome, and inspiring. Thanks so much.
All of your photographs are breathtaking. That very last one is brilliant, as are all of your photos. Congrats!
I can certainly see why you have been awarded this prestigious honor. Your work is the top of tops.
thank you all,really it will be my honour to get part into this and your comments really makes me happy !
the photographs is beutiful. i like them
Very impressive portraits!
Brilliant and inspiring photos Nik, congratulations
I love your work Nik!
thank you guys !!
Great work indeed Nick.
Congrats bro… u deserve it~ Cheers
Congratulations. You are a true artist! You utilize your lens as a painter use his brushes! Continue to be the best that you can be!
Continue to enjoy good success.
amazing work, love the way you capture your shots. You my friend are a true artist!
Looks like they had fun… but who doesn’t frolicking in a pretty gown on the beach? ;P
Fabulous photography — loved each and every photo.
What a beautiful couple. You can really see the love they have for each other. How wonderful you were able to capture this for them! Beautiful job! WOW just WOW
Fantastic photography — Trash the Dress was just as incredible as the actual wedding shots. Very nice!
Those beach shots are truly amazing.
3rd from last is awesome
Absolutely amazing shots — I never really understood the concept of ‘Trash the Dress’ until I viewed this session … and I finally get it.
Wilma
Out of this world photos. Thanks so much for sharing.
Stunning and gorgeous photos. Just lovely.
The first two images are like a scene of what the Garden of Eden must look like. I really enjoyed these photos.
What a very fun day you must of had with this wonderful couple. It really shows — these images are absolutely spectacular … each and every one of them. Congrats on such beautiful work.
Your photography is out of this world. Who would have thought that ‘trash the dress’ imagery was even better than the wedding day? This couple will treasure these photos forever … and I continue to just enjoy them. Beautiful work, especially on the beach.
Really loved this blog posting. #10 is the very best — so filled with emotion, so inspirational. Your photography is a blessing to us all. Thanks so much.
We spent an hour or so with Kerri & Andy before the wedding which was a great chance to shoot at some very cool locations that we found around 10 mins away from the lakeside location. Thank you to Chantelle & Sarah Moore & team for planning and executing an amazing day.Thank you to Kristie as always for being my eyes, ears & hands!! To Craig for driving and assisting. To Ellen’s Flowers for some beautiful creations. A special thank you to Kerri & Andy for letting us drag you through the thistles and dragon flies!! Much appreciated.
Shooting a wedding out in the open in very bright sunshine is very rewarding but very testing. I was looking for shade, backgrounds of texture as well as using the sky and grass as part of the image. Using strong flash also to help over power the sun as well as using 1.2 lenses to use the strong bright ambiance.
Great shots! Beautiful images and the lighting is perfect!
Great, awesome and impressive wedding shots! Very professional work and post production! I am fan of your best wedding photography blog.
Brett,
Stunning wedding images. We love being Reno Photographers and building relationships.
Wow — Images 10 to 13 are incredible — your lighting and angles were just perfect.
Breathtaking and awesome photos. The last image is absolutely beautiful.
Amazing photos. All details are so gorgeous, her wedding dress is also gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Phenomenal imagery – especially appreciated images 10 to 13 — very, very nice.
Awesome and inspirational imagery. I love how you started this blog post out with the sign … 2 km more … I kept me interested … so I enjoyed each and every photo right down to the gorgeous last one.
Beautiful and stunning imagery — wow from #9 on — were amazing!
Thanks very much to everyone for their lovely comments on my work, very much appreciated, cheers, Brett
Gorgeous … gorgeous .. gorgeous. Loved his blog posting. Your work is absolutely great!!
Beautiful imagery, angles, use of light … and so much much. That last photo just takes my breath away.
smashing – really like the 7th down, shot into the sun. Perfectly executed.
Got to love that Canadian flag (a bit biased) — not only are you an amazing photographer — you captured my heart when you captured my country and my culture. Thanks.
Gorgeous imagery and capture of the special wedding day. Just loved images 10 to 14!! Very, very nice. Your work is phenomenal.
Phenomenal work — my favorites are images 10 through 13 — you worked so well with and angles and the lighting. Such inspiration.
Congratulations both of you. nice blog. Kerri and Andy you both are looking nice. nice shots.
We had so much fun on this wedding and produced some beautiful images. It was a very relaxed day with the wedding taking place a few miles away at St.Catherines Church in Chipping Campden. After a lovely service everyone made there way back to the venue where everyone relaxed on the law with drinks & canapes. After an hour or so we took some family pictures and then went for a walk with Alex & Jennie and the bridal party around the grounds for 20-30 mins. Here are some images from the day. We look forward to you both seeing the rest.
Lovely job! Such great moment captured and theirs to keep for always
This whole series is just beautiful! Better than postcards — a true work of art. Thanks for sharing.
I am greatly appreciating the professional and brilliant imagery that you create. Breathtaking!
Awesome color tone. Great site design. The shoes are so beautiful. Thanks.
Your first three images ‘had me’ —- awesome and breathtaking — and the rest of your blog even got better. Brilliant, brilliant work!
Wow … again!! I just finished reviewing your previous blog posting and was delighted to see another one right below it. Beautiful, beautiful photos.
I just cannot get over Image #6 .. and then it gets better and better and better.
Just commented on your last blog posting .. and then scrolled down to the next and was absolutely delighted to view your imagery once again. Your work is phenomenal! Thanks so much!
oh!! what an awesome piece of art….it bounds me to view each and every pic,hats off to the photography.
And it keeps getting better! I just viewed your previous blog posting too. These are postcard picture perfect. The colors are awesome.
I can just envision all of these photos in a coffee table book on the table of a friend I visit. They are that good. Your photography is awesome (and I’m sure I’m not the first person who told you this).
What a special delight to see your work showcased again. I may be the odd man out — but I am just crazy over Image #7 — the beautiful old fashioned bedroom with gold tapestry and the bride’s gown hanging from the bed post. Priceless and gorgeous.
I just previewed your last posting … and am also awed by this beautiful work. Everything is absolutely beautiful … and I love the very last photo the best. Thanks so much for sharing you artistry with us.
Sarah loves and admires your work. Sarah Kimmel is a professional photographer serving the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She has a passion for the subtle beauty in life and enjoys sharing this with her clients. Sarah is first and foremost an artist, with the ability to see possibilities for unique and awe inspiring pic.
Wow … your first image had me captivated – really like the black and white … then I kept scrolling down. Also enjoyed your amazing color pictures.
You did a great job, Love the way you captured the day
Gorgeous imagery. That last image is brilliant. And the image of the bride and father just entering the church — wow — great lighting and angles.
Your photographic skills are so very evident in this imagery. I have not as yet visited Ireland — but your photos are lulling me to that very Emerald island. These photos are absolutely brilliant!
Beautiful blog posting. Your last two images are my very favorites. Brilliant work!
Just ‘love’ your B&W imagery … especially #10 in the church — awesome!
Beautiful, fairy tale story. And #7 is just so full of emotion, it brought tears to my eyes. You are a true artist.
The church shots are fascinating. Brilliant, brilliant blog post.