Puerto Escondido Night Market

I’m excited to share some images from one of my favourite places in the world - Puerto Escondido, Mexico. When I first posted about this town, it was after my first visit, and I already knew it was special. Now, I have been back three more times, and at this point it feels like an extension of my home and my community. I’ve met and gotten to know some local residents, and I have favourite shops and restaurants and beaches. Seriously considering turning into a snowbird in my 20s, and spending my winters over there. Have you ever experienced Vancouver in November? #yikes

Shane and I are not really big on nightlife, our usual night in Mexico consists of playing some board games with the family after dinner, going for a night time dip in the pool, and then retiring to our room to eat snacks and watch RuPaul’s Drag Race. But if we are going out at night, it’s probably to shop at this night market, held nightly on the first street up from Bahia Principal. 

For the most part, we stopped buying souvenirs for friends and family. I do appreciate that there is a certain message of “hey I was thinking of you while I was away somewhere awesome” that comes with buying a souvenir, but in the end it’s all a bunch of chachki that clogs up people’s houses, and will inevitably be tossed out when they read Marie Kondo’s Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Or even worse, they will realize that your magnet/shot glass/coaster/etc. doesn’t bring them joy, but they will feel guilty about tossing it out so they will begrudgingly hold on to it. And no one wants to despise a fridge magnet. 

Anywho, this is all to say that when we go to the market, it’s really to enjoy a fresh fruit popsicle (mango and strawberry are my two favourites), and people watch. On these outings I like to bring my 100 mm lens, because I am able to achieve the intimate portraits I am after without really getting into anyone’s face. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into a Mexican night market. 

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Christmas with the Olukas

I know it’s nowhere near Christmas, but I simply had to share these cozy holiday photos. The winter holidays can be such a hectic time, and there is so much to do and so many plans, but being at the Olukas’ and decorating the tree together felt like a much-needed breather. When I took the elevator up, walked down the carpeted hallway, and came to their door, I could already hear Owen on the other side yelling “Auntie Nadya!” Kids give pretty warm welcomes. 

In the middle of the living room stood a fluffy plastic tree, already all lit up with lights, just waiting to be decorated. The Olukas had a white tree theme going, with little pinecone and owl decorations, so once Kendra, Jade, and Jade’s boyfriend arrived, it was time to put them up. Surprisingly, a lot of them ended up on the bottom branch. I wonder why. (*hint*: it was Owen, he is not very tall). 

While we are on the subject, I want to take a minute and talk about Kendra. I haven’t photographed her yet, but I am sure one of these days we will get together and shoot. She has the most energy out of anyone I know. She works full-time, and yet somehow finds the energy to teach skating lessons and play hockey! She is always making plans, finding cool things to do, going on awesome trips,  and generally living her best life. During my bachelorette impromptu dance party, she totally killed it as the DJ, dashing back and forth from the party to her phone to cue up requests. You go Kendra. 

I met Kendra through Hannah, and the three of us have formed this little group of women who are so excited for each other, and interested in each others’ lives. I really value having both Hannah and Kendra in my circle. 

For these Christmas photos, I drove my whole flash setup with me to Hannah and Rob’s apartment. It can definitely seem like a lot, but the sharpness and vibrance in the photos make it all worth it. Another year of beautiful holiday memories preserved forever!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Stella is Back!

Stella is back, and she is adventuring harder than ever! 

These photos are from a trip Shane and I took to the Sunshine Coast in November 2018. It was the Remembrance Day weekend, and I was just about to start my new position, which totally overwhelmed me for the first couple of months. So looking back at these photos is kind of like seeing the calm before the storm. Before I took the job I have now with the BC Federal Council, I was at a bit of a crossroads. I had two job offers at once (isn’t it always like that, when it rains it pours). On one hand, I had a job where the pay was higher, and it was a nice stable place to go work (basically, the kind of job you think of, when you think of government work). On the other hand, I had this not particularly well-paying job, but one that seemed so interesting, with a manager who seemed to be on a similar page with me, who was excited about the unique skills I could bring to the position (like my photography), and who promised me some great connections. 

