Lakis Giakoumis, with more than 40 years in the field of photography, has captured with his lens some of the most important personalities of Greece and internationally. Among them are politicians, businessmen, artists and members of royal families. He had a special ability to uniquely capture the glamour and worldliness of the people he photographed, which established him as the leading photographer of the powerful of Athens and the international jet set.

In the golden age of glamorous magazines and social columns, before the advent of social media, social life was mainly projected through the pages of the printed press. Moments of social bliss, typical of the times before the pandemic and the financial crisis, were captured by lenses recording the glamorous events. One of these lenses belonged to Lakis Yakoomi, a photographer who stood out not only for his unquestionable discretion and courtesy, but also for his impeccable professional integrity.

With his lens in his hand, he lived countless stories from the golden ’80s and ’90s, as well as from even earlier times, capturing personalities such as Aristotle and Alexander Onassis, Stavros Niarchos, Soraya, Claudia Cardinale, Demis Roussos, Juan Carlos, and well-known Greek personalities such as Aliki Vougiouklaki. Among the legends that have passed through his lens, representatives of the former Greek royal family also stand out. Yakoumis, with his characteristic presence and gentle demeanor, won the trust of all, ensuring their most authentic moments.

Originally from Anogia, Crete, and with a mother who was distinguished for her contribution during the Occupation, Lakis Yakoomis grew up in Piraeus and attended the historic 1st Gymnasium of the city. His love for history and the heroes of the Revolution, which inspired him from an early age, led him to an ambitious project: an album dedicated to the 200 years since the beginning of the Greek Revolution. Using modern technology, Yakoumis sought to convey history to the younger generation, highlighting the richness of traditional Greek costume. His collaborators in this effort were the tailor Nikos Plakidas from Messolonghi and Spyros Katsiras from Kalamata.

Lakis, with his well-known style, managed to convince politicians, artists and dozens of volunteers to pose for his camera wearing traditional costumes, despite the difficult conditions – such as the photo shoots in Messolonghi with temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius. With great gratitude he said: “These people did it for me. This was their payment. This was their payment.

Yakoomi’s relationship with photography began very early on. At the age of just 14, he began working with the camera, and a year later, he covered his first reception at the Great Britain Hotel, hosted by Dimitris Karellas. Since then, his career has followed an upward trajectory, leaving an indelible imprint in the field of photography and journalistic coverage of world events.

Lakis Giakoumis did not limit himself to photographing personalities, but also placed special emphasis on historical events, such as the anniversary events for the 200th anniversary of the 1821 Revolution. Despite the difficulties and obstacles he faced, he continued to produce work with passion and dedication, demonstrating his love for the art of photography and the history of his country. He passed away on 25 August 2024.