ABOUT ME

Photographer in Buffalo, NY

My name is Arina, and I grew up immersed in classical art — studying drawing, painting, composition, and art history throughout middle and high school in Moscow, Russia. I later graduated from university with a degree in marketing and advertising, and went on to build a 15+ year career as a marketing and brand manager, working across art, sports, magazines, and the automobile industry. Along the way, I also studied psychology, which profoundly shaped my understanding of people, emotions, and connection.

Photography, though, has always been a big part of my life. I started shooting as a child and, at fourteen, created my first social project on film. I’ve always been drawn to making something artistic and meaningful.

My parents inspired me deeply — my mom staged little photo shoots in our tiny Moscow apartment, and my dad, a broadcast director and videographer, surrounded me with cameras and the process of making pictures and movies from a very young age. Photography became part of my everyday life long before I realized it.

Moving to the US gave me a rare chance to reinvent myself. I started studying photography in earnest, and it’s been a daily practice ever since. I shoot every day, take classes and workshops, and learn from professional photographers around the world. There hasn’t been a day I haven’t worked to improve my skills. I chase every opportunity to learn more, shoot more, and create more.

That’s how I became a professional photographer, not just someone who takes pictures, but someone who tells stories. And I’m excited to keep learning, creating, and making magic together.

Apart from my professional life, I love travel, music, and movies, and I refuse to choose favorites. Paris or a sleepy village in Bali, Botticelli or Banksy, silent films or big, loud blockbusters, Michelin stars or street food  — I’m endlessly curious. Contrast is where the magic (and the best stories) live.