Female empowerment is the process by which women gain power and control over their own lives and acquire the ability to make strategic choices. I view female empowerment as connoting independence and but also community. Femininity, at its heart, centers around compassion, self-affirmation, growth and self-respect. To feel empowered and feminine, involves contributing to a larger conversation while also taking care of yourself. It involves being compassionate, accepting, and understanding of yourself and of other women. It also means seeing flaws in your own feminism in the same ways you might notice imperfections in others and learn to become a better self.  Here are 5 things that allow me to feel empowered.  Be true to your authenticity, drive, passions, inspirations and embrace your talents.Practice self-care and make a pact to commit to value yourself the way you believe you deserve to be valued.Get inspired by other women and participate in the conversation of women’s empowerment. Encourage and uplift other women.Prioritize personal growth and strive to improve yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically every day. [envira-gallery id='613']

Female empowerment is the process by which women gain power and control over their own lives and acquire the ability to make strategic choices. I view female empowerment as connoting independence and also community. Femininity, at its heart, centers around compassion, self-affirmation, growth and self-respect. To feel empowered and feminine, involves contributing to a larger conversation while also taking care of yourself. It involves being compassionate, accepting, and understanding of yourself and of other women. It also means seeing flaws in your own feminism in the same ways you might notice imperfections in others and learn to become a better self.  Here are 5 things that allow me to feel empowered.  Be true to your authenticity, drive, passions, inspirations and embrace your talents.Practice self-care and make a pact to commit to value yourself the way you believe you deserve to be valued.Get inspired by other women and participate in the conversation of women’s empowerment. Encourage and uplift other women.Prioritize personal growth and strive to improve yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically every day. [envira-gallery id='642']

Many of you have asked me about my favorite studio products. Nowadays, there are so many different options and brands that choosing your equipment can be a burden. Over the past few years, I have continuously researched and tested different products until I finally found what I am fond of. Here are 2 of my studio essentials with 3 reasons why I love them:  Profoto B10 for lighting Big light in a small packageLong lasting batteryQuality exceeds price Gravity backdrops (Mid Texture) Great customer serviceAffordable pricingQuality exceeds price Having the appropriate equipment has been a game changer. I can now focus on my subject and forget about setting or building a background, and finding the perfect light. Everything that I have, and recommend, is affordable for a photographer that doesn’t want to have a HUGE expense but really wants to take it to the next level. Please comment below which is your favorite studio product! Check out the videos below for few more tips! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92iaXp97mZY&t=4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuGfAKU_Nj0

Over centuries, artists have been drawn to flowers for their evocative qualities and have given them personal, cultural, and religious significance. With their harmonious colors, soft curves, and symmetrical forms, flowers have become very rich in symbolism and appear regularly in art throughout history.   When incorporating flowers into my sets, I consider the historical and cultural significance of each flower species to avoid confusion and misinterpretation. In my practice, the purpose of flowers depends on the context, a single flower can represent reproduction or decay, purity or promiscuity, love or hardship—or nothing. For example, in my photograph Allure I incorporated flowers to imply their function in nature: reproduction. In this image flowers address issues and emotions associated with the topic of female sexuality and procreation. I integrated flowers into my composition to symbolize female genitalia and therefore, associated them with my own perspectives, encounters, perceptions, and stresses in a way that would be simpler for me to communicate and less grating for my crowd to acknowledge.  Making these photographs has been therapeutic for me, my models, and my crew; I hope that other women who experience difficulty exploring and embracing their sexuality can relate to my work and can now seek different ways to feel more comfortable in their own skin.  I integrate flowers into my composition to symbolize female genitalia and therefore, associate them with my own perspectives, encounters, perceptions, and stresses in a way that would be simpler for me to communicate and less grating for my crowd to acknowledge. [envira-gallery id='613']

I will be very straight forward, this blog post is mostly me bragging about my recent interview with Forbes Women Poland. For those who know me, you know I never brag, in fact , I blush and get very uncomfortable when people around me talk about me and my accomplishments. I have no idea why this happens but I truly dislike the attention. However I feel very different about this recent article, of course I am super happy to be highlighted with a print 6 page spread in Forbes before my husband. I am absolutely thrilled that this was printed in Forbes Women, and I am ecstatic about the fact that it was in Poland!!! Coming from a mixed background of a Polish Bulgarian family, I am always nostalgic about Poland and my family, I am also extremely proud of my roots. This article couldn't have come at a better time!  Forbes approached my right in the beginning of the pandemic, when all my projects, meetings, work, masterclasses, client sessions and so on got canceled all together!  As many of you, I was a bit in shock as I have never imagined such a scenario. Not only that they got canceled but they didn't get rescheduled as the situation was so uncertain at the time, everything was floating in the air and I was trying to adjust to this new state, stay positive and somehow still be inspired as an artist. In a time of crisis, the last thing on your mind is art and inspiration, naturally our self preservation instincts kick in and until we feel stable, inspiration is hard to come.  Thanks to this Forbes interview, I stayed positive and inspired despite the situation, I adjusted my business model and planned for the future. A big thank you to Forbes Women Poland, my fans and all of my friends who have been supporting me mentally and emotionally ...you know who you are...Erica….Myko! And few others:)

