Modellenland
- 23 sep. 2020

Interview: Photographer Ruth Chornolutskyy (UK)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I’m a female photographer and I particularly enjoy creative portraiture, fairytale and fashion photography. I run the photography business “RR Photographic” with my husband Russ. I also run styled photography workshops through “Enchanted Evermore” with my friend and makeup artist Sally Marie Morris (@sallymariemedia); we run themed workshops with beautiful fashion and fairytale looks. For me photography is about fantasy and creating stories through imagery.

How and when did you get into photography?

I began photography about 4 years ago. Initially I mainly photographed weddings with my husband, but after about a year I became interested in portraiture, fashion and fine art photography and I then branched off myself in that direction. We still do photograph weddings, which I very much enjoy, but the creative portraiture is what I love doing most of all.

What does photography mean to you?

I used to draw when I was a child to express my ideas and now I find I get the same enjoyment from photography and editing. I love photo editing and am a fan of digital art. For me 50% of the process is getting things as right as possible in camera, but then editing is the other 50% of creating an image for me. I see the RAW file as my canvas and enjoy playing in Lightroom and Photoshop to create something more exaggerated and fantastical than reality. I’m not particularly good at compositing though, so I put a lot of effort into styling and setting up my shots and getting as much there for real in camera as possible.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I would describe my style as creative portraiture. I like feminine and fairytale shoots with big dresses and beautiful locations. I mainly shoot using lighting but I do sometimes also shoot natural light and enjoy both.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I find most of my inspiration on places like Pinterest and from following other photographers I admire on the web and social media. I also enjoy reading when I have time and enjoy graphic novels. Sometimes a location will inspire me or an item of clothing will form the basis of a shoot concept. I also watch Youtube videos as I enjoy learning and there is so much useful and available information out there these days.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

Yes, I always have the end photo in my head before I go to the shoot and I spend the shoot time in a targeted way to achieve that image. My shoots are heavily styled so it all comes together to create an end idea or image which I have had in my head from the start. I do of course try other ideas too, but usually only after I have gotten the shot I wanted. I have recently taken this further and begun hosting styled photography workshops through “Enchanted Evermore” and I love planning and styling shoots and inviting other photographers to come and take part in the experience. It’s very interesting to see what direction other photographers take our original ideas in.

Studio, on location or both?

I always prefer location to studio shoots. I love beautiful locations. I feel that if you have a pretty model in a gorgeous location then half of your work in creating an interesting image is already done!

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

Photography is a part-time business for me. It’s a very nice position to be in as I can choose the work I like and I can also do a few of my own TF projects when time allows.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

That’s a hard question as I have had many memorable sessions, but one which I definitely won’t forget was a photoshoot with a model and a tarantula where we had the tarantula on the model’s face! She was amazing! I’m not sure who was fiercer!

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

I have always used Canon as the person who gave me my first lessons in photography was a Canon user and so I went with his recommendations. My favourite lens is definitely my 85mm 1.2. I like to shoot wide open and love lots of blur and bokeh in images.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

Choose a direction you enjoy so that you get pleasure from your work and you don’t lose the enjoyment from photography by turning it into a business. At least leave some time for the aspects of photography you love to do for yourself as a hobby.

What do you think of our new magazine?

It looks great with beautiful, creative and inspiring imagery and it’s interesting to read about other creatives’ experiences and views.

Photography:

https://www.facebook.com/rrphotographic/

https://www.instagram.com/rrphotographic/

Styled Photography Workshops:

https://www.facebook.com/enchantedevermore/

https://www.instagram.com/enchantedevermore/

www.enchantedevermore.com