New York Photographer

Hi, I'm Tanya… My life has been composed of so many mixed parts and paths. A hybrid of bits and pieces of art, people, and dreams that have led me to where I am now.

From a tiny, wild, cold village 10 hours north of Moscow where I was born to studying anthropology in Saint Petersburg to being single in NYC to noshing pizza with my love on our couch with our baby in Hoboken, NJ –  it’s fascinating to me to piece together how every look, every interaction, every breath, brought me here.

Your story is like this, too… because every single decision, every turn you made, and every door you opened brought you to this place; engaged to be married to the person you want to be with for the rest of your life.

Think about how miraculous that is!  The anthropologist in me geeks out over this stuff!

My style is clean, romantic, and editorial, and I capture weddings on a hybrid of film and digital; the moment dictates and influences the medium I choose.

When my camera goes to my eye, I want to tell your miraculous story through photographs. I’m inspired by the exchange of energy between you and all the people you love at your wedding. I could not have imagined that photographing my first intimate wedding in Maine in 2008 would be the place where I would meet my husband and it’s probably because of that that I get a little teary at some point at every wedding I photograph.  I’ll admit to being a bit of a sentimental fool that way. 

I’m tireless when it comes to capturing the moment, and tireless in making sure the entire process of hiring me to photograph your wedding is seamless for you: from the time we first talk about your celebration through the delivery of your heirloom items.

My friends here in New York tell me I have a charming accent. Get in touch and let’s talk and you can let me know if that’s true!  

Interview

IF I HAVE A FREE SUNDAY I WOULD SPEND IT… I am lucky to be married into an Italian family. My husband is a first generation American but his parents are off the boat Italians from Calabria. Their house is a peculiar version of Little Italy with homemade wine, a huge garden with tomatoes and fig plants, generational recipes for pretty much every dish in the book and of course, – traditional Sunday dinner that starts around 1pm with delicious antipasto bites and lasts until dark when espresso is being passed around the long table. My favourite part about Sunday dinner is that both immediate and extended family get together in an informal atmosphere, it’s truly a time to connect and be merry!

MY MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE WAS… Out of so many wonderful travel adventures throughout the years I keep going back to a 10 day trip devoted to American National Parks on the West Coast that was a life changing event for me.  Zion and Bryce Canyons in Utah, Death Valley and Alabama Hills  in California, various parks in Nevada and Arizona – every step of the way  I saw perseverance and grandness of Nature but also so much harmony in co-existing of many seemingly contradictory elements, every living organism had it’s spot under the sun and was able to thrive. I was so smitten by the beauty of nature that unexpected  personal epiphanies just kept rolling in. The year was 2008 and shortly after this trip I quit my windowless office job and started pursuing photography as a career.

THE COUNTRY I MOST WANT TO VISIT IS… I honestly would like to visit every country in the world but lately I’ve been seriously obsessed with Japan. I am a huge Anthony Bourdain fan and all his trips to Japan made me feel even more curious about the people and the culture. I can’t wait to experience this mysterious country!

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS… I’ve been fortunate enough to work with people from all walks of life – different cultures, diverse backgrounds and upbringing, different social statuses and languages. It's a very honourable experience to serve people on one of the most important days of their life and capture all the love and happiness. What I love most about my job is that I get to praise Love, Beauty and Humanity with my camera.

IF I DIDN’T DO THIS FOR A JOB I WOULD BE/DO… my university studies were leading me to the world of academia and becoming an anthropologist. I was also minoring in the history of Art, so I wouldn't mind working as an art museum curator. My other passions are human design, psychology, art and nature therapy, so a career in any of these fields would make me a happy camper too.

IF I COULD GIVE NEWLY ENGAGED COUPLES ONE PIECE OF ADVICE IT WOULD BE…plan the big day and, even more importantly, your marriage around your unique personalities and your list of priorities – compromise and always communicate even through disagreements, let both partners splurge on something that’s truly important to them. 

I LOVE WHERE I LIVE BECAUSE… I live very close to NYC, so it’s pretty self-explanatory – I love the melting pot of cultures, the hustle and bustle of a big city,  very ambitious and  beautifully dressed people, access to any imaginable food options, rich options for entertainment and self-development. 

IF I COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IT WOULD BE… I’ve been toying with the idea of living seasonally in Italy. The zest of life there seems to be so unparalleled. I need to find out! 

MY FAVOURITE MOVIE IS? All the romantic rom-coms from the 80-90s era – You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, etc 

MOST MEMORABLE MEAL I’VE EVER EATEN WAS… there are truly so many but I would have to pick one time when my husband and I visited my family in Russia. It was in August 2017, we were in the countryside which is completely different from bigger cities, the table was set outside with a big Samovar as a centerpiece and traditional delicacies like pelmeni or cabbage soup, freshly picked and prepared wild mushrooms with potatoes and other unusual dishes  – my husband was very enthusiastic to try new things and make friends without any Russian language skills  – it was a hilarious yet heartwarming experience. 

THE PETS I OWN ARE…  we have 2 rescued Halloween cats – a black girl named Shanya and an orange boy called Pumpkin. They trick us in spoiling them without measure; we no longer have any couch rights!