Yes, people call me GM
…and no, it doesn’t stand for Genetically Modified
Growing up in Pretoria, South Africa, around lots of Afrikaans people meant no one could quite pronounce “Gianmarco”, so I just became GM. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it’s the easiest icebreaker when introducing myself!
Pretoria offered me a wonderfully holistic start. From regular academics to playing almost every sport available and getting stuck into the arts (though not so much drama - I was far too shy back then!), I always had something on the go. My artistic side naturally stemmed from drawing, painting and making things at school.
Photography was never really on my radar, despite my dad’s best mate and his brother doing loads of it. But I finally picked it up properly with a smartphone back in 2019 – following in my uncle’s footsteps (go check him out @alessiolr on Instagram). I guess photography really does run in the blood! Soon after, I bought my first proper camera.
It wasn’t until university (and you guessed it, I didn't study photography - I did Biomedical Engineering instead! It turns out that childhood love for figuring out how to make things never really left me) that things really clicked. Surrounded by a plethora of opportunities, I decided to turn my hobby into a business. I started by photographing absolutely everything I could: sports, events, portraits - you name it.
Through that hustle, I absolutely fell in love with capturing weddings. They are the ultimate test, combining a bit of everything I've learned: the quiet order of a ceremony, the lightning-fast precision of sports photography, and the pure chaos of an event dancefloor.
When I show up to shoot, I bring pure energy and good vibes. I genuinely love dressing up, so I’ll most likely be photographing your wedding or event in a sharp suit (It’s my form of disguise). My ultimate goal is to blend right in and transform into the "friend with a camera," a vibe I perfected while shooting events at university. I’m there to celebrate with you, just with a camera in hand!
And speaking of the dancefloor—I absolutely love dancing. I am never afraid to jump right into the middle of the action to get the perfect shot.
Whether you’re planning a massive wedding or need high-energy event coverage, I’d love to document your story!
Yes, that’s me passing over my too-expensive-to-admit camera to someone else to take a picture of me at a black-tie event! It’s a rare moment on the other side of the lens, but it captures me in the middle of the events you’ll see me at.