Definitely a head vs. heart decision, and I luckily I have watched enough Disney movies and romcoms to know which one is the right answer, and here I am a year and a half later working for the BCFC, building the kind of career and work-life balance in the public sector that I didn’t think was possible. Good decision making Nadya, pat on the back for you. 

Anywho, back to Stella. On this trip we watched her go to ballet class, and it was just as adorable as you’d imagine to see a bunch of small children all dressed up in their tutus, taking ballet moves very seriously. Later that day when we got home, Stella got tired of always being the photography subject, and insisted that I let her try and use my camera, which she had to hold up on her knees because it was so heavy. But at 3 years old, she was using a DSLR, and learning how to frame her subject and focus and shoot. As an auntie, I am pleased as punch with this development. The ballet flats is her photograph.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Andrey and Fiona Maternity Shoot

Another beautiful family on my blog today! Meet Fiona and Andrey (and future baby Theodore!)!

Andrey and I go way back. Our parents somehow knew each other back in Vladivostok in the 90s, and when my family immigrated to Canada in 2001, they were a huge part of our new community here. I was closest in age to Andrey’s younger brother Greg, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours at their house, playing board games and pool and MarioKart and neopets and runescape. 

We all really looked up to Andrey, he was the fascinating older kid. I remember there was a time where he got a job reviewing videogames for the local newspaper, and that meant he could get all the newest games for free, which basically made him the coolest person we knew. Plus he was always so quick and witty. 

At some point, many years ago, Andrey and Fiona found each other. And we are all so lucky that they did, because Fiona is an actual sunshine of a person. She is kind, thoughtful, creative, and so freaking funny. She sends beautiful Christmas cards, and bought me the best-smelling candle I have ever smelled (it’s clementine vanilla). 

Andrey and Fiona are both writers, and actually, the first ever Fringe Festival show was one of theirs. I don’t remember the title, but it was to do with Cthulhu and also a love story I think? In any case it was weird and whimsical,  staged in a small downtown Vancouver theatre, and it planted a lifelong love of the Fringe in my heart. Now I’m the person buying 10-packs of Fringe tickets every year. This past year, I saw a total of 12 shows. If you haven’t ever been, I highly recommend this brilliant festival. 

When Fiona and Andrey wanted to do a maternity photoshoot with me, I was so excited. I was even more excited when they told me they just wanted to have photos of them being their real, silly selves. We met in Pacific Spirit Park, and took advantage of the fall weather and scenery. Fiona, being the imaginative lady that she is, crafted wreaths for herself and Andrey to wear. After seeing them, I simply don’t know why every maternity photoshoot doesn’t have head wreaths.

What I remember the most from this shoot is how much we were all laughing. The wit, love, and creativity of this couple will make them amazing parents.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Christine, Adam and Seymour: Family Photoshoot

First of all, full disclosure: I am obsessed with the cat you are currently looking at. His name is Seymour, and he is the best boy. He is not the cuddliest, but he is goofy and zoomy, and so curious and athletic, and just overall a 10/10 cat. 

He came into our lives about a year and a half ago, when, after posting a picture of the cutest kitten I have ever seen on her instagram, our tenant Christine approached us, and asked how we would feel about them getting a cat. I immediately asked if it was the one from the photo, and when she said yes, I looked at Shane with the biggest puppy dog eyes I could muster. Long story short, they got the cat. 

It took them a long time to come up with a perfect name, so in the meantime, we called him a wide variety of things, the best by far being Señor Black Balls (because he has huge black balls relative to his little cream-coloured cat body, in case that wasn’t clear). Even as a kitten, he was great at fetch. He has these yellow rubber balls, and he would go crazy chasing them, and then he would grab it in his mouth, and bring it right back to you. Never did teach him to put it in your hand. He was also really interested in shoes as a kitten? He would find a shoe and climb into it, and that was pretty freaking cute. 

