It was almost midnight. Not too many girls were up on our wing except for Marina and I. I just got back from a late night practice for upcoming Christmas concert and was about to crash, except Marina and I planned to do something that night we didn’t want to put off for longer. “Don’t get scared,” Marina told me, as she turned my chair so I could face the mirror. “It looks so good!” Marina kept repeating in her most excited voice. There I was, in front of a mirror with the shortest haircut I had since I was ten or younger. I could not believe that Marina just cut off my long hair, when I thought I was getting a trim. I didn’t know if I should cry or laugh, it was really late and I could barely keep my eyes open, but Marina was very wide awake. Only she could get away with it, her excitement and laughter filled the hallway, and soon other girls joined in to see my new haircut. I love Marina and memories like these make me love her even more. She was always the last to go to bed on our wing and the first to wake up, but never did her energy level cease, or her care for people diminished. If there was one word to describe my friend, it would be caring. Marina immensely cares for people and gives herself fully to whoever is in her life. She has filled my college years with some of the most fun moments, from the day she called me at midnight to find out about dress code at Master’s until the last night, when I spent a night on a floor in her dorm room and she kept throwing pillows at me. As I saw Marina walked down the aisle to her new husband, I could not help but smile and feel the charm, which Marina brought with her presence. What a beautiful day that was; cold, but truly beautiful because of the people in it.

The absolutely gorgeous bride!





Finally married!

I still remember the day when Vova and Anna asked me to be their wedding photographer and how excited they were about me capturing their wedding day. Now that I look back, I can only conclude that it was really a privilege to be part of their wedding and definitely a lot of fun. I really loved and enjoyed their wedding day, from waking up early in the morning to see a beautiful sunrise through the rainy clouds, to the rain drops, which finished off the wedding ceremony on the lush green lawn. God blessed their wedding in so many ways and it was exciting to see everything come together. Working out all the details with Vova and Anna before the wedding made me remember an episode from my childhood. Vova and I grew up together and used to do everything together and it just so happened when I was five, my uncle was getting married and took Vova as a ring boy and my sister as a flower girl. My sister Nadia made a sweet flower girl, yet I wasn’t happy about this, because that meant that I couldn’t play with Vova the entire day and I didn’t. I still remember begging my mom for Vova to drive back home with us after the wedding (about 2 hour drive), yet it didn’t work out and I was forever left with sad memories from the wedding. I guess I’m thankful for the sad things now, they really help to remember things much better. Well little did I know that almost twenty years later I would get to spend a whole day with Vova on his wedding day behind my camera. Thank you guys for giving me such an honor. I will be posting more pictures over time, but here is a preview of the morning at the bride’s house.