There're people which shine inside out. They probably keep on shining even being asleep. Ana is one of those gems who's remarkable strive of joy penetrates through the others like the sun rays. I even asked her not to smile on purpose and try to express it with her thoughts, and this is a result.

Kate was very shy, apparently the most reserved person out of all whom I photographed. I remember very well this captured moment of confession - too personal to reveal it in text. After unusually long session took 2h, which flew quickly, both of us were literally knackered.

Dina's heart can accommodate any event, any person, any turnover, it would just envelope the World with its incredible kindness. And the rest of Dina would support any of it with a sparkling sarcastic joke.

"May I not smile?" - Pang asked, - "otherwise my eyes would look smaller, I think." I took a mirror and showed that hers were bigger than my ones. Pang smiled with her eyes only, and I was happy to give away my National Geographic magazines collection to my highly adventurous friend.

What do you know about the shadow ministers? Those which are shining with an intelligence and smart mind. And which are humble enough to stay in shade as this silence costs. Abdul came to my studio just on the right moment, to allow his shades highlighted.

Irrational & pragmatic, reckless and wise - my old good friend Daria. Hard to believe, a mother of 5 cheerful children, and still so much adventurous!

I knew Vera since she hasn't even been planned. We met at her 10 days of age and I was so much attached, that have been taking photos of her as she grew. She's a young lady now, as cheerful as her mom & dad, and as serious as she thinks is right. Sincerely love this stubborn and attentive child.

Fuad in Caravaggio light - is my personal fav. Fuad is such a embracing & polite man, so I though - um... now we're gonna highlight your proud Caucasian nature. It definitely should be there under the layers of courtesy and good manners.

A friend of mine called me from Moscow to London and asked if I'd help someone with the decent photo for the concert poster. This is how we met with the opera diva Olga, and both still remember the limited time, the hard job done out of nothing, the noble satisfactory tiredness and that cold Winter evening.

We all know that there's pretty much no space for a fairytale in life. The one looking so will come to an end at some point of the author's thought. Nevertheless, meeting Halyna assured me in that all phantasmagory described by Gogol is real. Created out of proverbial signs, ethnic customs and surrealistic propositions, she kindly invited me in the world of transcendental creatures. And what kind of light do you reckon was used during the photo session? Truly Halyna's one.

Anna & Pasha. 

Leaving untold a process of chasing a young model, matching him to the studio lighting scheme and his attentive mom, it was a perfect example of a tie between the apple and an apple tree: everything is to be learnt empirically. And look at this warm, unbreakable relationship between two independent personalities. A freedom with a mutual care.

What is there behind that openness? It's not given for granted. Especially to reserved people. Those who used to come for the portrait know the price of trust. Thank you Ekaterina.

Some children never grow up. They may have kids too, which would overtake them in maturity. Olga appeared as such an irregular grown up kid.

Sergei, jazz pianist & composer.

He walked there and forth, feeling restless and excited. "What am I to do? What should I be?"

Leaving aside the photographer's response, the main thought was to reach that music that gets born in that mind. Music from what he sees, hears and processes from a hectic environment, rather full of noise than inspiring sound. Once you've caught up with the tune, just look at me. Sensation and curiosity living together in one man are opposed to each other by keeping a balance between a strive to feel and same to escape. 

There was no time for us. No place, no even desire to get exposed on camera. However, business does its job, so Cristina was almost made to overreach her neglecting hesitation. And I just had to run this photo session. Such a confusing case when both parties are bouncing from each other. Cristina felt nervous at the beginning, so my main goal was not to follow her panic, stay kind and patient, and carry on with approaching that powerful attempt to escape.

Named after an Angel, this girl showed up as reserved and shy. Just the adventurous stories Angelina kept on telling with courage described her as familiar with the other forces of human nature.

This big boy is still little and fragile. Aziz loves to help people and despite the essential childhood tricks he's the most organised kid. This internal discipline and the nature of compromise at this young age I wanted to show.

Diyora was born to Uzbek family in London and grew up in multiple cultures resulted on her blossoming creativity. She realized the similarity of her name with Christian Dior, fell for it and was even suggesting a name change. Every time we've seen she drew me a sketch.

When we met by accident, I had no clue that Sveta is a drama actress and a very well-known celeb in Latvia and elsewhere. Her humble nature and natural dignity took over any ceremonies. All I am happy to know about Sveta now can hardly be described in several words, but still: character, will & wisdom. All at 100%.

It's been a long and not easy maternity time. I wanted so much Natasha to trust me that I'll do the right portrait, that prior to our meeting I created in my mind what I wanted to get.

Sam, a well-mannered Windsor girl with ultimate politeness and lively nature. "Such a good girl" is luckily granted with a sophisticated, soft and confident look, so it was a pure pleasure to view how politely she was worrying not to be late to the gym class at the end of photo session.

I really like all such restless people. Despite the visual openness, they stay reserved for years. Then after such a long time you'd suddenly find out they trust you. One of these rare ones - Karina. She asked for maternity photo session and I couldn't stay off capturing this look of principles and doubts.

If I would've mentioned here that Sasha didn't really fancy this photo, whereas it grabbed admiration of the others, she would call me and said this was not (exactly) like that. We would end up with our favourite long conversations about the universe, horoscopes, energies and psychoanalysis.

Sveta is a musician well-known in Russia and beyond. We accidentally met at the house of our circles in Riga and I fell for her vulnerable childish nature. She already forgot about the moment of this photo, and here you go. Taken by 6x6 film camera.

Lala's unique by her emotional amplitude and energy which seems endless. Along with the dominant nature she's highly sensible. I wanted to capture this enfant terrible in her stunning look off the Greek Orthodox icons.

A very first photo in the portrait direction, tested on human (me), hence it works.

I'm not a doctor, I'm just a photographer. Being not entitled to cure that anxiety I can see in your eyes, I'll be gentle but strict. Cause you're cheerful by nature Marina. Having spotted that stiff and settled anxiety it nearly drove me to despair. This is apparently where an ambitious tennis player woke up in me, and empathetic human being at the same time. I can't take it from you, but you can.

An Italian church: blistering heat outside, soft coolness within. The two meet at the doorway, which already symbolizes a transition in its own right. Andrey, running a fever, obligingly heeds my request to stay in one spot, and we get mystical half-shadows on his pensive face. A Roma woman, who a moment earlier was asking us for alms, gazes at us in admiration. We've just witnessed a miracle.