New interview 🖤 (Patreon)

Hello Friends ♥️

I had an interview with one Ukrainian mag, and I decided to translate the interview from Ukrainian to English for you 🐾 I really hope you’ll find it interesting to read!👇🏻

🐾 What is beauty for you ?

“For me, beauty is naturalness, authenticity, and true essence. It’s something created by nature or the universe. When it comes to people, I believe that real beauty is seeing them as nature made them, without masks and artificial standards.

Unfortunately, from a young age, we are conditioned to follow certain beauty standards, which often become a source of problems, insecurities, and suffering. We unconsciously try to fit into these molds, forgetting that our uniqueness is what true beauty is.

That’s why it’s important to remind people that they are beautiful just as they are. True beauty lies in self-acceptance and being in harmony with nature and oneself”

🐾 Can you recall moments or events that most influenced your definition of “beauty”?

“Yes, there have been moments in my life that changed my perception of beauty. One of them was meeting my husband. I used to never leave the house without makeup and always wore gel polish from a young age, thinking my hands looked ugly without it. My husband kept telling me that I was beautiful in my natural state, and over time, I decided to stop using polish. This helped me see the beauty in naturalness.

Another significant moment was related to photography. When I started taking self-portraits and doing nude photography, it was difficult for me to accept my body, especially the scar on my stomach, which I had been self-conscious about since childhood. I used to hide it, never wore a bikini, and even considered having it removed by a surgeon. But over time, through honest and unretouched photography, I learned to see the scar as a unique part of me, a special feature rather than a flaw, and I was able to embrace it.

Now, I’m proud of it and grateful that I didn’t have it removed. These moments taught me to appreciate natural beauty and to accept not only myself but others as well”

🐾 What would you like your work to evoke in people? What feelings, thoughts, or actions?

“When people look at my works, I hope they see that beauty exists without makeup, hairstyles, clothes, or stylists. My goal is to show that naturalness and authenticity can be beautiful.

It’s especially important to me that my work helps people accept themselves. Many of the women I’ve photographed in the nude genre have seen their true beauty through my photos for the first time, even sending me voice messages in tears. Some have even said they no longer want to use makeup.

In short, I want my photography to be a path for people to self-acceptance and self-love”

🐾 What gives you energy? And what drains it?

“My main source of energy is nature. When I feel completely exhausted, I go to the forest, where I find restoration and strength. It’s not just a walk—I hug the trees, listen to them, pay attention to every sound, and notice details that others usually overlook. Nature gives me energy and inspiration, and I’m convinced there is no stronger source for recovery”

🐾 What do you feel during a shoot? How do you prepare, choose locations and models, and do you have any rituals or beliefs?

“When I pick up a camera, something strange happens. It’s hard to describe the emotions I feel in that moment. It’s as if an inner propeller turns on, transporting me to a world of excitement and creative intoxication. I stop noticing everything around me and fully immerse myself in the shooting process. When I “sober up,” the feelings slip away, leaving only awe at what I managed to capture through the lens.

I choose shooting locations carefully. They’re often hours away from home or even in another country. We’re willing to spend up to 16 hours driving to reach a unique place. I love difficult-to-reach and unusual locations; they become part of the adventure I cherish so much. This process of searching and exploring brings me great joy.

Finding models is not simple. For me, what matters most is the person’s inner qualities rather than physical beauty. It’s important to create a special connection that will lead to the most beautiful shots. Sometimes, when I’m in a particular location, I can clearly picture how the model should look to make everything feel natural and harmonious. This feeling can’t be faked—it’s born in the heart and projected through the lens”

🐾 How do you take care of yourself amidst countless shoots all over the world?

“This is a very relevant question for me right now, and I don’t have a complete answer. Everything changed when I got sick, which for a long time prevented me from living a full life and still imposes limitations. Years have passed, and I’ve learned to live with it. Now I understand why this illness was given to me. I used to never allow myself a moment of rest, thinking that any idleness made me lazy. I was always caught up in a never-ending stream of tasks, leaving no room for rest.

But the body can’t sustain that pace forever, and eventually, it gave out. Now I’m learning to give myself breaks. I’m still a workaholic, but now I let myself rest and take a day off if I feel unwell, tired, or simply don’t want to work. This would have been unthinkable for me before.

This journey is about self-love and acceptance. I’m learning to understand that even if I don’t accomplish a million things in a day or become the best at everything, it doesn’t make me any less valuable. I won’t become a bad person or a lazy one just because I don’t meet someone’s expectations or society’s imposed standards. We grew up in a system that dictates a certain script: school, university, work, family, children. Breaking free from this cycle is difficult but necessary.

It’s important to remember that a person’s worth isn’t measured by money, career achievements, or family status. We are not just a collection of accomplishments; we are, first and foremost, pure souls.

So it’s crucial to take care of yourself and give yourself breaks and rest, amen”

🐾 What drives you? What gives you the strength to act and create? Something so powerful that it’s stronger than the pain you feel in your body.

“People often ask me where I get so much energy from, especially those who don’t know about my constant muscle pain. Honestly, I don’t always have an answer. Maybe it’s my workaholism and an unquenchable desire to create something special. This need to create is so strong that I just can’t resist it. When I take a break from shooting for some reason, I start to feel a creative thirst, like a person who hasn’t had water for a long time.

Photography for me is not just a passion but also a way to distract myself from my health problems. During shoots or editing, I forget about my illness and pain, the oppressive feelings disappear for a while, and I feel like a normal person. It’s an incredible feeling that gives me the strength to keep going. And of course, I’m a Capricorn—that explains a lot too! Haha!”

https://imagineu.com.ua/news/rozmova_pro_vazhlyve?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaar6jzJj25B_unsuUELn46lf8TFv4rIkznDPLEUvxk4fluIYSEt-SlTdnU_aem_8dcOlHLOPFU2PUgJlO8r_Q