hi, I'm lana.
I'm not big on posed shots or forced smiles. or complicated websites.
give me the genuine laugh between old friends at the bar, that second when someone completely loses themselves to the music, the quiet moment in the corner of a packed club. those are the shots that tell the real story of a night. no fuss, no awkward posing,
raised in NYC as a first-generation Russian-American, I found escapism in fantasy and imagination. I studied photography from high school through the School of Visual Arts and Drexel University. Given the opportunity, I always choose a timeless black and white photograph as homage to my many days in the darkroom. my brief flirtation with Corporate Life taught me I'd rather be at the party.
I describe my work as classic, intimate, documentary-style portraits and candids. I shoot portraits, headshots, and document events with a paparazzi-inspired, film noir, retro, 35mm off-the-cuff style. I love my camera and I bring technical skills and an eye for composition, but I'm not a gear head and my focus is on the people. I shoot people who think they’re “not photogenic.” they’re wrong and I’m good at proving it. I blend candid, photojournalistic shots with composed portraits for a timeless, emotional result.
if my approach resonates, email me at lana@nycpartyphotographer.com. kisses!