Natalia was born in Siberia and successfully worked for a local modelling agency. She now lives in the United States, where she founded a photo posing course and works as a photographer. She considers her modelling experience an invaluable tool for creating high-quality photo shoots.
How did you start taking photographs?
When my children were born, I wanted to freeze time, capture every smile, every look. At first, I shot with my phone, but the quality wasn’t as advanced as it is now. I wanted more: volume, light, mood. I wanted the shot to resonate with the same intensity as the moment in my heart. Then my husband gave me a professional camera—new, serious, and genuine. When I opened the instructions, I realised I couldn’t do it alone. I decided to take a special course. After a month and a half to two months of training, I developed a solid understanding: I understood how manual settings work, how to control light, depth, and sharpness. I also understood how to create photographs not automatically, but exactly as I see them – vibrant, thoughtful, and precise.
I practiced on my daughters, photographing every matinee, every holiday at the kindergarten – photographing all the children and joyfully giving the pictures to their parents. Their warm feedback inspired me to move forward. Gradually, photography became not just a hobby, but a profession. After moving to the United States, I continued my education – this time at an American college, where I studied digital photography and film. This was especially touching for me: as a child, my dad shot black-and-white film and developed the photos in a darkroom. For me, it was pure magic. And being able to experience this process myself was a dream come true.
Over time, I began working as a commercial photographer: I photograph families, social media content, children’s and adults’ parties, and special events. Modelling shoots are a particular pleasure, as I used to be a model myself. At 15, I brought a friend to a casting at a modelling agency, and ended up landing one myself. Fashion shows, beauty pageants, and photo shoots began – I found myself in a completely new world. I straightened my shoulders, became more confident, started taking better care of myself, and changed both externally and internally. Therefore, my experience and practice in modelling allowed me to create a course on photo posing and start shooting. I always have an eye for how to pose a person for a shot and from what angle to shoot.
What was the most memorable shoot?
I gathered a group of eight girls, and we went on a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. It was a real adventure. First, we stopped at an authentic Western village where Hollywood movies were once filmed. The girls wore cowgirl outfits, and the atmosphere was incredibly cinematic—like scenes from an old Western. Then we went to the park itself, to the famous Joshua trees, amid the desert landscape and cacti. The light, the space, the wind, the costumes—everything came together to create a cohesive picture. The girls did a brilliant job, and the shoot was powerful, lively, and authentic. We still talk about that day.
Another of my most memorable shoots was when I modelled for a Parisian magazine. I designed a flowing red dress, and the stylist and makeup artist created an incredible look for me, complete with hair, makeup, and even body art.
Do you think AI is helping photographers today, or vice versa?
AI can now create beautiful shots without a photographer, and many people take advantage of this on social media. But for me, modelling is something completely different: it conveys emotion, character, and mood, bringing the photo to life. Until AI can convey this, everything looks similar, a bit toy-like and soulless. Perhaps in the future, magazines will use AI when the technology becomes as natural as possible. But today, I believe that modelling requires labour, skill, and emotion, which AI cannot yet replace.