It didn’t take long for him to make it clear that he did not appreciate being shut out from the top floor of the house, which turned us from tenants and landlords into roomies who shared a cat. I will say, Shane and I definitely lucked out on that deal, because we get all the cuteness with none of the litterbox. 

Seymour is obviously our favourite, but Adam and Christine are pretty cool too. Adam is the chillest guy I have ever met, and also a pro snowboarder who does crazy things on his board, and somehow makes it look easy. He also plays guitar, and as his upstairs neighbour, I am happy to say he is very good at it. Christine is a helicopter mechanic, which is badass as hell, and overall just a funny, kind, down to earth person. 

It’s been great living with them over the last couple years, and I simply had to take some family photos of them with Señor Black Balls while he was still small. The result is pure cuteness.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Pumpkin Patch with Nina

This is one of my all-time favourite sets of photos. When Nina and I decided to go to the Richmond Country Farms pumpkin patch, we were hoping for a nice sunny day, but as we drove from Kitsilano into Richmond, it felt like we were driving into a dense milky cloud. Not to be discouraged, we donned our boots, and set off on our mission.

I have been coming to this pumpkin patch since I was a little Russian girl and another more Canadianized Russian girl and her mom took me here, and said it’s fall and this is Canada, and we must ride the tractor, and go into this muddy field and choose a good pumpkin, and then bring it home and then carve something into it, probably  a face but maybe something else, you have options in this regard, and in my humble opinion it's the best pumpkin patch out there.

If I am going to be heading out to a field to choose my perfect pumpkin, I want the whole experience to be as corny as humanly possible, and in that respect, Richmond Country Farms delivers. They have it all: farm animals, a band made up of singing vegetables bobbing around to country music, a pile of hay bales to play in, mini doughnuts and poutine for snacks, a tractor ride to and from the field, complete with a country singalong, and halloween scenes along the way. You can see skeletons and various other spooky characters, and also, an orange elephant for some reason. This one really boggles me. Like was another business offloading an elephant statue, and the enterprising owners thought: “perfect, we will paint it orange, it’ll look super seasonal”? In any case, it’s there and you will see it if you go.

On this day, the fog set a spooky mood in the patch. I'm not really one for scary movies, but I had fun getting these somber atmospheric shots. The colours just worked so well (fall is the undeniable winner for best-coloured season). Shout out to Nina for being an interesting photography subject in particular, and just a lovely human in general.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Family Photoshoot with Hannah, Rob and Owen!

Get ready for some family cuteness! 

I met Hannah at my first position with Transport Canada. I was a co-op, and she was recently graduated, and fresh off her honeymoon. We quickly bonded over our shared work struggles and personal lives. She was there on the day of my first date with Shane, watching me excitedly await the end of the work day, and she was there for our early days, when I needed input on a text I was sending, or when I just had to vent because boys are stupid. Basically, I was pretty needy and she was pretty amazing about the whole thing, and I am forever grateful. 

Meantime, she was starting her own marriage to a great guy named Rob. They are a couple who compliment each other well. Every time I talk to Hannah, she tells me of their self-improvement efforts; they are always striving, and dreaming big. It was always a treat to visit them at their cozy apartment: they put out an excellent snack spread. Hannah was also the person who introduced me to the Vancouver drag scene, and set me off on a lifetime love of all things drag. 

You can’t imagine how excited I was a couple years later, when, no longer working together, we sat on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and she told me she was pregnant! The result was this awesome little boy Owen. When he was born, Hannah, our mutual friend Kendra and I scheduled weekly lunch dates, so we could catch up and see this little chubby-cheeked cutie on a regular basis. Now Hannah is living on Vancouver Island and we don’t get to see each other as much, but you better believe that her, Kendra and I are still scheduling weekly lunchtime phone calls to stay connected. 

