ABOUT ME

Hello, I'm Olga.

My photography journey began in 2004, the same year I started my Bachelor’s in Psychology.

I got my first digital SLR, a Canon 350D, and began experimenting. I took my camera everywhere — to university, to parties, on walks and trips. I photographed everything, trying to find what truly interested me.

Within a couple of years my focus narrowed to portraits and reportage. I shot weddings, parties, and worked also as the photographer at a variety of events tied to part-time psychology-related jobs - educational camps for teens and children, and later business and team-building workshops, that needed documentation or promotional images.

I was getting a very good feedback on my work, and really enjoying “hunting” for beautiful, truthful moments rather than trying to stage them.

But I still was not clear what I offer as a photographer. What was my special power?

That changed in 2015 when I discovered Contact Improvisation and related practices — somatic work, authentic movement, performance, and mindfulness. It opened a new chapter: my previous experiences and academic education began to fall into place.

I completed certification training as an Embodied Facilitator (EFC) and Holistic Movement Teacher, and started teaching workshops and offering individual movement-therapy sessions in Moscow. My photography found its focus as well. I began shooting dance—lots of dance—and other movement- and somatics-focused events, workshops, festivals, trainings, and individual sessions. I worked with bodyworkers, osteopaths, yogis, therapists, and other kinds of healers.

I came up with Authentic Portraits - as a way to address and explore psychological questions, using photography as a method, and me - trained therapiest as a photographer. Later it was combined with my embodiment and movement knowledge, to create a holistic method.

I discovered what my special power was - to deeply see people.

To witness them with an open mind and heart. Observe, staying very quite and attentive inside. Be there with them, in the moment, to make a “click” to catch something which sometimes only can be seen “in between”. That moment of true connection to self, deep, raw, powerful, wild, scary but very beautiful.
And doing my best to show that.

I found my interest in a genuine authenticity of the person and/or the moment. This is where all the magic happens.

my education