BEHIND THE LENS

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BEHIND THE LENS

“Elegance is the balance between proportion, emotion, and surprise - Valentino Garavani”

behind the lens

Hi, my name is Ester, and I’m a Polish-born, Minneapolis MN based journalistic photographer. Photography found me a few years ago (hello 2014!!), and I learned along the way that amazing things happen when you step out of your comfort zone and let your creativity and intuition take over.

I am married to the best guy I know, who believes in me, more than I do sometimes, and brings out the best in me. He’s my world, and my way back to myself when my compass loses North. If we’re not day dreaming about our next Europe trip, we’re probably binge-watching Grimm, and trying to keep our crazy Rottie pup Surly Burly from destroying the house one garbage can at a time. Sarcasm is my love language, and let’s be honest, you probably won’t get most of my jokes - not that that’s going to stop me from trying…

MY STYLE is just a bit moody, very camera-unaware, and to me a perfect photograph can be far from perfect or perfectly posed. I love wind-blown hair, an impromptu dance, and I don’t shy away from chaos. I tend to have a 6th sense for awkwardness (sometimes even my own ;)) so stiff poses are not my thing. No cheese either. My favorite moment is likely on the candid side, showcasing your quirkiness, and sweetness, with genuine connection, tapping into your mood and personality.

I care deeply about my work, your experience, and the images I capture. What I do makes me smile. On a daily basis. I give my work my all (and then some), pour my heart and soul into it, and lose myself in it. It’s absolutely exhilarating, and so humbling at the same time, to be entrusted to serve you with my talents, and my hope is to create timeless, authentic images that will fill your heart and your walls.

If what you see, and who I am speak to you, send me a note and let’s connect! - Ciao! Ester

CreATIVE COMMERCIAL

Be it food photography for a new cookbook you're working on, creative product images for your knitting website, or killer editorial headshots for your spunky business - if you're passionate about it, so am I. Can't wait to capture you in your element!!

intimate wedding & ELopement

The romance, the love, the details, the sweet big and small moments. I can't wait to be a part of it all!! So flirt and cuddle away! My goal is to help keep your day on track as you focus on taking it all in.

Portrait & LifEstyle

Lifestyle in-home newborn or engagement sessions, or frolicking in nature for no reason at all. I love to capture real moments as your life expands and progresses - to adorn your walls, digital or otherwise, so you may remember it all.

:: :: ::

“Ester, where do we begin?! Thank you so much for being the absolute best wedding photographer ever! You guided us through the entire day, and we couldn’t have done it without you! We loved working with you!!!”

— Thanks again!!! xoxo, The Wallentines <3

STYLE

"Creativity is Intelligence having fun" - Albert Einstein

STYLE

"Creativity is Intelligence having fun" - Albert Einstein

:: JOURNALISTIC STYLE ::

A storyteller is a keen observer, keeping a pulse on what's unfolding in front of her, with a creative eye for detail, preserving some mystery, and aiming to capture genuine emotion and candidness of the moment. Capturing stories is what made me fall in love with photography to begin with, and it's what keeps me hooked.

I care about my craft, and capturing what makes me soar, so it's very important for me to connect with clients that are part of "my tribe" and are likeminded. If the very most important thing to you is having traditional, posed, looking at the camera photos, I'm probably not the photographer for you. And, that's OK!

My passion is to create authentic and natural images that depict you in your element, and because of that I'm a big fan of movement and play rather than static and stiff posing, which tend to produce strained expressions. Springing into an impromptu, goofy dance, and creating situations where you can be you, and the connection between you can overtake the moment for me to capture those real bursts of laughter, the nerdy wrinkle-nose smiles, the sweet hugs, and all the other feels, is what I'm all about. If my journalistic style tugs on your heart strings, let's connect!

Now, don't worry, on a wedding day there is the family portraits part, where you do get the traditional shots with mom and grandma for their fridge, but even then I often go off script to get a few more outtakes of sweet moments happening rather than just focusing on those must-haves. And, if you are part of "my tribe", those likely will end up being some of your favorites down the road.

Journalist

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and White, you photograph their souls... Ted Grant”