I took these photos of Hannah and her family on a sunny fall afternoon in Stanley Park. When it comes to toddlers, you can’t do much in terms of direction, so I enjoy just going with the flow, and seeing the fun, candid shots I can get.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Downtown with Marie // Part 2

Here comes part two of my photoshoot with Marie! This set had so many photos I loved, so I had to split it into two. One of the things that really makes these photos stand out for me is Marie’s amazing style. I don’t know how she does it, but she has the ability to put things together into stunning looks that I would never in a million years conceive of. She is the queen of thrift stores, and is always finding such unique pieces. I’ve gone thrift shopping with her before, and it is a real treat. 

Marie has a keen understanding of her body, and how to pose. She is so comfortable in front of the camera, that all I have to do is show up and shoot, and we make some awesome stuff together. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, because I get all these shots I love, and she gets new quality photos for her social media (and perhaps a dating app or two). Pro tip: photos like these work way better than a mirror selfie or a group shot you awkwardly cropped your friends out of. 

Vancouver is constantly in a state of construction right now, and it was fun walking around and searching out good spots to shoot. Some of the things in the background of these photos are already gone actually, so this is a little bit of history preserved in a way.

It’s funny, I photograph a lot of different people, and some days I feel equal parts photographer and therapist. Something about being captured on film (or a memory card), makes people open up about their insecurities. I get where they are coming from; it’s hard to face head-on the things you wish were different about yourself. However, I also know that there will 100% come a day when each of those people will be grateful to have those photographs of them. It will take time, but they will see their own beauty one day. 

I love the wistful feeling of these photographs, especially the ones on the water. To me it’s Vancouver personified. 

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Downtown with Marie // Part 1

It’s honestly a wonder that this is the first time Marie is appearing on my blog, considering how much fun she is to shoot with. We have one of my favourite meeting stories, it’s almost a meetcute. In the summer of 2014, my friend Steph planned a Victoria girls weekend, and invited me, and her friend Marie. We were so excited to go, and had our hostel and everything booked. Unfortunately, a couple days before the weekend, Steph got really sick, and couldn’t go anymore. I was bummed, but feeling brave, I told her that if this Marie chick still wants to go, then I’ll go too. 

Turns out Marie was a magical unicorn of a person, and I am so glad we met. By the time we got off the ferry we were fast friends, and the friendship was quickly cemented at an Irish pub over copious amounts of Summersby cider. We had a great time exploring Victoria, making goofy inside jokes, and at some point even ended up inside Big Bad John’s with its peanut shell covered floor, which might have been poor decision making, considering Marie’s deathly peanut allergy. But she is still with us, so disaster was averted. Fast forward to today, and she is one of my bridesmaids. 

Marie is so plugged into the culture of Vancouver, and has brought me to some of my favourite concerts and events. She is also super down to see a band or a play or whatever else whenever I have a spare ticket, and I love her for it. We have done a lot of cool shit together over the years, including fringe shows, concerts at rickety East Van venues, Glam Slam (which is a whimsical combination of pro wrestling and burlesque, and you should definitely check it out if you haven’t been), and gothy dark 80s dance parties in a warehouse. 

Marie is incredibly fun to shoot with, and I am pleased to share this series I took of her in the fall in Vancouver. I love her look, and I just think we work so well together. Keep an eye open for a second part of this shoot. 

Vancouver Portrait Photography // A Day Up at Jones Lake

Jones Lake, located up a dirt road between Vancouver and Hope, is a spot that means a lot to me. Growing up, my dad discovered it for its fishing potential, and we would go up at least once a year in various configurations, including my immediate family, my cousins, and once, even my grandparents who were visiting from Russia. My late grandfather was an avid fisherman, and his remark of “I wonder if there’s any fish in there” when passing any body of water, is something I still repeat. 

The summer before I started university, I went up there with a group of friends from high school. It was a very different experience than being up there with family, and it’s one of my favourite teenage memories. We ate hot dogs for all 3 meals, and had great talks and I think someone even brought up a ukulele. 

