About Me

I’m Helina, an Estonian photographer with two homes — one surrounded by quiet forests in Estonia, and the other shared between Valencia city and Benitachell in sunny Spain.

For more than 20 years, I’ve travelled the world with curiosity, photographing people and cultures, tasting everything from fine dining to street food, and developing a lasting interest in wine along the way.
 

My path into photography began with graphic design, one of my professional foundations. I have always been interested in how visuals are constructed — how composition, colour and different elements can turn an idea into a story.

At the same time, while running my own production company, I began photographing our products myself. It started as a practical solution, but something clicked. Gradually, people began asking me to photograph them, their work and their stories. This led to some magazine covers, personal portraits, intimate weddings and meaningful collaborations.

I have now been photographing seriously and consciously for around ten years. What interests me most is not simply how something looks, but what can be felt beyond the frame.

I’m fascinated — perhaps even a little obsessed — with capturing raw emotion. I notice moments of softness, confidence, joy, vulnerability and connection. I’m less interested in posed perfection and more interested in what happens when someone stops performing for the camera.

 I also don’t believe that a good photograph needs heavy editing. Often, it needs only a light touch. When I have a clear idea and the person in front of the camera trusts me, most of what the photograph needs is already there.

Some of my most inspiring sessions take place in crumbling ruins, on empty beaches or in wild, forgotten spaces. I’m especially drawn to people who are bold, eccentric, open-minded or simply willing to try something unfamiliar.

 I also enjoy playing with the environment. A photograph may look as if it was created in a studio, when in reality we were outdoors with nothing more than a piece of velvet laid across the sand.

There is often a moment when the person looks at the surroundings, then at me, and clearly wonders how any of this is going to become a glamorous or striking photograph. They agree to trust me anyway. Seeing their surprise when they receive the final images is one of the best parts of my work.

I sometimes photograph corporate events as well, but I still approach them in my own way. I look for personality, interaction and the individual character of the people involved, rather than producing a collection of standard event photographs. Over the years, I have developed a recognisable way of seeing people — and the response has shown me that it works.

I also love photographing small, intimate weddings. Not only because of the beauty of the day, but because of the energy. People are less focused on how they appear and more focused on celebrating love. The atmosphere is joyful, human and hopeful — and that naturally comes through in the photographs.

Then there are animals: always honest and always fully present. Some of my favourite sessions have been with pets and their humans. Animals tend to relax people and bring out a side of them that is difficult to stage. The most genuine photographs often happen in those unguarded moments.

My absolute favourites, however, are portraits — individual portraits and intimate couple sessions.

I’m not interested in standard beauty shoots or asking someone to stand still and smile at the camera. I want to create something more personal and unexpected. That requires a little courage: the courage to let go, trust the process and allow me to see something beyond the familiar version of You.

The best feedback I can receive is:

“I didn’t know I had that side in me.”

Or:

“You introduced me to a version of myself I hadn’t seen before.”

For me, a portrait session has succeeded when the person feels more confident after seeing the photographs — when they recognise themselves, but also discover something new.
 

Sincerely Yours,

Helina Saarniit