Details and booking
I shoot spaces and states, and in portraits I do that too. The mood and state of a person, their inner landscapes that are reflected in their appearance. The inner melody that sounds in a person right now and is expressed in their facial expressions, gestures, body movements and fingertips.
These are not linkedin photos or formal portraits. It’s important to me to clarify it beforehand.
In my work I usually use a technique called multiple exposure, where I combine several shots into one (this is done directly in the camera while taking the photograph). For me, it allows to reveal the subtle connection between person, object and space.
You can see examples of my work here, and in Portraits gallery. If you like my vision, I’d be very happy to work with you. Here are several forms of my work, but you can always contact me for something specific, I’m open to collaborate
Quiet Portraits
in Folkestone, Kent, UK, by the sea
I invite you to slow down, to feel in touch with nature and yourself, and I involve landscape art therapy techniques to help you feel rather then pose.
Although this is a photography and not a therapy session, the processes are remarkably similar and will make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, like a little journey into the world of art and yourself. This experience will stay with you in pictures.
I shoot in Folkestone, Kent, and you can travel here from St Pancras in 55 minutes by train.
I will meet you at the station.
It’s my job to pick the locations and guide you through them, so you can get rest from from making decisions and from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
It will be plenty of sea. And silence. And you do not have to smile.
I will send you 50-70 photos in print-ready size 2 weeks after the shoot.
£350, possible associated costs are to be paid separately
Art Touch online
For long-distance lovers of London / English seaside / and my approach
No visas and airplanes to be captured by me at the English seaside, or in your favourite spot of London!
How it happens: I ask you to sent me by email several of your farourite photos in printable resolution and then we decide whether you want to go. And at the appointed time I’m there — and so are you via video link. I shoot using the double exposure technique, capturing both the screen with you and the place in one shot.
The result is about 10 photos of you and London or sea together, prepared for professional printing. Delivery in ten days.
£150 in London, £150 £125 by the sea, payment can be made in $ and € as well
Editorial, reportages, production, etc
in Folkestone, Kent / London, UK
I’m always happy to work with media, artists and small businesses — painters, sculptors, musicians, theatre collectives and dancers, indie brands of clothing, jewellery, etc. If you like my style, I’d love to create something beautiful for you.
I work in Folkestone, Kent, and London. The cost depends on the complexity of the work and is calculated individually. Don’t be afraid to write me if you’re on a budget: I’m open to any ideas and collaborations and make several pro bono shoots each season.
Art Touch Performance
For those who want to participate for free
This is my portrait performance on the streets, and your chance to be shot in your favourite London or Folkestone location with my double exposure technique.
Anyone can take part. Before the shoot I will ask you for written permission to publish the photos on my website, social media, and to use them in exhibitions. You get one portrait in the double exposure technique as a result, and it’s free.
Сatch the announsements on my instagram — I do this occassionally!
F.A.Q.
Will you need to pose?
Totally not! Actually if you don’t know how to pose, my job would be much easier.
As for me, posing disturb the natural body rhythm, and then the personal plasticity and gestures fade away. And my main goal is to catch your inner light in pictures. So instead of posing, I suggest easy activities to do, in which you can just live and move freely — and I portrait you using the documentary method.
For the same reasons, I never repeat someone else’s pictures from Pinterest and don’t work by reference.
What kind of photo processing I usually do?
I’m a fan of reality: I don’t remove objects with post processing, I don’t correct the lines of figures and faces, I don’t smooth out the skin.
But I use art instrumentary. Like as slow shutter speeds (“blurry” pictures) and multiple exposures (pictures with overlays): it’s not photoshop, I do it while shooting. All my photographs aim to better express the mood through a visual language, and I use the most appropriate ways to do this, much like a painter chooses the right colours in a palette.
All the ready pictures are lightly processed: with colour correction and soft grain, without “ringing sharpening”. I don’t provide the originals, they are raw materials.
When will the photos be ready and how to download them?
I deliver all the photos in 1-3 weeks (depends on shooting conditions)
When the photos are ready, I send you a private link to my website, where two folders are available for download: large print-size images and thumbnail copies for social media.
I recommend that you always download and keep safe a print-size folder: in case you ever want to print your photos, you will need to use it. From a thumbnail size, you will only be able to print a small picture with a huge loss of quality.
All variants are suitable for uploading to social media — but the print-size variant will definitely take up a lot of space on the phone.
Is it possible to get a private shoot?
As an author, I publish my work on my social media and on my website by default. But it is possible to arrange a completely confidential photo shoot if you want to. In this case, the pictures will never appear anywhere, and I will mention it in the contract. The cost of private work will increase by 50 per cent.
A confidentiality agreement is reached before the shooting begins.
If you just want to leave a few specific shots (up to 10) out of publication for whatever reason, of course, I’ll do it for free.
Can one buy a photoshoot as a gift?
Yes, every one of my photoshoots can be given as a gift. When you buy a shoot as a gift, I send you a personalised certificate, which you can print out as a card and give as a present.
Before buying a certificate, it makes sense to first make sure that the person being gifted wants to shoot in general, and that they like the way I do it. Otherwise, it will be sad if your tastes differ!
What are the payment procedures?
Half of the payment is made when we arrange the photoshoot, and after the payment I will book the date for you. The remaining half is paid on the day of the photoshoot. In case of force majeure, we will of course reschedule the date as many times as necessary during a year, it’s free and nothing gets burned off.
I always quote the cost for the whole work — I don’t measure an art portrait shoot in hours or the number of pictures, just the process and the whole result.
Cards (euro|dollars|pounds), PayPal, contactless card reader or cash — it’s for you to choose, I’m good with all of it. I work as a sole trader and will provide you with an invoice.
How to prepare for the shoot?
As an enjoyable time to yourself! Your state of mind will definitely be reflected in the images. That’s why I always ask my clients for these things:
- please have enough sleep at night
- also please have some meal and drink you like, and of course you can take it with you if you want to (but please do not consume alcohol)
- make sure you’re wearing something comfortable, that nothing stings or presses you or makes you hot or cold
(I usually advise choosing clothes in which you feel good and can move freely — that’s the most important thing. But if there’s a choice of other equals, it’s better to choose clothes without prints so they don’t draw too much attention to themselves in the frame. Neutral colours and a loose silhouette are the best choices) - it’s better not to try unfamiliar make-up or perfume
- please try to avoid any urgent appointments just after the photo shoot so you don’t have to rush off immediately
- and prepare to spend a couple of pleasant hours where you can take in the world and yourself and just be — that’s enough. Often this experience is invaluable
Is it a phototherapy?
I am trained in phototherapy, use techniques from supportive and resource photography, landscape art therapy, knowledge of bodywork and a little bit of natural witchcraft, am deeply informed about trauma and try not to do any harm.
But in the sense in which this word is often perceived on social media — as a magic button and a “healing transformation” — then no.
If you strongly disapprove of yourself in pictures and don’t like your appearance, and you think that this is me who can finally make you love yourself, then there’s a 99,9 per cent chance that you’ll be disappointed. Loving yourself and healing is a long road, not just one photo shoot, no matter how beautiful it is, no matter who makes it.
Photography can help go into this slow journey of respecting yourself and accepting yourself as you are. But it won’t be a magic button, it’s simply not possible. I just want expectations to be realistic.
And what if your question isn't here?
Any other questions you have, you can ask me personally in the ways below — and it will be my pleasure to answer you.
Feel free to contact me by:
• whatsapp • email diniletters@gmail.com • telegram tavistok • instagram vidini.art