Coming from Macedonian heritage, I am very familiar with the traditions and custom of an orthodox christening. Above all, there is a heavy importance on the sanctity and order of the ceremony. This makes it a bit tricky to intercept and document.

Shannon and Peter chose to honour Peter’s background by christening Lenox at St Naum of Ohrid Macedonian orthodox church in Hamilton. Because I wanted to provide a realistic snapshot of their day, I chose to document the ceremony from a journalistic standpoint.

To begin with, I focused on the symbolic rituals that were unique to the Macedonian church. These included the holy book, holy water from the river of Jordan, holy oil and the scissors used to cut the child’s first lock of hair. The intricate detailing of these items were a perfect representation of the richness and history behind the traditions.

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I shifted my focus to Lenox by capturing his natural curiosity as he took it all in during the ceremony. His classic gown and flawless complexion with his big blue eyes contrasted beautifully with the rich colours and detailing around him. He offered the perfect balance to the composition and represented calm and innocence against the formalities of his surroundings.

Without wanting to infringe on the ceremony too much, I got this great image from behind that captured the intensity. The silhouettes of Lenox with his family and their guests worked brilliantly in contrast to the background which featured the saints looking over them. I focused on some close ups on the endearing touches. There were great images of Peter calming Lenox by holding his foot and of Lenox clutching at his mother’s necklace. Most noteworthy, as Lenox was undressed and submerged in water I got a great series of shots of him as he made his feelings known.

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Afterwards, the reception after was held at the opulent lakeside mansion, Edgewater Manor. Peter thanked those nearest and dearest for attending. Even the youngest of guests were dressed to impress and fit in well with the great gatsby-esque feel of the location.

Certainly, with hand picked wines flowing and an impressive array of gourmet steaks and seafoods, Edgewater Manor was a great way to end this elegant event.

For anyone considering an orthodox christening, I would definitely recommend having a conversation with your priest. Find out their rules and any restrictions in terms of photographic coverage.  Above all, have an open conversation with your photographer. This will ensure you are both on the same page in terms of expectations. Together, you can devise a plan ahead of time.