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.
Tanja - Raikasta! Mistähän tuo pojan huoneen nimikirjainjuliste on?
Virpi - Hei, voivoi valkoista on…ja voisi olla kaunistakin, mutta niin persoonatonta. Valitettavasti tässä kodissa näky ne kaikki “blogikoti”kliseet, joita maa päällään kantaa :( Pihanäkymä ikkunasta on parasta ja pelastaa talon. Kukat & pensaat ovat kauniita ja mikä parasta, aitoja? Tiedän että joku mielensä pahoittaa, mutta mielipiteet on mielipiteitä. Toivoisi, että ihmiset rohkaistuisivat tekemään omia valintoja sanan varsinaisessa merkityksessä, eikä sellaista, mitä näkee sisustuslehdissä muillakin. Ne samat huonekalut, valaisimet, matot, julistetaulut(mustavalkoiset), tyynyt jne. Jos ja kun perhe tykkää, niin sehän on hyvä, mutta ehkä se ns “oma maku” on tässä otettu blogeista, koska niitä ihannoidaan. Toivon etteivät kaikki asunnot alkaisi kohta näyttää samalta ja että uskallettaisi laittaa jotain ikiomaa peliin.
Kuvasi ovat kauniit kuitenkin :)
Krista - Hei Tanja, mielestäni juliste on Tuomas Mäkelän Less is more yrityksestä :)