Valeriya Vygodnaya

Valeriya Vygodnaya is Russian-born photographer who lives and works in London. She studied theatre arts at Russian Academy of Theatre Arts and photography at University of the Arts, London.After finishing her acting career Valeriya worked as a fashion editor of Instyle Russia magazine and as a stylist for various fashion magazines. After moving to London she had a unique chance to explore the treasure of Vogueâ??s library archive and to study photography at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and London College of Communications. Valeriya developed an interest in art, fashion and dance photography and started her career shooting mainly on 35mm black and white film. Nowadays she is using mixed practice with analogue and digital technologies. Valeriya's inspiration is based on theater, ballet and cinematography. While travelling around the world she collects impressions of different movements in contemporary art. Valeriya's musical and acting backgroud pushes her to explore psychology of the personality on the stage, infront of the camera and behind the scenes. She treats each shoot as an adventure and experiment, carefully prepared but living a space for a chance and very special "desicive moment". Valeriya's work was exhibited in London and Saint-Petersburg ahd her limited edition silver-gelatin prints are held in private collections. In 2011 she teamed up with her friends-photographers and established the concept photography boutique "Double Vie". Valeriya's vision to the large extend was influenced by Irving Stoneâ??s book â??Lust for Lifeâ?? about Vincent Van Gogh