Many thanks to this beautiful family for allowing me to share these!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens AF-s Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G
23 November 2018
13.10.2018
I don't usually share family portraits, but these are different and very close to my heart. It may be because Kate and Jamie are two of our closest friends — and also because their Emily is one of the most adorable toddlers I know — but I had so much fun during this session! It was a warm Saturday morning in Mustikkamaa, the leaves were colourful and the light was golden: we ended up having pastries on the beach and everything felt just right.
Many thanks to this beautiful family for allowing me to share these!
Many thanks to this beautiful family for allowing me to share these!
19 November 2018
12.10.2018
I got to know Festa via Instagram and we first met at the beginning of the spring — or was it still winter? — in one of my favourite cafes in Helsinki. Having moved from Albania to Finland, Festa is a wonderfully warm and outgoing person, who loves to travel and speaks many languages. Months had passed since that day at the cafe, but when Festa asked me to take some portraits of her, I knew that it was going to be a fun session!
Unfortunately, when the designated photoshoot day came, the weather was dull and grey. Nevertheless, the colourful leaves and Festa's warm smile make these photos very lovely, don't you agree? When shooting with models, it's hard to get such spontaneous smiles, so seeing Festa being so natural in front of my camera was very heart-warming.
Unfortunately, when the designated photoshoot day came, the weather was dull and grey. Nevertheless, the colourful leaves and Festa's warm smile make these photos very lovely, don't you agree? When shooting with models, it's hard to get such spontaneous smiles, so seeing Festa being so natural in front of my camera was very heart-warming.
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
16 November 2018
07.10.2018
When Sabah contacted me to take photos for her brand Queens, I jumped right in with both feet; shooting for local brands is truly the job I wish I could do full time!
Even if I wasn't familiar with Islamic fashion, Sabah's minimalistic and timeless design gave me the chance to work on a very Scandinavian-style shooting in two iconic locations of Helsinki — Finlandia Talo and Musiikkitalo.
The shooting went very well: Sabah truly appreciated my work and I got the chance to meet another beautiful and friendly model, Huda. I really hope I will have her in front of my camera again, for personal projects too!
Even if I wasn't familiar with Islamic fashion, Sabah's minimalistic and timeless design gave me the chance to work on a very Scandinavian-style shooting in two iconic locations of Helsinki — Finlandia Talo and Musiikkitalo.
The shooting went very well: Sabah truly appreciated my work and I got the chance to meet another beautiful and friendly model, Huda. I really hope I will have her in front of my camera again, for personal projects too!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 105mm f/2 DC
P.S. if you want to take a look at Sabah's online store, you can do so here: Queens.
23.09.2018 — part 2
For our last shooting in Tallinn we met Sandra — once again I have to thank E.M.A Model Management for giving us the chance to shoot with such lovely girls!
Sadly the weather did not improve as the rain kept on pouring down on us and I was really concerned that Sandra would get sick, since the location we chose was by the sea and it was starting to get quite cold. Even so, I am very happy with the final result: Sandra was very professional and the location was absolutely incredible!
This massive concrete structure — know nowadays as Linnahall — was built in the 1980's with the name of V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sport, to host the sailing event of the Moscow Summer Olympics (Estonia was still part of the U.S.S.R. back then). Linnahall has finally closed down in 2010 and is now awaiting for renovations; meanwhile it makes for a very unique location for urban photography, don't you agree?
Sadly the weather did not improve as the rain kept on pouring down on us and I was really concerned that Sandra would get sick, since the location we chose was by the sea and it was starting to get quite cold. Even so, I am very happy with the final result: Sandra was very professional and the location was absolutely incredible!
This massive concrete structure — know nowadays as Linnahall — was built in the 1980's with the name of V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sport, to host the sailing event of the Moscow Summer Olympics (Estonia was still part of the U.S.S.R. back then). Linnahall has finally closed down in 2010 and is now awaiting for renovations; meanwhile it makes for a very unique location for urban photography, don't you agree?
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
30 October 2018
23.09.2018 — part 1
We spent most of our last day in Estonia taking photographs: we had planned two shootings in two special locations in Tallinn, looking for a very specific urban mood.
