Hello there,
My name’s Valeri. I’m a 23 y.o photographer, social media manager and traveler. Originally I was born in Kaliningrad, Rus and raised in Prague, Cz. In my early twenties I traveled a lot. I also studied Marketing at university, but it didn’t end up graduating for me — I quit last month just before final exams.
Photography has always been a huge part of my life, but once I started university, it became nearly impossible to balance both. I’ve been passionate about photography since childhood, and by the time I was 15-17, I was already photographing friends and family for donations I’d say. However, when I moved to Europe at 18, I put my photography dreams on hold for a while.
Film 35mm
In early 2020, I decided to treat myself for my birthday with a film camera—vintage, of course! I knew my way around photo gear and had my eye on the perfect model. That’s when my analog photography journey began, and I completely fell in love with the magic of film. I honestly believe that film portraits will never go out of style, which is why I always offer this option to my clients.
Finding My Way Back to Photography
After getting my film camera, I felt that spark for photography come back. I started photographing people again—first friends, then just random strangers. It wasn’t easy for me to accept that photography was the one thing I was so passionate about that I wanted to share it with the world. It took three years from buying that camera to officially calling myself a photographer again. Three years of adventures and constant questions like, “Who am I? What do I really want to do?”
During my student years, I traveled as much as I could and captured all the beautiful moments along the way.
2023: Refreshing My Portfolio
In 2023, I got serious about revamping my portfolio. I didn’t waste any time—just a month after deciding to go all in, I was on a plane to Paris for Fashion Week with an influencer, gaining so much incredible experience. It was my first time in Paris, and that trip really shaped my artistic vision.
Since then, I’ve been playing around with different formats and trying to figure out what’s trending and where photography is headed.
Portraits
I’ve found my true calling in portrait photography, especially when it comes to capturing women. I often think about the portraits I took of my mom and how special they are to me. I truly believe every woman deserves to have beautiful portraits that make her feel amazing. Now, I work with both film and digital formats, show my work in exhibitions, collaborate with influencers, and have a ton of exciting plans in the works! You can check out my work here.