Three Stories with Mila Romanova

Chapter I. The Image of a Poetess from the Romanov Era

The Silver Age. A country estate. A pre-storm sky

We simply couldn’t not do this shoot. A poet writing under the pseudonym Mila Romanova—how could we not immerse ourselves in the era so close to that name? Of course, we journeyed to the Silver Age.

Creating the Image

The entire preparation process was filled with historical details. In Nadezhda Mikhalkchuk’s creative space, we found an elegant little table and a chair with carved legs, a vintage vase, and an antique photo frame. The atmosphere was built with every little detail.

The dress, the hat with a veil, the lace parasol, the fan, and the gloves—everything worked towards the image of an elegant lady from the early 20th century. But the main accessory was Mila herself. Her poise, her gestures, her expression—she seemed to have stepped right out of a painting from that time.

The Magic of Light

  On July 19th, there was a thunderstorm in Tyumen—it was even shown on federal TV channels. But at “Timofeeva Land,” the weather allowed us to capture everything we had planned. The pre-storm sky and the pre-sunset sun created an incredible play of light and shadow. This added depth and that certain mystery to the photographs that we love so much in paintings.  

Post-Processing Touches

  During editing, I chose a soft, pastel toning. I also experimented with the backgrounds—some I created using artificial intelligence. And, of course, into that very antique frame, I “placed” a portrait of Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov. He, too, was a poet, signing his works with the initials “K.R., ” and left a bright mark on literature. It felt important to add this touch—a tribute to the man whose surname our heroine carries.  

Poetry Born from the Shoot

After this photoshoot, Mila wrote these amazing lines. Here they are—about our summer, about Tyumen, about life that answers “Yes”:

The bitter wormwood smells sweet,
In the sky, an early star…
If you love life,
It will answer you — “Yes”!

If you breathe it in
With the fresh melting of snows,
The lie of loud but unnecessary words
Will disappear forever.

The leaf spins, and the sky is blue,
Time flows like water.
If you love life,
It will sing to you!

Chapter II. Visiting a Fairytale

Гусочка Галинка, дорожка и та самая детскость, которую мы бережём.

Little goose Galinka, a path, and that childlike wonder we hold dear.

Fairytales aren’t just for children. Adults need them even more—to disconnect from daily routines, from “I have to” and “I must, ” and to feel lightness again.

The Idea

We simply decided to play. No complex concepts, no specific eras. Just—a fairytale. Mila agreed instantly. And then Galinka appeared.

The Main Partner

Little goose Galinka lives at “Timofeeva Land” and, it seems, knows exactly what acting is all about. When Nadezhda and I saw this sweet pair—Mila and Galinka—walking in sync along the path, we just froze with our cameras. It was incredibly touching and funny.

Why It Matters

The longer a person keeps their ability to be surprised and to play, the brighter their life is. This is especially valuable in creative professions. Mila is a poet; she feels the world more acutely. But that day, she wasn’t just a poet. She was a girl who met her goose friend and went on an adventure with her.

Do you love fairytales? Admit it. We certainly do.

Chapter III. The Slavic Woman (Slavyanka)

   Ancestral roots, songs, tears, and immense happiness.

This shoot marked the finale of our project. And it was the most emotional one.

Background

Mila was born in the Carpathian region. From childhood, she absorbed Slavic motifs—songs, embroidery, the dialect. When we started talking about a Slavic costume, I saw that special spark in her eyes. For her, this wasn’t dressing up; it was a return to herself.

The Process

At “Timofeeva Land, ” we found amazing items—authentic, with history. The Slavic costume settled on Mila as if she had worn it all her life. And when the songs of the Rusyns started playing… Mila couldn’t hold back her tears.

As I photographed, I understood: these are not just photographs. This is a dialogue with ancestors. This is the memory of one’s lineage. This is deeply personal and profoundly important.

After the Shoot

What a joy it is when your work is fully accepted. When a model trusts you so much that they allow you to glimpse the deepest corners of their soul. Mila responded to every idea, to every whisper. We spoke the same language—the language of images, light, and silence.

This shoot was a lesson in trust and harmony for me. Thank you, Mila.

Epilogue

Three stories. Three moods. Three women in one—a poetess, a storyteller, a keeper of roots.

I thank Mila Romanova for this journey. For her courage, her openness, her poetry. I thank Nadezhda and Dmitry Mikhalkchuk for “Timofeeva Land"—a place where magic becomes reality. Where you can imagine an image, and immediately find the costume, props, and the perfect light for it.

We will definitely continue. Because the “Magic of Summer” is just the beginning.