Experimental work 1

Experimental portrait inspired by Lara Jade.
Working with textures, painting, makeup.
 
I did this portrait back in early spring. I have been wanting to take a photo like this for a while - beautiful face, tucked into a beautiful rose bush, shooting with flare.Voila!

Lara has been a huge inspiration to me for a long time now, and after sitting through her workshop I felt so inspired I had to make my own textures and try them on like immediately. I love experimenting with makeup and I tried to create a more romantic Nina Ricci kind of face here.
Cannot wait to try the new things on the rest of the photos in my archives.

Photo by Krem Ivanova

Photo by Lara Jade

Tsvetelina

We met in 1st grade and our friendship has only deepened since then. She has the biggest smile and the kindest heart.
She is one of the most beautiful women I've ever met - inside and out.

Tsvetelina, NikonD700, 50mm.

Graduation girls

I recently shot those two lovely girls just before their graduation party began. I did my best to shoot all of their colleagues in couples, triples, in work groups and everybody-ins.
Nevertheless, my favorite part of every session is portrait, portrait, portrait. This is why I am delighted to share the new additions to my most recent portfolio. Stay tuned for new work in the near future.

Ladies and gentleman, Miss Qna, & Miss Rali, both successfully graduated engineers!

Qni

Qni

Rali

Qni & Rali

Location: Best Western Hotel Expo Sofia

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Lime

Some new work from the last hour.

Model: Qni

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Teodor Jr.

My friend had her baby in early January this year. He was expected with great love, and was welcomed with sheer joy. I am so glad they let me see him and grab a couple of shots when he was just 25 days old.
I feel so blessed to be able to present to you little Teodor and his lovely parents :))))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Bye-bye now snowy winter!

I know it's been a really snowy winter this year, but wasn't it beautiful? Even though it's snowing a bit some of those days as well, I think it's winter's way of saying goodbye. It's a soft powdering with the last crystal snowflakes left in stock up there.
 Let's say goodbye with a smile, and little by little remove all the knitted scarves and hats, thick coats, and warm boots. Well, maybe leave one of each just in case...;)

Smile!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Families in B&W

As every beginner photographer I went through the vivid-color phase first. I loved it, I still do. But as conservative as I am with things I like, I like to change my game every now and then. I started thinking of black and whites. They are so much powerful than everything else. This is why I have decided to learn and make stunning B&Ws in 2012, and yes, in order to be more disciplined I included it in the 2012 Resolutions list.

I found out I love black and whites for family portraits. It makes it easier to see the resemblance between the parents and the child. I like the fact that black and white will always be in fashion, and it also puts the emphasis on the emotion, rather than on the setting and attire. Furthermore, if you have a background that is not as pretty as you'd wished, it simply doesn't matter when you make the conversion. And sometimes, it could emphasize things in the background even more, if desired. It's all up to you and your idea. Here's a couple of brand new B&Ws with a certain amount of haze on. I like the tenderness it adds to the contrast ;)

Nikon D700, 50mm.

5 days to Christmas: Stella's Winter Glitter

It's almost that time of the year. You know...jeans, warm boots,thick coats, fluffy scarves, gloves, socks, pajamas, cold air, lit-up fireplaces, dark beer, hot red wine, grill, cottages in the middle of nowhere, eiderdowns, waking up before daylight, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, red noses, mountains, ski, snowboard, ice-skating, hoodies, holidays, coziness, and snow, more snow :)))

Did you picture that already?! My friend Stella definitely did! =) She's one of those people who love winter glitter in all it's beauty.

With a tint of some hot red wine and a fabulous model at hand, I am starting my short but long-awaited 5-days-to-Christmas countdown!

Are you ready? ;)

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 167: Qni

Summer is here!
And I am at the beach finally :))))) ..with my new favorite model...Qni!

Fabulous photos coming one of those days...not exactly sure when because I'm at the beach as I said before :D

Salty kisses!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 166: Raya ♥

Just a sneak peak of what I've been editing for the last couple of weeks, so much more cuteness coming soon... :))))))

Ladies and gentlemen, miss Raya!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 163: Gabby & Desi

Desi has been my lifelong friend. I have no clear memory of how we met, but it was really that long ago, and smells like kindergarten :)
Even though we separated ways way back in high school we still manage to keep in touch. We meet every once in a while but we always manage to catch up. It's rarely possible to keep friendships over distance and time, but it happens indeed and I am grateful for having a friend like her.

Gabby is her older sister, and she is just so precious. I love her portraits, so gentle, and natural, and expressive...

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 162: Bridal Party @ Arbanasi

Two weeks ago I was invited to shoot a surprise bridal party for a friend. She had no idea what was going to happen the same afternoon and it totally caught her by surprise. The girls were very enthusiastic about the photoshoot. Gabby, the organizer of the whole thing, had arranged two boliar costumes in order to have portraits of them to remember this day. I felt so happy being there with the girls it made me want my own bridal shower.
For all the girls who stick together and still enjoy their girly time together - keep it up! :))))))

And by the way, if you need someone to arrange a surprising and sentimental bridal party, or decorate the premises on your wedding day, just give me a sign and I will give you Gabby's contact information. She will be more than happy to share her ideas with you!

Nikon D700, 50mm.
Date: 25-06-11
Location: RACHEV HOTEL RESIDENCE, Arbanassi - perfect location! :))

Day 152: Happy Birthday, Desi!

Today is the birthday of one of my best friends. She is the kind of person who is always optimistic and can easily make your day. She also has so many crazy ideas for photoshoots that it's a pitty we don't have the time to make them all happen :)

I wish her to keep smiling and loving life!
Happy birthday, Desi! :)))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 114: Portrait of Mihail

Misho is one of my favorite mini models. He's handsome, and stylish, and can greet you in English and German. He's also artistic, curious and extremely energetic, and did I mention he is only 3?
As you can notice, he has the looks, and by the way, he knows how to use them already :))))
I have the pleasure to be close friends with his mommy and she would let me photograph him whenever wherever :))) So, stay tuned for more of this young gentleman!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 113: Portrait of Patrisia

Here she is again! I love taking her photos, I love spending time editing them, she's just so much worth it!!

She was sort of in a bad mood that day, which I couldn't regret more, but as I worked on the photos I actually like how some of them came out.

Isn't it amazing how much Patrisia can express just by using her eyes?! I can't wait to see her growing up...and I can't help but wonder..can she get any prettier? :)))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 112: Portrait of Altanay

Well, this one was a real challenge. I was told he was rather new to the group and that's probably why he was really easy to upset. Whenever I put my camera up he would start bursting into tears...It's one of those moments when you don't know what to do...I managed to make him smile a couple of times, but never with the camera on...
In this photo he is far from smiling, but he is not crying either :)))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 111: Portrait of Monika

Monika is a cute little redhead lady. She can change so many expressions in a second! :)))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 110: Portrait of Milinka

Milinka was the youngest of them all :)) But she has some of the biggest brown eyes!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 109: Portrait of Plamen

Plamen is a brave little gentleman. I simply asked him to help me make a photo for his mommy and he stood there, holding up the bouquet straight and acting cool.
I'm sure his mom was very proud!

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 108: Portrait of Margaritka

Margaritka is just lovely :) When I asked out loud "Who want's to go first?" she was undoubtedly going for it! She made me feel so much at home with her positive responses all the time. She was the first one to shoot, she was also one of the most cooperative kids in the room, and on every new shot she was standing beside me commenting on all the photos I showed her on the screen!
When she grows up, I hope she wants to be my assistant :)))

Nikon D700, 50mm.