Make Yourself a Lovely Portrait is a series of photographs created in a nod towards the classic art of portraiture. In the very beginnings of photography, when only few could afford a camera, photo sessions were considered unique and special events for which people would dress up and look their best.

The idea of hand-painted backgrounds used in old portrait studios, people posing in dignity, distant and focused, being almost beyond themselves; all this creates a specific atmosphere which, on the one hand, restricts with the rigidity of its form: stiff official poses, limited face expressions. Paradoxically, thanks to these restrictions, it allows the models to relax and reveal their true selves.

An important factor here is that none of the models had experience in posing for the photos. The fact that they were a bit lost, felt uncomfortable, insecure and were completely dependent on the photographer's directions, enabled them to form a new field of possibilities to express themselves, and to see how it feels to step outside of the existing versions of themselves.

Fashion also plays a vital role in the photographs, but rather as a tool to present a different side of the models - the photographer’s version of them. The goal was to capture this rare moment of truth, trust, and the quiet magic of forgetting who you are for a little while. It's just the present moment, the camera, and us.