Born in Athens, Stratis liked to draw and make music. Until he was 19 years old, he played in a thrash metal band with which he published two albums. Over night, he stopped his music in favor of his new passion with photography. His girlfriend at the time threatened to throw his camera from the 7th floor if he did not stop obsessing. He did the opposite.
He then went to Italy and studied political science and statistic psychology until he quit, preferring to polish his racing bike day and night with ear cotton sticks. Beginning of detail obsession? Maybe. He returned to Greece and did potraits for art galleries and model agencies. In 1997, he went to London, where joined PUBLIC photo agency. His first assignment for the agency was a shoot with Victoria Beckham for Sunday Times Style Magazine with curator, icon Isabella Blow.
In 2000, he relocated to NYC, working for Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine. He felt at home. It was there that he met Beva, his creative partner, and they started working together in fashion for commercial and art projects, including Levis and Johnny Walker. After being sued for trespassing in German Town, in upstate New York, he received a suggestion from a cop to “go to Europe and make a name for yourselves“. They did just that. Who said the police are useless? While in Paris for a Vogue assignment, they fell in love with the bistros, the sunshine, and new found emotions in food and wine. Paris loved them as well and work was plentiful. They completed assignments for Christian Dior and Dazed and Confused magazine, among others, while also doing extensive work for Italian clients. In 2008, while Paris was frozen, a trip brought them to Athens. In 26C weather, they decided to relocate to Athens. He believes it was the best decision ever made.
Living now in Athens, in a breathtaking Acropolis view apartment/studio, he is enjoying winter swims, (still) French wine and cheese on the roof terrace, and the good company of friends who seem to love the idea of a nude photo shoot disguised as “work”. But work it is. His latest project, “I’m-perfection”, after 10 years in the business, allowed him, for the first time, to understand the women he was seeing through his viewfinder. He was able to create a safe space for them to remove not only their clothing but their hang ups and insecurities and begin their healing path to self acceptance. This also afforded an opportunity to expand his knowledge and realize that qualities like compassion, love, understanding, and acceptance, photograph just as well as obvious surface characteristics.
