We were lucky to catch up with Sevi Kontokanis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sevi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How has Covid changed your business model?
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many small business owners, including myself, to rethink how they operate within their business. As a wedding photographer, COVID restrictions meant that all weddings in the foreseeable future were placed on an immediate hold. This caused a significant shift in the wedding industry, resulting in many couples to opt for a more intimate ceremony over a larger, more traditional-style wedding. I saw this as an opportunity to expand my horizons and lean into elopement photography. In a way, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise for my business, as it allowed me to connect more deeply with couples who value genuine connection, intentionality, and adventure. Choosing to align my business values more closely with my personal values has ultimately helped me create a more fulfilling and authentic business model, centered around capturing the essence of love and commitment in its purest form. Although, I love and devote just as much to my traditional wedding clients, my elopement clients hold a very special place in my heart.
Sevi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi! My name is Sevi and I am a 26-year-old Greek-American wedding, elopement, and boudoir photographer based in Cleveland, Ohio. I have been passionate about photography for a vast majority of my life and studied film and digital photography while pursuing my business degree at Kent State University. Over the past 9 years, I have had the pleasure of photographing many beautiful souls in several major cities beyond Cleveland, like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, in addition to various National Parks, like Joshua Tree in California and Mount Rainer in Washington. In 2023, I was honored to be named Cleveland’s best elopement photographer by Peerspace. If you are looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable photographer who prioritizes getting to know you both as individuals and as a couple, look no further. Together, we will work to create beautiful memories, leaving you with images that authentically and comfortably showcase your unique personalities and captivating love story that you can hold on to and cherish forever.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
As an avid traveler and nature-lover, it is a personal goal of mine to visit all 63 US National Parks. By the end of this month, I will have visited 14! I still have a long way to go, but I love that photography has brought me closer to achieving my goal. It is an absolute honor to be able to travel to new destinations and create art with other like-minded, free-spirited, adventurers like myself.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe my creative, adventurous spirit and outgoing personality, in addition to my willingness to put myself out there and take risks, has ultimately contributed to my growing success as a wedding and elopement photographer. My dedication to building genuine connections, coupled with my commitment to delivering an exceptional client experience and breathtaking images, sets me apart in a highly saturated market. I believe in creating not just beautiful photographs, but memorable experiences that my clients will cherish for a lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sevikontokanis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevikontokanis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeviKPhotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevaste-kontokanis/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sevikontokanis Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sevikontokanis/
Image Credits
Sevi Kontokanis