I was so excited to show this spot to Shane, who has driven by the marker for Jones Lake for many years on his way to the Okanagan, but never went up. On our second anniversary, we took his sky blue van up there, up the treacherous dirt road with at times quite a steep incline. I will be honest, at times I didn’t think we would make it, but make it we did, and we spent a glorious weekend making fires, eating snacks, and reading in the comfort of the van, with the bed Shane installed in it. 

These photos come from a day trip we made up there a while ago. It was a sunny fall Saturday, and since we both love driving around, this gave us somewhere to drive to. Shane went out and got us everything we needed for a charcuterie plate (not pictured), including smoked salmon and meats, cheeses, olives, and baguette. We spent a peaceful day by the lake, mostly just focusing on the amazing fire we were making. How are fires so hypnotizing?

At some point, a car parked on the road near us, an older couple got out, and set up their own little spot. Soon after, the man began to play guitar and sing. He was wearing the most amazing pants, and had a beautiful singing voice. After some convincing by Shane, I gathered my courage and walked over to ask whether he would let me photograph him. I learned that his name was Len, and hers was Cristina. We started chatting, and it turns out that he was Slavic, and an avid photographer as well. He used to photograph all kinds of cool bands back in the day. I treasure the experience of meeting this fascinating man,, and I’m glad I have these photos to remember him by. 

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Summerland Sweets Ice Cream

I’ve lived in Canada for 18 years now, and I absolutely love it here. The people are lovely, and the nature is undeniably splendid. However, one thing I miss is having being able to visit the place that I used to roam as a kid. Those places where I’ve made so many memories, like my grandparents’ house, or the courtyard in front of my apartment building are only reachable with the help of a very long, and very expensive flight, so I don’t get to go much. That is probably part of the reason why I love learning about Shane’s childhood memories in North Vancouver and the Okanagan, because I can sort of take them as approximations of my own, and actually visit the places and do the things whenever we want!

One of the top spots from Shane’s childhood in the Okanagan is Summerland Sweets. It’s a cute little shop, built at the end of a lane with orchards on either sides, with a little tractor in front for children to play on. Inside, you can find fruit jellies, fruit syrups, fruit wines, and of course, ice cream. The proper Summerland Sweets procedure consists of trying all the available fruit jellies, ordering your ice cream, and then eating it while going for a walk across a trestle bridge that’s just down the lane. 

When Shane and his brother were kids, the bridge did not have wooden boardwalks on either side of the train tracks, and felt altogether more dangerous. Shane knew that if they ran out onto the bridge, their mum would not follow them, so they took full advantage. Now we are able to walk across without a creeping fear that we’ll end up in the river below.

When my brother Daniel started coming with us to Peachland, I was excited to introduce him to the Summerland Sweets + trestle bridge tradition. In fact, it’s one of his favourite activities to do in the Okanagan. I think he also values the repetitive, traditional quality of the activity. These are some portraits I took of Daniel while we were out for an ice cream walk. 

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Daniel on a Motorcycle

Daniel tries out a trials bike while in Peachland for Thanksgiving // Vancouver Portrait Photography

Thanksgiving is one of my brother Daniel’s favourite times of the year. For the last few years, every Thanksgiving my family and Shane’s family come together in Peachland to enjoy a weekend of fall activities and delicious food. Daniel particularly looks forward to the turkey dinner, prepared by my lovely future mother-in-law, Clare. Being born in Canada but growing up with Russian parents has made Daniel crave those Canadian traditions, and Thanksgiving makes us all feel a little more Canadian.

We were lucky enough to have good weather for most of the weekend, and we made the most of it. We went off-roading, picked mushrooms, went to an apple barn, enjoyed wine and picnic at a winery, and had many, many campfires. In BC, the period between fire bans and torrential downpour is short, and we must make the most of it by having a campfire at every opportunity.

