Menagerie Presents: Tatiana Valerie

Meet founder of Artvesta Studio, Tatiana Valerie. Tatiana has over 10 years of experience in photography and has been featured in a number of fashion and wedding outlets, including Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, InStyle, Style Me Pretty, and more. She’s a women on a mission to break outdated stereotypes about wedding photographers.

Tatiana Valerie headshot 2020

Meet: Tatiana Valerie

Photography is a passion that has brought so much inspiration into my life. I had the fortune to capture some breathtaking sights: from the majestic blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the grandness of the Great Wall of China to the elegance of Eiffel Tower.

I have also had the opportunity to share a few precious moments with a whole range of diverse people: from farmers to politicians, from fashion models to famous figure skaters, from Wall Street bankers to non-profit lawyers.

What brought you to the wedding industry?

During my journey, I discovered that nothing was more emotionally rewarding than photographing people’s most joyous moments. That’s why I love weddings. It is where I capture the moments that represent true beauty in our lives: the loving glimpse of a father as he gives his daughter away or the tears in the eyes of the bride and groom when they take their first kiss as a married couple. Preserving the fairy-tale magic of a wedding day is what I enjoy most.

What is your favorite moment at a wedding?

I really love the first glimpse between a couple and the overwhelming joy experienced in that moment. To capture such a raw moment is extremely emotional and rewarding for me.

What is the best part about your job?

Meeting amazing people, witnessing some of the most beautiful moments in their lives, and telling their stories. When the wedding and the celebrations are all over, I get to provide them with something they get to relive together over and over again in the photos. Those emotions and the stories I capture for them in their photos are never-ending.

Where do you draw inspiration from when preparing for each wedding?

I draw inspiration from the couple themselves. I really like to get to know my clients and get in sync with them. What are they like? Are their personalities bubbly or more reserved? I watch them interact and notice those sweet tiny moments of when they really connect. This is what inspires me the most and that is what I want to capture! No couple and no wedding are ever alike.

Share something that is unique to you and/or your business.

I care about natural beauty, realism and I am extremely detail-oriented. I like carefully observing people and noticing what unique traits make them attractive. I believe that everyone is beautiful and it is up to a photographer to notice, bring out, and capture those characteristics. I always ask myself, “What angle, lighting, and emotions will make the most impact and tell the right story?” I think every artist is unique in their ability to sense, conceptualize, and capture emotions and beauty.

I also host a semi-annual Artvesta wine and cake tasting social each year to bring together friends in the industry and meet newly engaged couples. We just had our most recent event this November.