As a little girl in the Republic of Georgia, I remember my father taking me to a photo atelier in downtown Batumi to have each of my childhood’s milestones photographed. I distinctly remember the grungy smell of the room, furnished with a tall cloth backdrop. The end results were a pretty interesting collection of snapshots capturing my childhood. My dad always made sure our life together as a family was captured on film. No matter how hard our life was back then, having our pictures taken meant a lot to him. I always loved how my mother would make me up for the photo sessions, fluffing my hair and dressing me in her unique designs. She was, and still is, a very skilled seamstress. She made everything I wore, as we couldn’t afford to buy fancy clothes. Imagine, all my clothes were one of a kind! 20 years later, I now profoundly appreciate these special days of my childhood.
In addition to having our portraits taken, I remember my father bringing home a tiny black and silver camera. It was a 16mm Kiev 30 subminiature camera. The original concept was a compact spy camera and rumor had it that the shape resembled a cigarette packet to disguise it for espionage. I remember the photos my father took of me and my brother at the park. The prints from this “spy” camera were uniquely faint black and white images that still survive to this day.
However, my true love for photography didn’t develop until I took my first real photography class while in college in 2007. Film cameras fascinated me and I learned to work in a darkroom, so I spent a lot of time there. During my first semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology, I focused on studying the technical side of photography, and I eventually graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Imaging and Photographic Technology in 2010. I cherished everything I had learned and the great professors, mentors, and friends I made at RIT.
My photographic interests have always been diverse, though my main work focuses on technical photography. I love using the microscope and photographing what the naked eyes can’t see, revealing whole new strange worlds. I enjoy creating editorial images and fanciful portraits with friends, and adore photographing children. It started when my own children were newborns, learning and honing my skills to capture these precious, fleeting moments. I love to capture intimate and celebratory moments of couples in love. I love witnessing and showcasing artists entranced in their work. I strive to capture the uniqueness of each person that steps in front of my lens and highlight qualities they may not see in themselves.
I invite you to browse through my photo galleries. Contact me by email, text, or give me a call for an informal conversation about what you envision. I pride myself in giving you a uniquely tailored session and I welcome creative ideas you want to bring to life. Whether you want memories of your child, some beautiful personal portraits, or a lasting celebration of love, we will together create wonderful images that will be cherished for years to come.
