I'm an Estonian born photographer living in Helsinki, Finland.

I bought my first SLR camera in 1994 after graduating high school. I started with shooting film and I was so excited. At this time, I mostly photographed for fun; mainly summer holidays, nature and flowers. My father is an amateur photographer and I had the opportunity to spend time with him in a darkroom. I think it was the spark that ignited my passion. I started studying photography in 2002 at VVI (Visuaaliviestinnän Instituutti) in Tampere, Finland.

I really liked my photography teacher and I think he is the best teacher I have ever had. At the same time I began to work as a freelance photographer. I visited many advertising agencies with my portfolio. It was the time before social media, you had to meet people face to face and show your work.

I’m totally in love with lifestyle, portraiture and interior photography. I'm sure that my eye for interior photography developed after I started to work closely with interior journalist and stylist Jonna Kivilahti. We have been and are still shooting homes for Finnish magazines and commercial shoots for different companies. After many great projects and a steady success here in Finland, I am happy to see the growing interest towards my photography in other countries. I am very thankful for that! My experience in lifestyle photography has also lead me to publish six books.

My signature style is feminine, deliberate, composed & feels quiet.

I am happily married with three children and I am always inspired by the sea, sand and stones. I am also a big fan of cherry blossoms, paintings, poetry, autumn rain and flying kites on a windy day. I enjoy meeting new and interesting people, learning from the different experiences of life they bring.

My life’s most important milestones… my children! They “teach” me every day how to become a better person and am incredibly thankful to know them.

Photographer John Saxton once said: “I think a good photograph reveals not only what is in front of camera -the subject; but also what is behind the camera - the photographer.” I try to remember that when I’m holding a camera.

STILL LIFE…VALOA

March 21, 2013

Innostusta on enää vaikea peitellä. Ainakin itselleni. Nyt on taas aikaa kuvata omiakin juttuja sen jälkeen kun työpäivä on ohi, koska valoa riittää pitkälle iltaan. Joku innostuu puutarhajutuista (kuten Janne, tääl jo itää monenmoista taimea pitkin pöytiä), toiset liikunnasta ja kuka mistäkin VALON saapuessa.

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Maria - Valoa on jo aamulla ja pitkälle iltapäivään. Varsinkin aamuvalo on minusta ihanaa. Matka töihin kulkee kauniissa maalaismaisemassa, se on rauhallinen aloitus työpäivälle.
Kaunis kuva!
Lumo - Onneksi valoa on, kunpa lumi vielä sulaisia ja luonto heräisi. Kotipihan hangen läpi jo kuukausi sitten hieman puskeneet krookukset (tai lumikellot) eivät ole edistyneet kuukaudessa mihinkään. Joinain ihan kovinakin talvina ne ovat saattaneet jo kukkia tässä vaiheessa…
Krista - Maria, olen kanssasi samaa mieltä aamuista. Pidän erityisesti lokkien äänistä. Itselle vaan aamut ovat aina olleet hankalia. Mulla soi toisinaan kolme kerta herätyskello eri aikoja. Mutta ehkä vika on vaan mun pääkopassa. Jos ohjelmoisin sen uusiks, ja alkaisinkin uskotella, et olenkin aamuvirkku :)
Laiza - Samoja mietteitä ja innostuksia! Kyllä tuntuu mukavalta kuvata, kun on valoa!
Krista - Lumo, niin! Sulaisi jo! Ehkä ensi viikolla kun herra Puota lupasi jo +6 astetta. Krookukset ovat kyllä kevään merkki. Meil on kanssa koko piha vielä ihan kokonaan lumen peitossa. Lumiukkokin seisoo pystyssä :)