Officially, as a business, we’ve been around for 5 years. However, I (Maryna) have been taking photos since I was 12 years old. My first SLR was at 14, but I never would have imagined doing this as a career, photography was always a hobby for me. I went on to SFU to become a French teacher, then from there I also got a certificate in marketing. Working at a few startup companies, I had to use my photography skills for small projects. Then in 2018, I needed to move on from my last company and do something on my own so I risked my very well-paying tech job for this. It hasn’t been easy (especially with COVID) but I am so happy I stuck it out. Seeing what I have accomplished on my own is truly inspiring.

I have a small team. Me, the one and only photographer. My assistant Olga who deals with all the pre and post-booking stuff and our retoucher Elena. Both Olga & Elena work remotely as independent contractors. Although they are not my official employees, we’re in contact almost daily. On occasion with weddings especially I will hire a second photographer to help me. But it will always be me who shows up to your shoots!

Our main studio is in Fort Langley. I work out of my home but I have a full studio that I set up for my shoots (backdrops, studio lighting etc.) We sold our Gastown studio last year so now we only operate out of Fort Langley. However we work with tons of studios all over the lower mainland, so if you wanted a certain type of decor or just a closer location, we can always find somewhere else to rent. We also shoot outdoors (almost anywhere) And we’d be happy to come to your space if you have one! I love shooting in a new space so I am always excited to see what my clients have!

One of the biggest reasons we get so many bookings is because of our short sessions. Most of our clients dread being in front of the camera. So if you had the choice between a 3-hour session and 33 minute session, but you got more photos, and more outfits in the latter, which one would you choose? The difference with us, is we are taking photos the entire session time to capture every single second our client is in front of the camera. It’s for that reason we are able to capture candid, beautiful and authentic photos. Plus short sessions won’t give you time to overthink, by the time you start feeling a tad awkward or uncomfortable. we’re moving on to the next thing!

You don’t, because we take on average about 1K photos per 33-minute session, we don’t put our clients through the tedious work of having to go through every single shot and choose their top pics. Instead, we choose and edit them for you. In that one thousand shots, we choose around 1/3 of the photos (the rest will either be duplicates, out of focus or the movements are out of place due to me taking photos the entire time). From there I color edit them, I pick all the good ones, and I don’t hold photos hostage. If there is more than the guaranteed number of photos, you’ll get them. The beauty of this process is that we don’t charge a sitting fee and then charge you per photo, which most other photographers do.

Yes! But you have to ask us. So each package has a number of photos you’re allowed to photoshop the heck out of it. But we won’t do it unless you ask. Some people don’t believe in skin retouching, well then power to you! While others may want to adjust their image accordingly, we don’t judge. If you want us to put you on the moon, trust me, Elena (our retoucher) can do it! From face swaps, to body modification, to changing your hair shape and color, there is nothing we can’t do in post-production.

If you’ve looked at my site, you know by now, I do it all! From headshots to product photography, weddings, families, and even pets! Now you might ask well then what do you specialize in? I don’t believe that a photographer needs to specialize in one certain area, if you have the skill and talent, you can shoot anything. Because I don’t only focus on one type of photography, my passion and creativity are still here. I can be photographing a modelling session one day, and then a newborn the next, by not always doing the same things, it keeps work exciting, and fresh, and this, in turn, shows in all my work. I never want to feel like “I’m herding cows”. Although headshots are probably what people book me the most for, I still make each session unique to my client, wether it’s using new corners of my house or new backgrounds, or buying new chairs and props, I never want to feel like I am doing the same thing for all my clients.

I mean isn’t everything I just listed enough?? Well if its not, I think what makes me (us) different from our competitors is my personality. I mean anyone can go to phography school and learn the techniques or some may have the incredible “eye” as a talent, but when you work with REAL people and not just models, you have to have the ability to make them comfortable. You have to be able to read them within one minute of meeting them so you can match their personality. I have yet to meet someone I had nothing in common with. I will always find a topic to talk about, I will always find your sense of humour and make you chuckle so we can get some real smiles out of you. And this is why I vowed that even if I got so busy that I could afford to hire help (which I already have) I would always be the one taking the actual picture. Unless they figure out the cloning thing…