The first time Daniel came up to Peachland he was 13, so now he is 16, and it has been so interesting watching him morph from my kid brother to a young man who is now taller than me and helps me decide if clothes are “cool”. Daniel recently started dreaming of buying his own motorcycle, and Shane decided to help out by teaching Daniel how to ride a dirt bike. Daniel started off with a trials bike, which is tiny, and made for climbing and precision maneuvering. Worst of all, it has no seat so you are constantly standing. Daniel did surprisingly well! Over two days of practicing he went from complete newbie to being able to effectively go up medium hills. Didn’t even fall once! Seeing him be so concentrated and improving made me feel like a very proud older sister.

I love these shots of him riding, and I’m grateful that he always puts up with posing for me, because he knows it will be worth it when he is getting all those Instagram likes. If your Instagram feed needs an upgrade, contact me today!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Granville Island Modelling

Ksenia models her new trenchcoat and Andrei drops in for a few couples photos // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I follow Ksenia on Instagram, and I remember when a couple of years ago she posted some photos of pillows and sleep masks she made and embroidered. I thought they were cute, and a fun side project, but I would have never predicted that she would grow a whole online clothing boutique. These days she designs and sells all kinds of clothes, from dresses, to PJs, to shorts, pants, blouses, and now she is selling trench coats! She brought one with her to Canada to photograph, and I thought Granville Island would make a great location.

Granville Island is my favourite part of Vancouver, I love the views, the market, the cute shops and cozy cafes, and all the street art and performers. It’s where I go when I need cheering up. I chose a few different spots to shoot with Ksenia in her trenchcoat, because Granville Island has no shortage of picturesque backdrops. The sun was setting, and we were making the most of that cool, purple light.

Ksenia is always dancing, which helps give the photos a light and candid vibe. It always cracked me up when she carefully brushed out and arranged her long tresses, referring to them as her “Instagram hair”.

Her husband Andrei is a huge jokester and could not stand idly by while Ksenia was getting all the attention, so he snuck in for a few shots, picking her up and twirling her around. I love the way their energy is so similar and they egg each other on. I loved photographing them, and I will love photographing you too. No matter if you are in a couple or happily single, let’s shoot some great photos!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // A Cross-British Columbia Honeymoon Trip

Portraits of the happy couple from around our beautiful province // Vancouver Portrait Photography

When my cousin Andrei and his wife Ksenia came to Canada, we knew that we wanted to show them more than just Vancouver. Shane and I love nothing more than a good road trip, and so I took some time off work, and we planned a cross-BC road trip that would highlight some of the beauty of our province. We set out from Peachland, and spent one night each in Revelstoke, Banff, and Nelson.

Revelstoke is a place I’ve been to a few times before, and I love how charming its main street is. This time I particularly enjoyed walking across the bridge over the Columbia River. We got a great deal at a fancy hotel, and enjoyed pumpkin pie (Ksenia’s favourite new Canadian treat) followed by a soak in the outdoor hot tub under the stars.

While driving to Banff, we experienced a gradual season change from fall to winter. Even though we were only in mid-September, as we were driving through the Rockies it began to snow, and we were all nervously wondering whether we brought anything warm enough for this sudden winter. It was beautiful to see the pines lightly dusted with snow, and walking through Banff felt almost like Christmas. I visited the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel for the first time, and it is a super old and absolutely magical place, reminiscent of Hogwarts. I enjoyed imagining what it would have been like to be a young woman spending my summers there many years ago.

I have never been to Nelson before, and this cute little town absolutely stole my heart. I don’t know exactly what it was about it, but somewhere between the scenery, the garlic-themed restaurant, the thrift shops and all the street art, I found myself completely smitten, and I hope we get a chance to visit again soon.

The photos in this set were taken in these towns or somewhere along the way, and you can see the love this couple feels for each other, combined with our breathtaking province. They may have not gotten an engagement photoshoot, but I think they will keep these honeymoon photos for a long, long time.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Tunnel Portraits

Using natural light and a tunnel to create stunning portraits // Vancouver Portrait Photography

One of my favourite Okanagan activities is biking around the Myra Canyon. This area used to be part of the Kettle Valley Railway, built at the turn of the last century, and is now a walk/bike path right at the steep edge of the canyon. There are 18 trestle bridges, which are old timey and ornate and great to look at and photograph, and also two tunnels.

