On 13.04.2025, I took part in a Print Sale Event at Cropp Studios — a day I had been looking forward to for a while. From 1 PM to 8 PM, the studio opened its doors to collectors, photography lovers, and anyone curious enough to wander in. Five of us showed our work: Cherie Birkner, Marie-Lisette Cropp, Elvina Kulinicenko, Lê Quyên Nguyễn, and Paula G. Vidal.
What I love about events like this is the directness of it. Someone walks up, looks at your print, and either something clicks for them or it doesn't. There's no algorithm in the way, no scroll. Just the image and the person standing in front of it. That kind of encounter is something you would look forward to.
Cherie Birkner, Marie-Lisette Cropp, Elvina Kulinicenko, Lê Quyên Nguyễn, Paula G. Vidal
The Atmosphere
The space felt relaxed and unhurried. People spent time — really spent time — looking at the work, asking questions, talking to us about how certain shots came together. FUERST WIACEK BREW provided drinks, which helped set a warm, social tone. It never felt like a hard sell; more like an open studio with good company.
There's no algorithm in the way, no scroll. Just the image and the person standing in front of it.
Seeing My Work in Print
I shoot digitally, I edit digitally, and most of my work lives online — so printing always feels like a deliberate act. A print has weight, texture, a specific size that changes how you read the image. You can't zoom in or swipe away. That physical commitment, both from me in making it and from someone choosing to hang it on their wall, means something to me.
Berlin's Photography Scene, and Where I Fit In
Berlin has a particular energy when it comes to photography. The city attracts people who are serious about the medium but still willing to experiment — and the events that bring that community together, like the one at Cropp Studios, reflect that. I've been building my practice here since I arrived, and events like this one are part of how I understand what's happening around me and where my work sits within it.
I shoot portraits — people in their element, or in moments they didn't expect to feel so comfortable in. What keeps me interested in it is the same thing that made the print sale feel meaningful: the image only does its job when the right person is standing in front of it. Berlin is full of those people, and I'm not going anywhere.
Open to Exhibition and Collaboration
Days like this remind me that I want more of them. I'm genuinely open to showing work in group exhibitions, solo shows, or any kind of curatorial context where the work makes sense. If you're a gallerist, curator, or organiser working on something in Berlin — or further afield — I'd be glad to hear from you. Prints are available, and so am I.
You can reach me directly at elvina.photocreative@gmail.com or find my portfolio at elvinakulinicenko.com.
I'm Elvina — a portrait photographer based in Berlin, and I work with people who want something real. Artists, musicians, actors, business professionals, couples, and expectant parents all come through my studio. Every session gets the same thing: careful attention and genuine direction. Working in English, German, and Russian means most people can relax and just be themselves from the moment they walk in.
elvina.photocreative@gmail.com · +49 157 3 574 7452