Exploring Friendship: I Captured 25 Artistic Portraits Of My Friend And Myself

Here's another dress from Katarina's creative arsenal, infused with my longing to revisit classic fine art through intricate editing and rich textures.

Kat's embrace of the vibrant color red she used to hate, captured in the unique setting of a building's hallway we seized to quickly craft our vision.

One of my favorite photos. My significant red, antique look, Katarina with disheveled hair. A combination of portraiture and fine art that I have been striving for for years.

Most of the time Katarina is the one in front of the camera while I shoot and edit.

On rare occasions we practice storytelling with objects. Kat helps me sometimes bring my ideas to life.

The image that was made after we decided to switch a DIY lamp we used for lighting with a professional flash.

We thrifted the outfit for a couple of dollars and started with learning the basics of how the flash works.

Kat and I have both longed for images on a sea shore, so we figured out we can go to a local beach on the Danube river and photoshop it so it looks like we're somewhere remotely.

Sometimes you don't have all the possibilities in the world, and that's fine.

You can always take what you have and make it work.

The only disagreement we have in our creative process revolves around the rating of photos for editing.

While I may overlook certain nuances, Katarina's discerning eye often unearths hidden gems, like with this particular photo.
I recall hesitating between giving it 3 or 4 stars, whereas Katarina argued passionately for a 5-star rating.

It's funny how a memorable photo sticks with you, even if you initially don't see its full potential among hundreds of others.

It's been a hot minute since I'd been in front of the camera, but I was totally feeling myself that day on a quick thriller shooting with Kat.

After snapping away, I sat back, feeling pretty satisfied with the results.

And then, lo and behold, a guy in the Instagram comments hit me with the bombshell: "You look like a young Tesla."

Now, I gotta admit, I had to do a double-take on that one. But hey, I decided to take it as the ultimate compliment!

A new Tesla in town?!

One of Katarina's favorite photos, which is similar to the previous one.

One thing always noticeable is that Katarina will always root for blue versions of images and I for red.

My favorite image of Katarina. Pure visual poetry.

Yearning for a break from our usual fine art escapades, Katarina desired a taste of 'conventional beauty' in our photography. Spotting an enchanting location, we boldly jumped the fence to gain access. The house and its picturesque yard captivated us, yet time proved to be far more fleeting than we had imagined.

In our village, fence-hopping meant endless hours of photography fun. But in a bustling town, we soon learned that others were eager to join in the exploration, too.

A valuable lesson learned indeed!

As we embarked on one of our first photoshoots of the year, it marked the beginning of Katarina's journey towards self-liberation in front of the camera.

Amidst the array of folders for each model, one stood out: 'Katarina as she is,' serving as a lasting reminder of her authentic presence.

I love that Kat's such a chameleon.

One moment you'll get a warrior-like, bigger than life expression and pose, and then the next she'll be all tender, fragile and emotional.

My absolute favorite set. Fake Hollywood, melodrama and the thinnest line between a failed and 100% successful photo shoot.

There was a moment of doubt when I wondered how people would react to these photos. Yet, in that same moment, I realized that this uncertainty signaled something significant.

Stepping outside one's comfort zone breeds unfamiliarity, leaving us unsure of what to expect.

But in creativity, embracing the new is always a positive sign, especially for those who have been creating for an extended period.

Recreation of one of my older self-portraits done upon my wish.

I thought the sister image to one of my most beloved images would be significant for our friendship.

Switching genres and aesthetics is huge for us. Not only does it bring so much fun but it also keeps us motivated to conquer new territories and learn something new about photography.

Undoubtedly the most ambitious photoshoot of the year, it marked Katarina's venture into the realms of design and tailoring, and my own plunge into the world of fashion photography – all in our signature unconventional style. Braving the elements, we captured our shots despite of the fiercest gusts of wind, while others sought shelter.

After months of both having our roles we decided it was time for us to switch sides.

Katarina took the camera that day and I posed in front of a window in my family house.

When we feel like there is room for growth, we make sure we seize the opportunity.

Just a reminder that we're not as serious as our final images turn out to be. Most of the time we're laughing and having fun and here's a pic to prove it.

Katarina during one of our photoshoots.

The one thing I love about our journey is that it taught us to notice things around us.

So many props we used were part of our daily lives without us even noticing.

My absolute favorite image, an outtake, for all the reasons I can't explain to myself!

I've often told Katarina that if she had lived in a different era, she would have been the muse for countless paintings. Her grace and poise are unmatched, especially in the way she effortlessly poses with her hands.

One of our most emotionally captivating photoshoots, intertwined with the discovery of one of nature's most exquisite blooms.

It was a languid summer day, immersed in the embrace of nature, where time seemed to stand still, and the success of our photos became inconsequential.

In those tranquil moments, we found pure meditation by not caring about the results. We realized later that even when we fail, we still manage to capture a few images we're proud of.

This photo is particularly dear to me because it evokes the atmosphere of a contemporary film, a passion shared by both Katarina and me.

Amidst the vast array of photos in this collection, I found myself immersed in post-production, playing with colors once again.

It reminded me of my early days in photography, when mastering color correction techniques like curves and selective color adjustments was essential.

Over the years, I've toned down my color editing, but this photo reignited my love for experimentation, sparking a newfound excitement for discovering unique color combinations.

During our photography journey I noticed Kat's unusual talent for hand posing.

Upon noticing, we decided to take a couple of minutes to photograph hands on every shoot.

Sometimes we manage to plan the whole set in advance but sometimes we do a quick shoot in front of a white wall.

No matter what, we try to always keep going on with our journey.