BRI Featured Artist
Corinne Alavekios
How long have you been shooting pro?
14 years.
Describe your education & training in photography.
It just was natural for me. From the time I was 15, I always had a camera with me. Not until 1998 when faced with a life changing circumstance, did I realize my dream.
One morning, I woke and asked myself the question “What now will I do with the rest of my life?” And answered it. “I am going to be a professional photographer. “ It was so clear.
So, I got up, threw on some sweats and went to Barnes & Noble to grab almost every photography magazine on their shelves. I used them as a resource and product guide to purchase the correct equipment. I chose Hasselblad.
But before deciding on photography, I had been riding and competing horses all my life, so I knew it was about having both the skills and right horse. So, Hasselblad was the right horse and now all I needed was the right skills.
I set out to learn all I could. Everyday seemed to be a new challenge. I learned everything I could from the top in our industry. While traveling, I found inspiration from artists in France & Italy that worked with mixed media and fine art papers. I never stopped learning from other photographers and artists that I respected.
Steven had studied fine art and photography in college and has been photographing for over 15 years. Nothing has changed; we still strive for freshness in what we see through our lens. Our skill set: hard work mixed with joy.
What challenges did you face early in your career?
Well… Besides purchasing a Hasselblad and not knowing how to put it together?
That was the best thing that ever happened to me in this career move. I had to call Hasselblad & ask for help. That is how my first day began and it was like a whirlwind after that first call.A couple of years later, Stevn & I opened our Studio in May of 2000, our education started all over. Our real challenge was jumping in as fast as we did with a busy workload of clients immediately.
We were remodeling an old firehouse as our studio, photographing all different kinds of clients and learning a workflow system. We went from shooting film to digital, which caused us to learn another workflow system which included digital storage. Finally, we started printing our own work.
What is your secret to balancing your
photography business and your personal life?
Stevn and I have a set routine for every morning and we stick to it. We have Cappuccinos together and count our blessings. We spend an hour reading together during this time. Daily, we build our faith with God above. Next we take our Golden Retrievers for a run on our favorite forest trail.
After these few hours, our workday begins. The nice thing about being the owners of your own business is being able choose what time to close up the studio and our days off.The days that we miss this schedule are the days that we find most challenging. We find that the closer we work together, the fuller our life & marriage is and that our days are smoother.
Define your photography style.
A photographic essay of our time together with our client. Saturated, rich with authenticity and texture. We want to evoke a thought or mood. Make the viewer ask a question of what the image holds. Some imagery leans towards fine art. Others are fun and fresh. While some portraits remain classic in nature. We work to convey a harmonious session. We tell a story of our time together and present it as such.
What inspires you artistically (a person, place, movie,
you name it!)?
Choosing to find beauty in life wherever I am. Where I walk every morning is where I find my creative mind flourishes. Natural fields, meadows, forests are where it is easy for me to find beauty. Then for emotional impact I need to look elsewhere.
Stevn loves traveling and meeting people. We have a few European artists and fellow photographers that we can always count on to bounce ideas around and have great dinner conversations.
Our home in Greece, that we hardly ever see, gives us a chance to travel to other parts of Europe. We are always inspired by every part of just being there. One thing that is important to me, I seek to look at beautiful imagery. Listening to beautiful music, and watching great cinematography works inspires me.
When going into a session, what motivates you?
A prayer first! Then music. Then I know I need to turn my creative self on. It is my art and I love it. The person I am photographing is usually my motivation.
I take the time to get to know them. It becomes personal. I want them to know that they are important in the time we share together and feel inspired enough to give me their trust in creating an image of them.
When working with your clients, how do you evoke the
perfect expression
and pose?
Fluidity! It is so important to keep everything fluid. In the beginning, I find the light, which inspires me to get started. Then, I start by mirroring my client’s mood, while coaxing them out a bit and I look for a new comfort zone for them.
I verbally visit with them as I photograph and encourage them in every way I can. I will go through a range of scenarios with them, and turn a few corners, so to say, to get a range of emotions from soft, reflective, serious then to fun, bold & strong. I keep moving the body and poses but not holding them. It is a visual conversation with the client.First, I demonstrate what I want in certain poses and keep directing closely. Getting my clients to feel like this is a matter of having them mirror my attitude. Whether it is tender, strong, or whatever the emotion that makes them the person they are, I want to bring it out of them. When I take my camera and put it to my eye, I feel somewhat invisible.
When I work, it just takes over me. A calm comes over me that it is what I believe every true artist feels. A confidence to create and direct my client to bring out a partnership between us, much like a director and an actor.
What business tip would you give the new photographer?
If you are whole-heartedly are going to do this commit and never give up. Push through the walls you will hit. Use criticism as a catalyst to launch yourself. Live each moment fully and be thoughtful in your decisions. Be conservative with investing in equipment, purchase the best! Remember you do not need every lens or gadget offered. Use fear to become courageous.
Be different from everyone else. Emulate but don’t copy. Look for inspiration in the unexpected. Be kind & loving to people. Warmth draws people in. Learn about every aspect of business and photography. Immerse yourself fully. Use professional services for your website and content. Brand yourself carefully with the utmost in professionalism.
Find a niche that is easy to be yourself. Set yourself apart from the masses. Ask yourself a lot of questions everyday, and embrace each day with optimism.