I really like to gather a team to work on interesting projects: work with makeup artists, stylists, professional models. And I love meeting new people from this area. It is very inspiring, gives a lot of positive emotions.

I am motivated by the challenge and the desire for something new, not a commercial component. Although it, of course, is also a good motivator (laughs)

Of course there is! Everyone has people they would like to look up to. My teacher Sophie Lebedeva gave me a lot of knowledge, and now some of my clients tell me that my work is becoming like hers. Therefore, this year I plan to learn from other photographers. Now I’m listening to Polina Washington’s podcasts (check out her work, she masterfully manages light and color!). Of the classics of photography, I admire the work of Peter Lindbergh and Rodney Smith – I really love their style and conciseness.

Actually, I wanted to work with this particular lighting scheme, so at first it was just the abstract idea itself and a few references. I posted a post on my social networks about the search for a team (make-up artist and model), and the makeup artist immediately responded, and the model was found in a couple of days. I would like to especially note the work of a make-up artist, because her portfolio was empty – there were no works, and it was clear that the girl was only almost started her career as professional. However, she did a great job! Well, then there was a standard process of coordinating the date and time of the photo shoot, working out the looks (there were two of them). During the photo session, in addition to gobo masks, we also decided to use a “flexible mirror”, and this, it seems to me, was also the right decision.