John Nassari
John Nassari is a British photographer based in London, working primarily in reportage wedding, portrait and advertising photography.
Early life and career
Nassari studied photography at West Herts College, followed by advertising and editorial photography at University for the Creative Arts. He obtained an MA in Visual Culture from the University of Middlesex and a PhD from the University of East London. After graduating in 1991, Nassari worked in still life and advertising studios.
Since 1995, Nassari has been a teacher of both Photography and Refugee Studies at several different institutions, including University of East London, Kent Institute of Art & Design, West Herts College and the University of Hertfordshire.
From 1998 to 2007, Nassari's work focused on his interest in migration, forced migration and identity. His first exhibition ‘First Person, Second Generation’ explored the lives of first and second generation Greek Cypriot migrants in London and was shown in locations across the UK. Throughout the next 9 years he continued to exhibit several projects on refugees and exile.
Nassari’s photography career has seen him working closely with a number of luxury hotels and hotel groups, including Mandarin Oriental, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Dar Jaguar, Savoy Hotel, The Landmark London, Conrad Hotels and Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian. He is the only photographer selected to take part in the Belgravia Wedding Quarter, of which he is an active member. Nassari is a preferred supplier of the Savoy Hotel.
He has photographed many notable subjects including Richard E. Grant, Jeremy Irons, Emilia Fox, Salman Rushdie, Kevin McCloud, Roxanne McKee, Princess Royal, David Cameron and John Legend.
In 2000, 2006 and 2013, Nassari’s portraits were chosen as finalists for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize and were exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Nassari's 2006 Entry Girl Dressed up - East London was highly commended by judge Jenny Dyson; former editor of Teen Vogue and creator of Rubbish Magazine.
In 2014 Nassari pioneered a 360° interactive wedding photography technology, consisting of a panoramic view of the scene with the addition of interactive features and immersive sound. Of the series Nassari says "The 360 allows the audience to pan around the room, choosing audio from that specific section of the room, as if it is in surround sound." The Evening Standard stated Nassari had "revolutionised the world of wedding photography with his innovative 360 technology."
In 2016, Nassari was listed as one of the 13 best wedding photographers in London by the Evening Standard.
Nassari is a brand ambassador for OLYMPUS Europe. In 2016 he was selected to join the OLYMPUS Visionary program, a title reserved for a small group of professional photographers whose work is used to promote the brand. Nassari also participates in a programme of tutorial events and seminars run by OLYMPUS and regularly presents on many aspects of photographic technique.
In 2017 Nassari was commissioned by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel London to film the construction of Sir Peter Blake’s biggest ever collage ‘Our Fans’ – created to cover the hotel during its restoration.
80 at 80
80 at 80 is a collection of 80 portraits commissioned by Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park documenting the staff behind the scenes. The photographs were exhibited and published to celebrate the 80th anniversary of OLYMPUS Cameras.
Nassari was given access to all areas of the hotel over a period of several months in 2015. The back of house environment, including cleaners, cooks, kitchen hands and maids, were photographed in black and white while the front of house staff were shot in colour. All portraits were taken with an OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark II.
The photographs were exhibited privately on 15 April 2016, in the ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London before traveling to Art Bermondsey Project Space for public view.
All 80 of the portraits appear in Nassari’s book OLYMPUS 80 at 80, published by Bluecoat Press.
Publications
- First Person, Second Generation. London: PhotoInsight Publications, 1998.
- Into the Open. London: PhotoInsight Publications, 2008.
- OLYMPUS 80 at 80: With Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. London: Bluecoat Press, 2016.
Publications with contributions by Nassari
- John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award 2000. London: National Portrait Gallery, 2007. .
- Photographic Portrait Prize 2006. London: National Portrait Gallery, 2006. .
- Cultures of memory, memories of culture. Cyprus: Nicosia Press, 2007.
- Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2013. London: National Portrait Gallery, 2007. .
Solo exhibitions
- 1998 – First Person, Second Generation, Bruce Castle, London
- 2006 – Crossing Borders, Pantheon Gallery, Cyprus
- 2006 – In-Between, University of York, York
- 2007 – Exile, The Townhouse Gallery, Egypt
- 2007 – Cyprus Problem, Four Corners, London
- 2016 – 80 at 80, Art Bermondsey Project Space, London
- 2017 – Alters, Art Bermondsey Project Space, London
Group exhibitions
- 2000 - John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
- 2006 - Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London
- 2008 - Into the Open (joint exhibition with Ania Dabrowska), Four Corners, London
- 2013 - Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London
Awards
- 2000 - Finalist, John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award (now Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize)
- 2006 - Finalist, Photographic Portrait Prize (now Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize)
- 2013 - Finalist, Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize