Self focus isn't selfish

It’s about self care. We can only give the best from us if we’re the best to ourselves. Yet we often do the contrary - trying to give out a whole bottle services out of an empty cup.

Giving is important but we cannot give something we don’t have. Energy, love, care, affection, patience, compassion are all in the giving bucket, but how often do you give them to yourself first? Do you take care of yourself the way you do it for those you love? Do you speak to yourself with a gentle compassion when you mess up? Are you patient with yourself when you’re learning something in your adult life the same way you’re when seeing a baby learning to walk?

Self love is not selfish, it’s essential. Put your oxygen mask first so you can help the one next to you.

It’s my birthday week this week and I’ve decided to take is as selfish as I can. To focus on me, my project and my craft. Not taking clients unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s not a regular practice of mine but it might become one.

Wish you a happy Monday. Do something selfishly nurturing today.

Same time every year...

It’s a honour to have retiring clients. Tsvety is one of them who unapologetically present herself in all of her glory. We did a corporate portrait session for her business as we did last year. But this time she felt more comfortable and asked me to do some sensual frames for her. That’s all I want to hear… 📸😊💃

If you need a book keeper in Spain or Bulgaria, she is the woman!

Connect with her: via her web or follow on Instagram

What you love, loves you back

so don’t try to run away. Don’t hide, or pretend it's not for you because somebody else said so. And I’m not talking about people. Rather your inner desires.

What you’re attracted to, what you want, the way you see yourself, the places you want to visit and experiences you want to try - it’s all purposely put into your mind and your life.

We so often neglect our inner voice telling us what exactly we want and why, with the voices of every other person around, the media or the society, telling us what we should and should not do, be, want, behave, succeed at. There is a reason we’re all different and that’s OK.

There is a reason you look the way you do. There is a reason you were born at that place in that family. There is a reason you’re drawn to certain things more than another. And the reason is because it is all for you - to make you become the person you came here to be by doing what is necessary to, including cleaning up past live’s “mess”.

By writing this to you I say it to myself hundreds of time in a roll - there is a reason, stop hiding. Life is too short to be someone else, yet we let ourselves stay in our comfort zone where our basic fear of protection is turning into that voice full of jealousy and resentment for not doing the things we want to do.

So get out and do them!

Just start. Step by step. Don’t rush, take your time, but don’t give up. Keep going toward that you most desire, towards the vision you have in your head. One day it will all make sense even if it looks messy now.

Start today because yesterday you said tomorrow.

Location Shoot: Vall de Núria

As many other artists, my photography journey began with outdoor portraits and location shoots. Out magnificent Nature has it all - the light, the shapes, the colours. A perfect playground where you learn not only about the art you’re practicing, but also about yourself, where is your place and how you relate to it.

During my time living in the UK I began shooting more in the studio. I wasn’t able to connect fully with the constant clouds and rain, desperately searching for a stream of direct sunlight. This was one of the decisions to move back to a sunny coast. Barcelona and Spain in general has it all for me at this point - the sunshine, the clouds, the sea and the mountains. Honestly it is a place where I feel like Alice in Wonderland.

These collections of black&white photographs are created for a dear client of mine in one of the most magical places I’ve been - Vall de Núria. It is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona, community of Catalonia, Spain.

We went around some little, private waterfalls, enjoyed the music of the forest, the sun and the cold, fresh water. My idea for the photographs was to get back to simply enjoying the process, not to focus on the outcome or so much of the technical aspects that my professional brain constantly observe. When you’ve turned your loved craft into a profession it looses the simplicity of the virginity, it’s like being an amateur is somehow more relaxed and freeing.

We did what we did. The outcome is beautiful. I enjoyed every moment and wish the day was longer so we can stay and play longer. I can’t wait to get back there with my camera and reate some more artworks.

*Photographs are censured due to client’s privacy. There are many more I’d like to share, but this is for now.

It's all about the feeling

With art, with people, with all things. If you don’t feel it, it doesn’t really work. Feelings make us move, both the bright ones as well as the dark ones. It’s all a balance, we know, yet often forget.

Photography for me has always been a way of expressing my feelings. As any other artist, most of the time are the challenging, deep, dark feelings that push me into creating. Pain is our best teacher, even if we don’t want to face it.

Expessing feelings, creating art. It’s beautiful to see how people connect with the work, to see they FEEL it. But the greatest gift of all is when they ask me to create such photographs for them, accompanying their vision, brand, product.

Ask que, it all makes sense at the end, they say. You can connect the dots only looking backwards, so keep walking.