Lena, a speaking coach, photographed by Tata Melnyk by a dark wooden door — Lena P., speaking coach, 2022See the shoot

Masha in an embrace, photographed by Tata Melnyk — Masha G., business owner, 2022See the shoot

Lena, an executive producer, flexing her arm by a wall of torn posters, photographed by Tata Melnyk — Lena L., executive producer, 2026See the shoot

Elise, an anthropologist, smiling with her eyes closed in a stripe of light, photographed by Tata Melnyk — Elise H., anthropologist, 2025See the shoot

Sneak off for a bit?

A portrait photoshoot in Kyiv — just you, the light and me.

For a few hours,
no role to play.

Most days your face is turned to others — at work, at home, among friends.
Here the attention is all yours, and sometimes you meet a side of yourself you haven’t seen in far too long.

Myles D., musician, 2025

It starts
with talking.

The camera can wait.

The beginning is always a warm-up — you settle in. Then it gets better and better, and the best frames come at the end.

1

Elise H., anthropologist, 2025

You step into
the light.

No standard backdrop, no set route.

I choose the place and the light for you, and often ask you to engage with the space — to feel it, to touch it.

2

Lena P., speaking coach, 2022

You get to move.

No posing, no need to pretend.

People have danced at my shoots, sung, read poetry, told their stories. It helps the body let go, and you forget about the camera.

3

Lena L., executive producer, 2026

And there
you are.

Seen with care.

It sounds strange, but during a shoot I love the person in front of me. That’s how it should be — otherwise the photographs won’t open up.

A pretty picture is not enough.

4

I’m Tata, the one behind the camera. I know the awkwardness in front of it — the fear of seeing yourself, of opening up. I’ve felt it myself. It’s about trust, and trust has to be earned. Winning a person over — that’s what I do.

About me

Lena L.

executive producer

Once I saw how she looks at a person — openly, with real curiosity — I relaxed.

At first I didn’t get what I was doing on the other side of the camera: I’m an active person, I need to control everything. And she loves light — like I do.

Maria B.

accountant and volunteer

I’m so different in them — and yet exactly the way I am in life.

I couldn’t wait — I started looking through them right there on the street with a friend. Serious in one, smiling in another. You see so much more than other photographers do.

Vita M.

psychologist

She doesn’t tell you how to stand — she leads you.

For over twenty years I worked as a journalist, often alongside a photographer — but I never once got to be the model. She doesn’t tell you how to stand or what to do with your hands — she leads you. And afterwards you’re different, because you’ve met yourself. Sometimes for the first time. Sometimes you remember who you used to be. Or could have been.

Ana T.

musician

She is a very open person and easy to communicate with.

Tata is a very talented and professional photographer — I enjoyed our photoshoot a lot!

Elene M.

student

My photoshoot was very enjoyable.

I was pleased to have a photo walk with Tata. She is very funny and the best at her job — I’m very satisfied!

Lena, a speaking coach, by a dark wooden door, photographed by Tata Melnyk

Portrait for yourself

A psychological portrait for people who work with people — psychologists, teachers, creatives — and for anyone ready to give themselves a few hours.

about 2.5 hours
100–150 frames · ~20 hand-finished

12 000 ₴

Where Turnaround

You receive — 100–150 frames, each colour-corrected, and about 20 of them hand-finished: cropping, retouching, individual light correction, fine-art black and white. Full resolution, in an online gallery — from three weeks. With a preview, the first 10 frames arrive in 3 working days; with express editing, the whole set does.

How it goes — about 2.5 hours, until we've got it. We start with a conversation; I choose the place and the light for you.

From you — a few words in a message about what you're hoping for. Nothing to prepare.

Extra retouching — 100 ₴ per frame, once you've seen the gallery. Rescheduling is free. −20% for families of the military.

Kyiv Series: 20 shoots at 8 000 ₴ until 31 December — the code is on my Instagram

Also: celebrations and performative portraits — write to me →