How do I shoot

Totally not, I work in the opposite way. I don’t put people into poses because I believe that in this case your natural body rhythm is disturbed, and your own plasticity and gestures disappear. Instead, I suggest easy activities to do, in which you can just live and move freely — and I shoot you using the documentary method of reportage. 

For the same reasons, I never repeat someone else’s pictures from Pinterest and don’t work by reference. My goal is to reflect you right now. Not to paste you into someone else’s picture.

I don’t retouch or alter reality: I don’t remove objects with processing, I don’t correct the lines of figures and faces, I don’t smooth out skin.

But I use art instrumentary. Like as slow shutter speeds (“blurry” pictures) and multiple exposures (pictures with overlays): it’s not photoshop, it’s done while shooting. I use a special Lensbaby lens that creates a modified focus. All my photography aims to better express the mood through visual language, and I use what I think are the most appropriate ways of doing this, like a painter taking 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.

I deliver all the photos a month after the photoshoot (and usually I send 1-3 photos as a teaser the next day). 

When the photos are ready, I send you a private link on my website, where two folders are available for download: large print images and thumbnail copies for social media.

I recommend that you always download a large-size folder: in case you ever want to print your photos, you will need to use it. From a small size, you will only be able to print a thumbnail with a huge loss of quality.

All variants are suitable for uploading to social media — but the larger variant “weighs” more, and it will definitely take up a lot of space on the phone.

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. 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 (5-10) out of publication for whatever reason, of course, I’ll do it for free.

For all LGBTQ+ couples and unions (considering poly) from non-safe countries, I make the confidential option free of charge. Your safety is important to me.

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 present.

Before buying a certificate, it makes sense to first make sure that the person being gifted wants to shoot in general, and that she or he likes the way I do it. Otherwise, it will be sad if your tastes differ.

Half of the payment is made when we arrange the photoshoot, and after it 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 job — I don’t measure a 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.

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:  

1. please have enough sleep last night
2. also please have some meal and drink you like (not alcohol)
3. 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)
4. it’s better not to try unfamiliar make-up or perfume
5. please try to avoid any urgent appointments just after the shoot so you don’t have to rush off immediately
6. and prepare to have a nice couple of hours, where you’re treated like a star!

Really, a cover story star. My clients say it’s a very pleasant feeling to be the centre of warm and reassuring attention, to feel valued without putting any effort into it, and just take interest and admiration of yourself. And that’s what I guarantee you :)

I do supportive and resource photography, use landscape art therapy techniques, bodywork knowledge and a bit of natural witchcraft, am deeply informed about trauma and try not to do any harm — in that sense yes.

But in the sense in which the word is often perceived on social media — as a magic button and a “transformation” — then no.

If you strongly disapprove of yourself in pictures and don’t like your appearance, and you think that I can finally make you love yourself, then there’s a 99,9 per cent chance that you’ll be disappointed. Loving yourself is a long job, not just one photo shoot, no matter how beautiful it is, no matter who takes it.

Photography can help go into this slow work of respecting yourself and accepting yourself as you are. But it won’t be a magic button, it’s simply not possible. It’s important to know that all expectations are realistic.

Any other questions you have, you can ask me personally in the ways below — and it will be my pleasure to answer you.