In the morning we met Carmen and headed to Väike-Õismäe — if you think that Finnish is a difficult language, try Estonian. This 1970's suburb offered the perfect backdrop for what I had in mind and, despite the rain, I got exactly what I wanted.
I really liked working with Carmen too and I would definitely want to have her in front of my camera again! Perhaps she could visit us in Helsinki one day?
In the morning we met Carmen and headed to Väike-Õismäe — if you think that Finnish is a difficult language, try Estonian. This 1970's suburb offered the perfect backdrop for what I had in mind and, despite the rain, I got exactly what I wanted.
I really liked working with Carmen too and I would definitely want to have her in front of my camera again! Perhaps she could visit us in Helsinki one day?
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
21 October 2018
22.09.2018
Estonia has become one of my favourite weekend destinations: it's so easy to reach and the wonderful staff of E.M.A Model Management is always ready to provide us with new faces to photograph!
This time around we ended up staying in Tallinn for two nights and decided to take a day trip to Saaremaa to meet Lisa-Martina — the lovely model who came to Tallinn for us in July. After a 3-hour journey by car and ferry, we met in her hometown — Kuressaare, where she took us to see some sights.
It was a very windy day and the rain threatened to come any minute, but we were determined to shoot and eventually settled on a beautiful beach called Mändjala with some majestic pine trees. The results are quite moody and nice, don't you think?
Once again, being able to meet with a model for the second time has been a pleasure: interacting with people is what I love the most about portrait photography!
This time around we ended up staying in Tallinn for two nights and decided to take a day trip to Saaremaa to meet Lisa-Martina — the lovely model who came to Tallinn for us in July. After a 3-hour journey by car and ferry, we met in her hometown — Kuressaare, where she took us to see some sights.
It was a very windy day and the rain threatened to come any minute, but we were determined to shoot and eventually settled on a beautiful beach called Mändjala with some majestic pine trees. The results are quite moody and nice, don't you think?
Once again, being able to meet with a model for the second time has been a pleasure: interacting with people is what I love the most about portrait photography!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
14 October 2018
16.09.2018
Amelia is the lovely daughter of my friend and colleague Stephen. I had only met her a bunch of times and, even though I knew she had never posed for anyone, I was so taken by her beautiful curly hair that I simply had to take her on a photowalk!
Finally, on a balmy mid-September Sunday afternoon, I had the chance to make this happen and we did not even have to go that far from Amelia's home in Vuosaari. We chose Kallahdenniemi — possibly my favourite location this year! — for a first set in natural surroundings and ended up in Aurinkolahti for something more urban.
I am so happy Amelia agreed to pose for me: we had a great time together and I hope you can see her wonderful, outgoing personality shine through the few photos I am posting. I would really love to photograph Amelia again!
Finally, on a balmy mid-September Sunday afternoon, I had the chance to make this happen and we did not even have to go that far from Amelia's home in Vuosaari. We chose Kallahdenniemi — possibly my favourite location this year! — for a first set in natural surroundings and ended up in Aurinkolahti for something more urban.
I am so happy Amelia agreed to pose for me: we had a great time together and I hope you can see her wonderful, outgoing personality shine through the few photos I am posting. I would really love to photograph Amelia again!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
03 October 2018
18.08.2018
If you follow this blog or my Instagram, you will probably recognise the elegant girl in these photos: Eeva has modelled for me many times before and has become a good friend of mine. When she asked me to take photos of her and her boyfriend Kevin, I was immediately taken by the idea!
We chose a location that never fails do deliver: Kallahdenniemi — with its beautiful pine-tree forest and its sandy beach — is the perfect spot, if you don't feel like going too far away from the city but still want to be surrounded by nature.
The weather was ominous that Saturday evening, but luckily the rain started falling only after our shooting. The stormy clouds made for a wonderfully moody backdrop though! I must say, I am extremely happy with these photos and after having such a nice afternoon with Eeva and Kevin, I feel like I should go on shootings with couples more often!
