Elena Belevantseva
Services:
Available in the following locations:
Discount offered to our couples: 10%
Meet Elena
Interview with Elena
Describe your wedding photography style in less than 10 words
It’s called “You Can Tickle, But Then You Owe Me a Kiss” 🙂
How did you get into wedding photography?
Many years ago I used to work as a portrait photographer, mostly in a photo studio, but one day a friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend and asked me to capture their wedding.
That day I felt like I was standing under a rain of emotions and that feeling was so strong that I decided to try it again… and again… and keep trying for the rest of my life. Consider it a type of personal addiction.
What inspires you as a wedding photographer?
Emotions!
For instance, when I photograph a groom crying at seeing his bride in a wedding dress for the first time.. or when I hear “I do” in a trembling voice.. or when a couple starts making funny faces at each other.. I feel so inspired that I literally cannot stop taking more and more pictures and footage to catch the moment! The creativity explodes! 🙂
What are your favourite types of places to shoot pictures of a couple?
I love to mix city landscapes with nature.
Which is your favourite picture of yourself and who took it?
It is a picture taken last October by one of my good friends: I am jumping and throwing golden leaves up to the sky and look like a funny, happy puppy. If you look at my work you will see how much I love people to throw stuff too 🙂
What tricks do you use to help nervous couples relax for their pictures?
I say “Boobs” and “Vodka” – only kidding!
I actually start with a sort of “homework” in my pre-wedding correspondence with the couples, asking them to share their stories and some pictures with me, if possible.
So when we meet in person I already know them a little bit and can figure out how to act (to talk a lot, ask questions and tell them about myself – or to be transparent and invisible).
What do you feel are the key things that make the perfect wedding portrait?
A combination of:
A relaxed couple
A moment full of emotions (no matter exactly which kinds of emotions we’re talking about)
A comfortable environment (my personal ‘no go’ is to shoot at overcrowded locations) and
The proper lighting.
What is your dream location for a wedding shoot?
Iceland!
What do you like to do when you’re not working on photography?
Well, if I’m not doing photography it can only mean I’m doing videography 🙂
Call me a workaholic!
To be serious, I love spending free time with family. I have a little hooligan named Leia (my daughter), a big fan of heavy metal music and a guitarist (my husband) in the house, so we are always ready to have fun together