We brought my cousin and his wife here during our time in the Okanagan, and were delighted to see that although fall was in full swing, the bicycle rental shop was still open. The weather was doing some weird stuff, going from bright and sunny to instant rain, and the attendant was kind enough to provide us with yellow and red plastic ponchos so that we could enjoy our biking adventure without getting drenched.

As soon as I remembered that this bike ride goes through tunnels, I got so excited because some of my favourite photographs come from tunnels. I declared that on the ride back we have to stop and take photos there, and everyone reluctantly agreed, although I could tell they were confused. There was so much breathtaking scenery around, why would I want to take photos in a dark tunnel? Luckily I knew what I was doing, and when my companions saw the photos; the even light, the sharpness, the contrasting dark background, they understood why I was so excited. Lighting is everything in a photograph, and I love being able to use my surroundings to create high quality photographs. If you are looking for some great photographs of you or your loved ones, contact me today!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Okanagan Honeymoon Photoshoot

Belarus couple gets a romantic photoshoot in the Okanagan Valley // Vancouver Portrait Photography

In the summer of 2017 Shane and I had the opportunity to visit Eastern Europe, and one of our favourite parts of the trip was visiting my cousin Andrei and his (now) wife Ksenia in Brest, Belarus. The visit was only a couple of days long, but we saw so much, from the huge historical fortress on the border with Poland, to the train museum, to a blacksmith shop we visited late at night, where Shane got to try the melting and the hammering, and may have gotten hit in the head with an axe by the blacksmith to demonstrate the sturdiness of the helmet he made (gave me a small heart attack, but Shane somehow loved it).

When Andrei and Ksenia invited us to their wedding last summer, we decided to invite them for a honeymoon in Canada instead, and after a super fun visa application process, they were able to come this fall! After a couple of days in Vancouver, we packed our bags and headed for the Okanagan Valley, where Shane and I spend a lot of our summer days. Although they missed the hot summer weather, there was still plenty to do. We went out on the boat, hiked up to the top of Pincushion mountain, visited the local farmer’s market, saw spawning salmon, accidentally found a car show, biked along the trestle bridges in Myra Canyon, and toured some of the local wineries in Naramata.

I had a great time photographing my cousins, they are a beautiful couple, and are both “Instagram famous” in their hometown of Brest due to their businesses selling wood furniture and clothing. They were always dancing around in front of my camera, bringing about lively and lighthearted shots. I particularly love the photos I took at the apple orchard, the colours, the light, and my subjects all came together to create stunning images. I love photographing couples, and would love to photograph you and your significant other in Vancouver or the Okanagan!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Suzy Gets a Flower Skirt

Quick Instagram-inspired shoot with Suzy downtown Vancouver // Vancouver Portrait Photography

Suzy is a regular in my shoots and on my blog, and I love how much she loves taking photos, and how we are always coming up with fun new things to try. Recently, she came to me with some photos she found on Instagram of girls using forced perspective to make skirts for themselves out of flowers. I thought it was such a colourful and creative idea, and we decided to give it a try.

I am lucky to have a great flower shop I frequent downtown called Flower D’Amour, where the florist hooked me up with a couple of free flowers when I told him about our idea. Suzy and I wanted to find a location nearby, and I brought us to a small park across the street from Queen Elizabeth Theatre. If you’ve ever been there, you know it’s not much to look at. It’s tiny, surrounded by concrete buildings, and not the cleanest place, but that’s why I love photography, because with some creative positioning and depth of field, the photos, especially the ones of Suzy holding the flower with a blue background, look downright tropical.

