Hello
My name is Lana.
I’m an English / French / Russian-speaking wedding photographer in France. I offer creative cinematic wedding photography for couples dreaming of a destination wedding in Cognac, Bordeaux, or anywhere in southwestern France.
The first question I’m often asked is, “Where are you from?” Often, people think I’m Chinese or Cambodian—I’m Yakutian, from the coldest town on the Earth.
My background isn’t in photography—at least, not formally. I hold degrees in English and French literature and international law, and for years I helped startup founders navigate legal, financial, and administrative challenges. I have been good at it, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t my true passion.
Photography, however, was always there as a quiet companion. I began with family and friends, creating images simply for the joy of making memories. My first wedding photo and video was for a Japanese friend, whose husband told me he’d watched theirs wedding film (my present) seven times—crying, every time.
Still, I didn’t think of it as more than a personal hobby for many years.
But life has a way of guiding you back to your calling.
Over time, whenever I picked up my camera, —people loved the images I created.
As a destination wedding photographer in Cognac and Bordeaux, I create natural, elegant images for couples from all over the world. My work speaks for itself, please view my portfolio here.
My journey started with a fascination for lighting—thanks to David Hobby, whose Strobist work and teachings on off-camera flash transformed my approach. If you spot me as a wedding photographer, you’ll see me working magic with off-camera lighting for those beautiful, cinematic touches.
As I explored my style, I trained with incredible international experts like Kelly Brown for those dreamy newborn portraits. Her techniques taught me the art of gentle posing and the importance of baby safety. You can find my newborn photography here.
Like others, I enjoy watching films. Cinema inspired me to study cinematic photography with the Photography ArtFive program. Guided by five top photographers, this experience helped shape my creative vision—and now, my couples often tell me my images look “just like in a movie.”
Editing is a second major part of the wedding and portrait photography. Some photographers outsourcing the retouching work, some do themselves.
I enjoy the post-production part of the wedding photography. Editing is where I carefully polish every wedding photo, spending dedicated time to get each detail just right. I keep up with the best retouching techniques through masterclasses with teachers like Jesus Ramirez and August Dering, making sure skin looks beautifully natural—never overdone.
After years of editing, creating, and storytelling, I embraced my mission: to offer emotional, cinematic wedding photography in France. My goal is to help brides capture the real moments of their wedding day—whether it’s a vineyard elopement, a château celebration, or an intimate family ceremony.
I’ve been living in France for thirteen years with my husband, our daughter and our dog. To learn more about me and the backstage work, please visit my Instagram account.
If you are looking for a bilingual wedding photographer in France, I am here to capture your love story!
With warmth,
Lana
