Between Elegance and Imperfections
The Art of Family Photography
In every family, there is a private mythology—a constellation of fleeting moments strung together to form something enduring. The gentle tug of a child’s hand, the burst of laughter that fills the room, the way sunlight clings to a quiet glance. These are the threads I weave into my photographs. To me, family photography is not about perfection; it’s about connection.
When families come to me, their questions often reveal the heart of their worries:
“What should we wear?” “What if the kids misbehave?”
My answer to the first is simple: wear what feels like you. Simple, neutral tones and natural textures often work best—free from logos or busy prints. If you’re unsure, send me your choices ahead of time, and we’ll find something that feels just right together.
As for children, their unpredictability is part of the magic. As a parent of two, I understand the wildness of childhood well. I’ve learned that the beauty of family photography lies in those unfiltered moments of joy—or even defiance. My goal is to create a space where your children feel comfortable, where their laughter, curiosity, and mischief can take center stage. These raw, imperfect moments carry the weight of memory in ways no posed image ever could.
My own journey with photography began far from family portraits, in the bustling office of the Russian edition of ELLE magazine. It was 1999, and magazines in Russia were just beginning to emerge—borrowing influences from the West, learning as they grew. I was young, new to the world, and eager to absorb everything. As part of the photo department, I received constant training from Paris—a place that, to me then, felt impossibly elegant.
In the Parisian office of ELLE, I discovered how images could transcend their frames. The portraits and fashion photography I encountered there weren’t perfect—and they didn’t need to be. They told stories.
Every day, I coordinated with our Parisian colleagues, submitting photographs for review and learning from their sharp eye and unerring precision. They taught me that a photograph should do more than capture beauty—it should hold movement, mystery, and life. The French editorial style embraced imperfection: a hand caught mid-motion, a blurred figure walking through sunlit streets. These details didn’t detract from the image—they made it breathe.
Those years shaped me profoundly. Today, I bring that sensibility to my family photography. I want your images to move, to feel alive. A family portrait should not simply document—it should transcend, capturing the essence of this moment in your life.
Family photography is an act of preservation. It holds onto what is fleeting: the feel of a child’s small hand in yours, the way your laughter mingles with theirs, the quiet beauty of an ordinary day. One day, these images will become your family’s heirlooms, speaking softly to the future about the love that shaped you.
When you’re ready, let’s begin. Together, we’ll craft something uniquely yours—elegant in its imperfections, alive with the stories that linger.
