From Yacht Club to Night Drive

It Starts Before the Camera Clicks

Every portrait begins before the frame is set. Before the wardrobe, before the light meter — before the photograph itself. For every editorial portrait session in Atlanta, I begin with a quiet test shoot. No makeup. No styling. Just a camera and time. The aim is not performance, but recognition.

In these early sessions, I observe how the subject moves, where tension holds, how stillness lands. I guide posing in a way that feels grounded. These moments are about alignment — between body and camera, between photographer and client.

This approach builds confidence. When the official shoot arrives, the client enters already seen — already understood. And the portraits reflect that truth.

Planning Mood, Style, and Color

I had known Mila Zapukhliak for some time, but only through the creative process did I begin to notice her structure, expression, and presence in detail. Her features revealed clarity and balance — the foundation for a refined portrait session.

Working closely with Maria Zolotun, we focused on shape, color, and tone. As a stylist and beauty expert, Maria aligned every look with our vision, enhancing Liudmyla’s features through clean silhouettes and subtle contrasts.

Her blonde hair made deep green a natural highlight — a tone that defines rather than distracts. In portrait photography, especially in Atlanta’s natural light, these calibrations matter. The result: imagery that’s sharp, composed, and quietly confident.

Why Location Still Matters in 2025

For this look, our reference was clear: a 90s fashion catalogue shot during golden hour. Back then, the backdrop wasn’t incidental — it was intentional. Working with Maria Zolotun, we selected the marina not just for its structure, but for its color logic. The soft blue sweater mirrored the sky. The white trousers echoed the sails and docks around us.

This color pairing wasn’t accidental. It allowed Mila Zapukhliak to visually belong to the space while standing apart — a strategy often used in commercial portrait photography to create timeless, high-impact imagery. Light, location, and palette came together in perfect balance.

But we also wanted a nostalgic statement piece — and what better than a car?

I searched for a car that fit the late-80s or 90s fashion aesthetic — something iconic like a Mercedes or Rolls-Royce. Coordinating with owners across Atlanta took time and energy, as is often the case with location-dependent shoots. It’s part of the creative process that happens off-camera but defines the result.

Just as the light began to fade, we came across an iconic BMW from the right era — by chance, but exactly on brief. The timing wasn’t perfect, but the image was.

One of the standout moments of this session was a bold, confident look captured against a pointed architectural backdrop. Liudmyla wore caramel-colored fitted trousers paired with a rich terracotta knit top. Over it, she layered a structured houndstooth jacket — black and white, perfectly tailored, giving texture and rhythm to the image.

Large pearl earrings anchored the retro elegance, while her hand held dark sunglasses with playful confidence. The setting — a steep-gabled building with stone columns — created the feel of American catalog heritage, evoking the atmosphere of a Ralph Lauren ad from a different decade.

This shoot wasn’t built on luck — it was built on clarity, communication, and care. That’s how I approach every portrait photography session in Atlanta. Not rushed. Not generic. Just honest, intentional storytelling with a visual signature.

If you’re looking to create something personal, confident, and visually striking, let’s start with a conversation.