Mara Lazaridou in Greece
Mara Lazaridou in Greece
Who are you?
My name is Mara Lazaridou, age 36, living in Thessaloniki, Greece, and I am a freelance fashion photographer.
When and how did you first get started in photography?
I started late with photography and it was by accident. At age 30, I was a professional volleyball and beach volleyball player. And I had a Bachelor in Sports Science, so this seemed to my future, a profession in sports. But after taking part at an amateur photography
contest organized by aphotography school, I won second place and the prize was a reduction in the fees, so I thought I could give it a try.
Where were you born and what area do you live in now? How do you think that area specifically, and/or the country as a whole, has impacted you and your work?
I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and I came to Greece at age four. Now, I live in Thessaloniki, which is the second largest town in Greece and has a lot of interesting places to visit within close reach -- mountains, beaches, islands and forests. The weather is usually sunny and bright and influences both my personality and my work in outdoor photography.
How does being a mother play a part in your process?
Motherhood is the most demanding and rewarding full-time job I have ever done in my life. As a working mother, sometimes it is difficult and a struggle to balance everything in my life. But being a mother and a woman, I think it makes me more sensitive and romantic and it shows sometimes in my work.
How did you get into fashion photography in particular? What do you like about it?
I knew from the beginning that I liked to shoot people and portraits and fashion photography came naturally to me. What I like in fashion photography is the way concepts and ideas come to life and form an image.
When did you join Instagram and how has it affected you / your work?
I joined Instagram about a year a half ago (when I got a smartphone) and I was hugely affected. I started documenting everything with my phone and I became more experimental with my camera.
What camera(s) do you shoot with?
I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III.
Do you have any favorite images that you’ve taken?
My favorite images are the ones of my boy because they speak to me in a personal level. Although I shoot him all the time, I am very aware of what I am posting on my media accounts. I usually post images that are very general.
Where do you find inspiration?
I am always inspired when I am traveling, seeing new places, different people and their lifestyle.
Where is next on your list to travel?
Every year I have a goal and try to travel somewhere, even if it is a small trip to a Greek village or island or maybe to a European town. But to name a few places that are high on my travel list: Tokyo, Iceland, New York, Hawaii and I can go on and on.
Who are your favorite photographers?
I am inspired by a lot of photographers, both professional and amateurs. And I am really excited when I find an artist that challenges me visually.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals for the future... well that's a question that I had no time to think about the last three years because I have been trying to balance the time between my family, work and social life since the birth of my son. I’ve just been trying to tick the boxes in the lists I made for the next day or the following week. Small goals that I have set for the future would be starting
a personal photography project and starting dance lessons!!! (that last goal I have been trying to achieve for a long time now…).
Interview by Jack Sommer