Ksenia Antonova - TIMELESS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Ksenia captures weddings with a rare balance of timeless elegance and raw emotion. Her work feels effortless—distilling love, laughter, and quiet in-between moments with a refined yet natural touch. It’s photography in its purest form, creating images that don’t just document but truly embody the essence of the day.

What has your creative journey been so far?

My creative journey began early — I was always drawing as a child, never letting go of my pencils. This passion led me to study graphic design, where I worked on the layout of fashion magazines. Later, I transitioned into product photography, but along the way, I felt a growing curiosity about capturing people.

When did you shoot your first wedding & what drew you to shooting weddings?

I shot my first wedding about 12 years ago. My first attempt at photographing a person was a complete disaster. I quickly realized that I lacked the skills and knowledge to be the photographer I aspired to be. Determined to grow, I gave myself two years to learn, refine my craft, and evolve. I started with short family and couples' sessions, gradually gaining confidence. Then, I decided to try wedding photography — and to my surprise, I loved it. After three years, I had not only become a professional photographer but also built a client base of my own.

How would you describe your work?

I’d like to believe that my work is a combination of timeless classics and the energy of the moment. That’s why I love shooting weddings so much — the wedding day is incredibly multifaceted, filled with countless moments where you can showcase different aspects of your craftsmanship. This is what makes it both challenging and fascinating at the same time — you have to engage all your skills, including the ability to connect with people. I truly believe that our profession requires us to be highly versatile.

How do you want people to feel when they see your photos?

I want my photos to offer people a glimpse of the world through my eyes, allowing them to feel the beauty of a moment or the atmosphere of what’s unfolding. The emotions we experience are incredibly valuable — they are the reason we create special moments in our lives.

What was a favourite memory on a shoot from last year?

One of the most memorable moments happened in France, at a wedding in a château. The bride climbed out of the window with her friends, while no one was looking, to have a glass of champagne. It was a moment of bonding with the girls she holds dear but rarely sees, as they all live in different countries.

What gear do you NEED on shoot day?

I definitely couldn’t do without my Sony 24-70mm f/2.8, Sony 35mm f/1.4 lenses, and my flash. I also truly love my Sony A7R5 camera for its beautiful color and outstanding image quality.

What is one thing you would tell 'young' you just starting her career?

Master the basic photography skills first. Blogs and Instagram often suggest that you need to be creative and artistic — and this is indeed true, it’s an important part of our work. However, due to the strong influence of social media, photographers sometimes lose balance and forget to learn the fundamentals, and the basics are still very important. Before becoming the father of Cubism, Picasso studied the foundations of artistic mastery.

How do you balance your personal creative integrity, whilst serving your clients on their special day?

I usually always ask the couple how they envision their wedding day and what’s important to them. I also have a short questionnaire that I send out a month before the event to get an idea of what to focus on. I love photographing various events and, to some extent, adapt to what’s happening, but always in harmony with my own style.

Who or what is currently inspiring you? How do you cultivate creativity in your life?

It seems to me that we live in a time of content overload, and it really helps me to have a limited number of subscriptions on Instagram. Otherwise, there’s this feeling of constantly missing out on a moment, as if you have nothing more to offer the world.

People, colors, emotions — it all just overwhelms. That’s why I love to focus on simple things. On sunlight filtering through the leaves, on the shadows from tree branches falling on the corner of a house, on natural textures. Outside the phone screen, the world is absolutely beautiful and inspiring for me, and I use it.

How do you personally define success?

Honestly, for many years, I never thought about success. I was just obsessed with what I was doing and absolutely in love with my work. I think this is what worked in my favor—success was never the goal, and it turned out to be a successful strategy.

I consider myself successful because I do what I love, work with people I like, and, on top of that, I get paid for it.

I moved to live by the ocean, and I really wanted to create a beautiful photoshoot here. I had dreamt about it for about a week when I received a message from a wedding dress designer with an offer that perfectly matched my idea. I consider having such opportunities a great success as well.

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