Every summer I give myself a promise to do more outdoor photo-sessions. It's truly inspiring and refreshing to be able to create in a new environments, especially in the nature, in a magical golden light. 
I hope you enjoy some images from this gorgeous session with my muse and friend Sasha, who was a natural as always. I wanted to create lively and raw portraits and I am very happy with what we managed to create in a very short time. ​My favourite peonies were a cherry on top! 

In far 2010, when I was just starting to learn the craft of portraiture, I spent a lot of time taking self-portraits.  Ideas, inspired by subjects, movies, weather conditions or mood, would come to my head rather suddenly. The hunger and passion to create were strong, and it was rather convenient to use myself as a subject. I studied lighting, angles, colours, shapes and different styles of portraiture by capturing myself in a myriad of ways. 
I must add that the process of self-portraiture feels like meditation to me, I lose track of time and even space out a bit. 
Between the years of 2010 and 2013 I would often create outdoors, incorporating nature or plants and even challenging myself by taking photos in complicated weather conditions. 
After many years in the industry my work changed and evolved, I transitioned into studio portraiture and although it offers creative ways and stable results, I will always adore portraits in the nature.
Last week I randomly stumbled upon these gorgeous shrubs of Spirea and I knew I had to return and capture them in some way. So I went back to my roots... just me, the nature and my trusted camera. 
I am sure some random passersby found me rather weird, but I had absolute blast working with such incredible scenery.
Enjoy the captures below...