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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA
Article Published on 18 November 2024 by Gloria Poletti | www.vorakamag.com
Karina is originally from Ukraine and her journey in photography started in 2022 when war broke out in her home country. Like many others, she lost her job, at that moment she was working in the IT industry and didn't know what to do next. At this difficult moment, she decided to start photography because it was a field she had long wanted to try and it allowed her moral distraction from all the horror that was happening in the country. At that time Karina already had her first camera, which was presented to her by her boyfriend (now husband) a few months before. From that moment her journey in the world of photography began, first just as a hobby format, and then it became a full-time job.
Her first works were focused on shooting female portraits, femininity, and beauty, but soon Karina went deeper into couples stories, focusing specifically on pure emotions. After that, Karina's career went straight upward. Karina believes that every photographer shoots what is filled inside themselves. Today her photography is an ode to human emotions, their stories, and love. Karina allows her clients to live their personal movies in the frame telling their stories through the lens. Her personal credo is “each of us is the main character of our own movie”, and this is what attracts people to her. They come not only for photos but also to live their unique experience in the process of shooting.
For two years Karina has managed to work in different parts of Ukraine, including big cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa. She has worked with modeling agencies in Ukraine and photographed people's stories in Austria, also she had the experience of doing an incredible underwater shoot. Karina recently moved to Pittsburgh, USA where she continues to build her career. Her talent has already been recognized in the US when she had the opportunity to be among the photographers at New York Fashion Week.
Karina specializes in shooting couples’ stories and individual portraits, as well as doing consultations for other photographers.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KARINA AZAROVA
What inspired you to turn to photography during the war in Ukraine?
I always wanted to be a photographer but I was afraid that I wouldn't succeed or make money from it, but at the beginning of the war I lost my job in the IT industry and I had nothing else to lose, so I started photography and this process helped me mentally very well, I put all my thoughts there instead of thinking about the war.
How did your background in IT influence your approach to photography?
Honestly, I hated my job in the IT industry, I cried every night at home after work, sometimes even at work and it was this experience that made me realize that the work you do every day should make you feel good about yourself and happy.
How did receiving your first camera from your husband shape your creative journey?
I've thought about it many times, and if it wasn't for that gift from my husband, I doubt I would have started shooting at all. He gave me a tool that I could use to create different stories through my photos.
Why did you start with female portraits, and what led you to focus on couples and emotions?
Female portraits are the first thing many photographers start with, I think. It's easier to find a model that way and almost all girls are excited about the new photos, you turn out to be a win-win. It was easier for me at first to learn how to work with one person in the frame. Then I realized that I am ready to communicate with two people in the frame at once, now 95% of my photo shoots are couple shoots and this is my favorite kind of shooting.
How do your personal experiences reflect in the stories you capture through your lens?
I believe that every photographer shoots what reflects themselves and what they have inside. I have a lot of love inside me and I easily show it to others.
What does your credo, "each of us is the main character of our own movie," mean to you in your work?
This is most likely due to the romanticizing of life, it's too difficult to live without it in today's realities. And I try to teach that to my people. I try to show them that their life and their story is unique and every story is worthy of a movie, and of course this movie is about love.
How have your travels and work in Ukraine, Austria, and the U.S. shaped your style?
Everyone has a different mindset and people love each other in completely different ways, some are more shy, some are more funny, and some are not embarrassed to kiss in the middle of a crowd on the street. I enjoy it and my style is still building up, but the fact that my photos have become more lively is a fact.
What was the most challenging and rewarding part of your underwater shoot?
It was a super challenging shoot. The hardest part was guiding the couple through the microphone. Sometimes it's hard to explain to the couple what I want to get from them, and here we had to do the same thing, but the couple was underwater, in addition to everything I had to control the dress and movements, but we coped wonderfully, and the best part was the result of course.
How did photographing at New York Fashion Week impact your career?
I've learned to be bolder and assert my personal boundaries because whoever is the fastest and a little pushy gets the best shots.
How are you building your photography career in Pittsburgh, and what excites you about it?
I just do my work. The same thing I did in Ukraine, I just show my work to people, they like it and they want to do the same.
What advice would you give to aspiring photographers looking to tell powerful stories?
Shoot a lot of creative shoots, choose the stories you want to tell rather than focusing on other photographers.
How do you balance technical skill with capturing raw emotions in your photos?
I learned in the beginning how the camera works, now I don't even think about the technical aspects, everything happens on automatism, now I only focus on the people in the frame.
How does it feel to be the cover photographer for Voraka magazine, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
For me this is a new level in my work, it was a bit challenging for me because it was my first time shooting a male portrait, but it turned out better than I thought. For me it's an opportunity to try something new and realize my idea, and most importantly to tell a story about a person to more people.
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