Baptism at the Historical Agia Aikaterini of Plaka

Plaka, Church of Agia Ekaterini. The initial impression for a baptism photographer seeing to best stage his work is favourable. The Plaka district itself and the Church of Agia Ekaterini are among the few locations in Athens where the natural surroundings are ideal for a baptism photographer; he can highlight the atmosphere of the area and combine it with the joyous faces of the godparents, the family and the guests. Even more so when the baptism involves twins. It is more than just photographing the double protagonists in the baptism al font it is mainly trying to capture their unique characteristics through a single photo shoot. Their expressions, their movements, their reactions, all of which are documented in the baptism photographs, may well be the first time the two are differentiated into individuals, after so far growing as one. That means that the eye of the photographer should not endeavour to equally balance the images of the protagonists, but instead to make each character emerge independently in this special moment.

Baptism at the Church of Agia Ekaterini in Plaka

In Plaka, at one of the most beautiful chapels in the centre of Athens, with memories of a time when adversity did not necessarily affect the colour of the roof tiles, the window, the clean and fragrant courtyard, the well-cared for and proudly standing homes. The graceful and particularly modest appearance of the parents and their faces themselves allowed that feeling to spill over into the present time. The varying shades and splashes of green, beige and brown adorned the backdrop of the Roman agora in a living and timeless manner. In the diffuse afternoon Attica light, portraits are taken next to the remaining columns of the agora in the area around the temple. Then a stroll through the winding backstreets of the Plaka district. A reception at the “2mazi” restaurant helped prolong the noble character of the atmosphere.