I’m Vaios Vitos, a visual storyteller based in Thessaloniki, Greece, working across conservation filmmaking, photography, and videography. My work is driven by a deep connection to the natural world and a belief that powerful imagery can inspire awareness, emotional connection, and meaningful action for conservation.
I specialise in wildlife, nature, and landscape storytelling, always with a strong ethical foundation. For me, image-making is not simply about documenting beauty. It is about communicating the value, fragility, and urgency of the living world, and encouraging a deeper respect for the environments and species that surround us.
My path into photography began at the age of 24. Before that, I studied Business Administration at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, but it soon became clear that a conventional career path was not where I truly belonged. Photography became the medium through which I found both my voice and my purpose.
Early in my career, I worked at one of Thessaloniki’s leading photography stores, where I gained valuable hands-on experience with photographic equipment, professional practice, and visual production. Although that chapter gave me a strong technical and commercial foundation, my real passion was always elsewhere: in nature, wildlife, and landscape photography.
As my work evolved, filmmaking became a natural extension of my creative journey. Moving from still images into motion allowed me to tell more immersive and emotionally layered stories through image, movement, sound, and atmosphere. It opened up a deeper way of engaging audiences and became an essential part of how I approach conservation storytelling today.
At the heart of everything I do is a profound respect for the natural environment. For me, photography and filmmaking are inseparable from responsibility. They are not only creative practices, but also ways of bearing witness, fostering empathy, and strengthening the bond between people and the planet.
Founder of PTTL.gr
In 2012, I founded PTTL.gr (Photonews Through The Lens), which has grown into the leading photography and imaging website in the Greek language. Through daily news coverage, features, interviews, reviews, and commentary, the platform has become a key point of reference for photographers and videographers in Greece and beyond.
Over the years, PTTL.gr has collaborated with major international brands including Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, SIGMA, and Tamron, as well as important Greek industry partners such as Manios Cine Tools.
Through the pttlgr YouTube channel, I also create content for photographers and filmmakers, including camera and lens reviews, discussions around the imaging industry, and educational material. In the past, I was also involved in the podcast Angle of View, where we explored important conversations shaping contemporary photography.
Workshops and Field Experience
In recent years, I have devoted a significant part of my work to organising private and small-group photography workshops and photo trips, with a particular focus on Lake Kerkini, one of Greece’s most important wildlife destinations.
There, I guide photographers who want to experience and photograph wildlife in a meaningful and responsible way, always with an emphasis on ethical field practice. A special part of this experience is photographing the remarkable Dalmatian Pelican, along with many other species that make the area so unique.
What matters most to me in these workshops is not only helping others improve technically, but sharing time in nature with people who care deeply about photography, wildlife, and conservation. I see these experiences as an exchange: a chance to guide, to connect, and also to keep learning through the perspectives of others.
Professional Engagement
I have previously served on the board of the Union of Professional Photographers and Videographers of Central Macedonia (SPPV) and represented the Union in the Greek Federation of Photographers as Secretary. I currently continue my involvement as a regular member of the SPPV.
Personal
I am married to my partner, Katerina, and I am the proud father of two children, Savvas and Cecilia.
Through every project I undertake, whether editorial, photographic, or cinematic, my goal remains the same: to create work that is visually compelling, emotionally resonant, and grounded in a genuine respect for the natural world.
