“We used Mina as our photographer for my daughter’s Greek Baptism. As Greek baptism are intricate and there is a lot of detail I was a bit skeptical in hiring someone who had none done one before, but I absolutely loved Minas style compared to other photographers I had researched who had photographed a Greek Baptism. I was certainly not sorry and ever so grateful I went with my gut. Easily some of the best professional pictures we have had of an event! Mina is a dream to work with, very accommodating and an all round lovely person. I was expecting something good as she instilled confidence in me prior to our event but was absolutely blown away by the end result! The photos captured the day in such a way that you could feel it all over again. Just breathtaking! She didn’t miss a single detail. I would absolutely recommend if you want photos that truly tell a story an evoke emotion. Thank you Mina we can’t wait for our next function with you.”

— Kayleeann

Greek Orthodox Christening in London

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a Greek Orthodox Christening, also known as Baptism (Vaptisi). This is a significant sacrament in the Greek Orthodox Church, marking a person's initiation into the Christian faith, combining centuries-old traditions with the deep significance of the sacrament. Although I come from a country which practices Orthodox religion and I have attended a few Orthodox christenings, I have never photographed one before. I felt very humbled that my clients put their trust in me knowing I had no previous experience in photographing Orthodox baptisms. My clients explained the deeply spiritual nature of the ceremony, the importance of certain traditions, as well as the meaningfulness of several rituals. I was given detailed instructions on the order of service, and have researched the details of the ceremony. With the experience of photographing many christenings in my career as a family photographer, I was confident and ready to tackle this new challenge.

Arrival at St George's Greek Orthodox Church, Kingston-upon-Thames and Preparation

We all met in front of St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Kingston-upon-Thames, where I photographed guests arriving (some were visiting from far away places) and the family greeting everyone. When photographing christenings, I like to start by taking a few shots of the outside of the church and details which make each church unique. I then follow on taking shots of guests arriving and mingling, as well as the main star of the show! Little G looked gorgeous in her baptismal clothes – a beautiful puffy light blue dress. She gave me a real challenge, buzzing around amongst all the guests but I managed to capture a few frames of her on her own and enjoing lots of attention from family and friends. I also had the opportunity to photograph the special baptismal candle (λαμπάδα) being held by one of the family members. There was a regular service before the baptism which ran over, so I had a comfortable amount of time to take all the photos I needed.

Following from here, I went indoors and took several shots of the church interior whilst waiting for the guests to come in. The ten to fifteen minutes before the start of the ceremony are fast paced as I need to photograph family and friends making themselves comfortable and having a little chat amongst themselves while the christening party prepare themselves and the child for the ceremony. In Greek Orthodox Baptisms, the christening apparel (child’s outfit, candles, jewellery etc) is filled with tradition and meaning, so photographing this is one of the key priorities. After photographing the setup, the arrival and the church, it was time to start taking photos of the service.

Greek Christenings are very symbolic and traditional, and there are many different steps throughout the ceremony. Here I talk about them as I tell the story of G’s christening.

Renunciation of Satan and Confession of Faith

The beginning of the ceremony started at the back of the church, where parents and godparents, holding the child, gathered with the priest. This part of the ceremony is the beginning of the sacrament and symbolises the child being brought into the Christian community. Little G, who was just under a year old at the time, decided she was having none of it! She closed her eyes during the whole renunciation of Satan, and confession of faith part of the ceremony. Her reaction made me chuckle, as I haven’t before seen such an opinionated and determined little girl. She had her eyes closed the entire time, occasionally putting her little hand right across her eyes! The priest was wonderful, making a real effort to make the ceremony as gentle and fun as possible.

The Blessing of the Oil and Anointing

Following the initial part of the ceremony at the back of the church, we all moved to the front of the church where the priest blessed the baptismal water, which is anointed with holy oil (Myron), symbolising the Holy Spirit’s presence. This blessing emphasizes the importance of water in the baptism, representing the cleansing of sin and the renewal of life. Little G dozed (or pretended to!) through this part of the ceremony.

The Immersion

It was then time for the main part of the ceremony - the baptism itself. The two godmothers undressed little G and assisted the priest while he immersed her in the baptismal font three times to symbolyse the Holy Trinity (I am not going to lie, she did not like this!) before being passed back to her godmother where she calmed in a warm towel and her loving arms. It was quite a challenge photographing this part of the ceremony, as the space around the baptismal font was very small, there were quite a few people present, and getting the right angle took some purposeful positioning and fast shutter speed to catch the expressions of the child, the godparents, and the priest. Looking back at the photos now, I am quite pleased with the resulting images, they have a very documentary-style feel and take me back to the day of the baptism.

The Chrismation & The Tonsure

After all that action, little G was anointed with holy oil (myron) – her forehead, her chest, hands, feet etc, symbolizing spiritual strengthening and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The priest also took a little lock of G’s hair and cut a small portion gently with a small pair of scissors. Tonsure is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the head as a symbol of religious devotion or humility. After the Baptism and Chrismation, the Priest will tonsure the child by cutting some of their hair crosswise to signify that Christ will be the head of the child from now on and that he will reject other allegiances.

The Vesting and Procession

It was then time to dress G in her baptismal garments, a gorgeous puffy light pink dress. The priest, godparents and G then circled around the fold three times, while the priest was singing hymns. This symbolyses joy and the journey of the new Christian life. The three little girls who were also a part of the christening party were doing a great job holding candles, and being involved in this part of the ceremony.

Holy Communion

Following all the ceremonials surrounding the baptism, the priest gave G Holy Communion and presented her with the Eucharist. She was given the baptismal candle (λαμπάδα) which represents the light of Christ. The candle is also meant to illuminate the child’s path in her new Christian life. After the baptism, the candle is often kept as a keepsake by the godparent or family. The end of the ceremony was marked by the priest offering a concluding prayer and blessing. Finally, little G was was returned into mummy’s arms and presented to the congregation. The mum bowed to the godparents before receiving G back.

Greek Christening Reception at Pyford Lakes Golf Club

After the ceremony, I quickly packed my gear and drove to the nearby Pyford Lakes golf club. Pyford Lakes is a stunning wedding and event venue in Surrey, offering a variety of facilities and overlooking beautiful grounds. This was the base for the post-ceremony celebration, koutouki. The reception venue was beautifully decorated, both outside and inside. On the outside tables, there were delicious looking drinks, an inviting buffet of food and little gifts for the guests. The inside of the venue looked as striking as the outside – beautifully laid tables, a play area for the children, and an exquisite presentation for the cake.

My clients wanted to have relaxed photographs of the reception and everyone enjoying their time. In situations like these, I mainly work from a distance with my long lens, capturing candid moments without people really noticing I am there. During this time in the day, it is also nice to find a moment to take those important group shots - child with parents, godparents, extended family and so forth. Can be a bit of a challenge as everyone just wants to relax and the kids want to play, but playing a little game just before I press the drigger does wonders! I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as I have enjoyed taking them!

Christening Photographer in London and Surrey

Are you planning your child’s Greek Orthodox Christening? Are you looking for a Greek Orthodox christening photographer? Look no further!

Fees

My fees for baptism or christening photography services are £195 per hour with 2h minimum booking. The fee includes:

A pre-consultation. I am happy to give you a call or arrange FaceTime to meet and discuss your requirements
My time on the day
A selection of 100+ professionally-edited photos available in high resolution
My travel costs. I work across London, Surrey and the South East. I travel free of charge 30 miles from where I live (RH5), and I am happy to go further afield for an additional travel fee

I also provide album-design services which are charged at an additional cost.

Booking

I would love to hear more about your Christening event! Give me a call on 07793 677 867, email at info@minamilanovic-photography.com, contact me through my website or fill out a form below to discuss your requirements. I look forward to working with you!

Greek Orthodox Baptism Photographer London | Kingston Christening Photography