We chose a location that never fails do deliver: Kallahdenniemi — with its beautiful pine-tree forest and its sandy beach — is the perfect spot, if you don't feel like going too far away from the city but still want to be surrounded by nature.
The weather was ominous that Saturday evening, but luckily the rain started falling only after our shooting. The stormy clouds made for a wonderfully moody backdrop though! I must say, I am extremely happy with these photos and after having such a nice afternoon with Eeva and Kevin, I feel like I should go on shootings with couples more often!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
25 September 2018
13.08.2018
Thanks to my dear friend Lauri I was introduced to this incredibly beautiful location and to lovely Mona — the list of wonderful people and places I have got to know this summer is growing exponentially!
I had never been in the middle of a field of sunflowers before and it felt a little like a dream come true — only a short drive away from Helsinki. Mona looked so beautiful and stylish in her Marimekko shirt, I am looking forward to shooting with her again soon!
I had never been in the middle of a field of sunflowers before and it felt a little like a dream come true — only a short drive away from Helsinki. Mona looked so beautiful and stylish in her Marimekko shirt, I am looking forward to shooting with her again soon!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
19 September 2018
31.07.2018
When I visited Tallinn in May, I liked it so much that I was very happy to go back just a couple of months after! This time I traveled with Jacopo and, thanks again to the wonderful E.M.A. Model Management, we were able to arrange a last-minute photoshoot.
We met Lisa-Martina at 11 am in Kalamaja — I must admit I am a little obsessed with that area — and continued until 2 pm for what was the hottest photoshoot I have ever taken: the 30°C made us all sweat buckets and we felt extremely drained afterwards. Having said that, it has been a pleasure to work with and to meet Lisa-Martina, who travelled all the way from Saaremaa to Tallinn just to shoot with us. Perhaps next time we should visit her in Saaremaa instead? It must be truly beautiful there!
P.S. Despite the heat, we had a late lunch with pizza at a new cosy pizzeria called Kaja Pizza Köök and we loved it. If you pass by Tallinn, make sure to get your pizza there!
We met Lisa-Martina at 11 am in Kalamaja — I must admit I am a little obsessed with that area — and continued until 2 pm for what was the hottest photoshoot I have ever taken: the 30°C made us all sweat buckets and we felt extremely drained afterwards. Having said that, it has been a pleasure to work with and to meet Lisa-Martina, who travelled all the way from Saaremaa to Tallinn just to shoot with us. Perhaps next time we should visit her in Saaremaa instead? It must be truly beautiful there!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
P.S. Despite the heat, we had a late lunch with pizza at a new cosy pizzeria called Kaja Pizza Köök and we loved it. If you pass by Tallinn, make sure to get your pizza there!
06 September 2018
16.07.2018
Last time Maria and I went on a shooting together was July 2017, so when she asked me to join her for a portrait session with her lovely colleague Onerva I simply couldn't refuse! I have known Maria for a little over a year and not only I really enjoy her company as a friend, but I work very well with her too.
That Monday evening it was extremely hot in Mustikkamaa, the light was perfect and Onerva was cheerful and fun to work with. We shot in a few different spots around the island and ended up on the beach, when Maria finally gave in and got in the water. I decided to follow suit — with t-shirt and skirt — not only because the light was too nice to miss on those shots, but also because it was extremely hot.
It was such a lovely and carefree evening! I remember biking home at 11 pm in the fading light and thinking to myself how lucky I was to live in such a beautiful town, surrounded by such wonderful people. I am so grateful!
That Monday evening it was extremely hot in Mustikkamaa, the light was perfect and Onerva was cheerful and fun to work with. We shot in a few different spots around the island and ended up on the beach, when Maria finally gave in and got in the water. I decided to follow suit — with t-shirt and skirt — not only because the light was too nice to miss on those shots, but also because it was extremely hot.
It was such a lovely and carefree evening! I remember biking home at 11 pm in the fading light and thinking to myself how lucky I was to live in such a beautiful town, surrounded by such wonderful people. I am so grateful!
Camera Nikon Df
Lens Nikon 135mm f/2 DC
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