I love how these photos turned out, they are cheerful, the colours pop, and I am excited to shoot more vibrant portraits!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Exploring Some Colourful Walls with Stephanie

Steph makes the most of the end of summer with some fun portraits // Vancouver Portrait Photography

North Vancouver is still a relatively new city for me, and I love discovering new parts of it. Recently, I was in a new, more industrial part of town, trying out a vegan ramen place called The Workshop, when I noticed that many of the businesses were painting their walls and garages in fun different colours! I saw blue, pink, green, orange and red, and knew I had to come back there soon and shoot.

The opportunity presented itself shortly after, when Stephanie and I found the time to finally get together and shoot some portraits. I know Stephanie from my UBC days, we have seen a lot of growth and change in each other’s lives, and I am so glad to have her as a friend.

This day turned out to be one of the last nice days of summer, I was grateful for the great light, and I am sure Steph was glad she could still wear a romper without freezing. We took our time with this shoot, and explored all the different background options. It was my first time shooting with Steph and I loved how much fun she was having with it, trying out poses and coming up with ideas for props. I think her playful nature really comes through in these photos, and I can’t wait to come back to this location and try out some new ideas.

If you are in need of some colour in your life, contact me and let’s go shoot some fun portraits!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Stella Visits a Car Show

Stella enjoys fast cars and tasty snacks at a Sunshine Coast car show // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I think I have officially become an adult, because I am now saying things like “you are growing so fast!” whenever I see Shane’s goddaughter Stella. We visited her and her parents Galen and Melissa, the owners of the cutest baby shoe company Pipsneaks on the Sunshine Coast, and accidentally stumbled onto a car show and drag race weekend. My fiancé Shane, who loves anything with a motor, was more than a little thrilled (hm, maybe this wasn’t an accident at all).

The below portraits were taken over two days, the first was a vintage car show, and the second a drag race. You can’t see the cars, but I think you get a good sense of the excitement from Stella’s faces. She is totally digging cars and motorcycles currently, so she and Uncle Shane are bonding over that. Speaking of Uncle Shane, I love that she can’t see one of us without demanding to know where the other one is. Whenever she sees him first, I always hear “Where’s Auntie Nadya?”, and vice versa. I find it so endearing I could cry.

Stella’s mom Melissa has a great sense of style, and I love the way she looks with her daughter in these shots. The ones with her dad Galen and Uncle Shane are pretty freakin’ cute too. I love observing a child, and getting images of them just being themselves. The best compliment ever was given to me by Galen, who said told me that I take the best ever photos of his kid. He said “I take photos of her all day long and she just looks like my kid, and you take them and she somehow looks like Audrey Hepburn.”

What can I say, I love photographing children, and I believe their personalities are best captured through candid shots. I’d love to give you beautiful photos of your child that you can treasure forever too.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Dean and Fadrina Couples Shoot in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Dean and Fadrina are full of love in this tropical Mexico shoot // Vancouver Portrait Photography

This shoot comes from a recent trip to Puerto Escondido, in Oaxaca, Mexico. I have never been to this part of Mexico before, and it’s now hands down my favourite place to visit. We loved that it was colourful and busy, and the people were friendly and cheerful, but that it did not feel overrun by tourists, and we were free to experience life in a way that was closer to the way the locals do. My love for Oaxaca was also helped by the fact that Shane proposed to me on this trip!

Dean is my future brother in law, and is a sweet and down to earth guy, and on top of that a pilot! Him and Fadrina make a great couple, and they are always hiking and travelling, or hanging out with their dog Brooke. Fadrina and I got along right away; we are both child immigrants from Europe, so we bonded over that, plus she is just such a funny and genuine person.

I shot these at our house in Puerto Escondido. We spent most of our days relaxing by the pool, but I couldn’t let those gorgeous beach views go to waste, so I cajoled everyone into getting dressed up, and took advantage of the natural light and beautiful empty beach to capture these romantic images of the couple. Check out the ones at the end for shots of the whole family!

Whether you are recently engaged or just want some high quality photos of yourself and your significant other, contact me for all your Vancouver portrait photography needs.