Thank you all for your interest in my FREE One to One Photography Masterclass sessions. Due to the overwhelming requests, I am now putting up few more dates and will be offering these at a first come first serve. Once you register, you will be notified if you made it or you are put on a wait list for a different date and time. I have few dates available with about 6-7 spots for one to one consultations but I will be adding more and those that are on a waitlist, will be automatically notified for the next date available. Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-one-to-one-portfolioproject-review-critique-and-assistance-tickets-101583775808?fbclid=IwAR3wSyGoRXhyFYzTnOYUdnln1ZQ6EAwdQuDtgOA_OgC6Lh7lkJwz9BeLl1U Here are the details: FREE Photography Assistance Suggestion for topics we can discuss: · Assistance with project development or review · online portfolio | website review and advice · latest photography session discussion · discussion of photographic style and vision · Ideas to help you with organizing your ideas and photo session itself · Assistance with brainstorming inspiration and creativity · discussing lighting technique, shooting style, composition and more · critique of specific photographs During this one to one 20 min consultation, you will have an opportunity to ask questions about your portfolio, project or any other photography needs and questions you want to resolve. Free portfolio critiquing and advice, as well as advice on individual completed or in progress projects. It doesnt matter where are you in the process - planning, executing, editing! Once you book the day and time, send us an email to samirasabulis@gmail.com with the specifics of what you want to discuss so we can be as productive as possible in our one to one video conference. Please note this is a one on one consultation, groups are not permitted. Recording of the session is also not permitted and is subject to legal liability. Additional time if you wish to extend the FREE session - hourly $195 (this is a discounted rate, only for sessions April though May) One Free session per person, you are not allowed to book a session for a different day once you use your session. Cancel 24 hours in advance to be able to reschedule for a future date, otherwise we count the session as completed and you cannot apply for a new FREE

classic portrait of a girl standing next to a vaseseated girl in a fine art portrait Early in my career, I have attended various workshops in order to make sure I am up to date with my skill set as well as to get inspiration and see how perhaps others are tackling photography, even now once in a while I enjoy visiting conventions and workshops. I have to say that without doing the proper research, I landed on some pretty bad workshops. I decided to write this blog to give you food for thought before you select your next workshop adventure.  Here are the negatives I have experienced:  Wanting to walk out because the instructor turns out to not know as much as I hoped for or just not willing to share knowledge (but I paid way too much money)Walking out because of inaccurate descriptionWalking out because the instructor is trying to sell me gadgets I came up with a list of criteria that I believe will help you make an educated decision, so you do not end up wasting your money and time. 1.The instructor’s background and body of work When you are browsing through the internet, looking for an interesting workshops, and you find one you think you like, its important to research the instructor and his work in depth. Things to consider: How long has the photographer been in business? What kind of recognitions does the photographer have? Make sure they are from a reputable and tasteful institution. There are many big institutions out there offering awards and recognitions to their members but the overall bar is not high enough in terms of quality.Is the photographer’s work consistent in style and quality?Reviews: reviews are tricky. First of all, many websites will remove bad reviews because they are paid to do so, second, you really don't know the level of experience and understanding of the person giving the review or their progress after the workshop. That being said: google! Its pretty good!Think about the style of the photographer too: is it something you want to learn, could you apply it to your own work? Consider what will be taught- for example: if you want to learn camera fundamentals but the class you are looking at is about light and editing, its probably best to consider that class at a later stage as most likely camera fundamentals will not be covered so extensivelyResearch what has the instructor commented or said in the past, it will give you an idea of who they are and what they stand forPay attention to the equipment the instructor is using. Professionals use top gear in terms of camera, lens and lights. If the instructor is teaching the workshop using cheap equipment- that is a strange thing and you should question the instructors own knowledge In my experience, the less an instructor knows, the bigger their ego and unwillingness to share information, which defeats the whole purpose of a workshop.  Armchair philosophy time: when I say EGO I mean the kind born from insecurity and fear “ I will show everyone how amazing I am” but in fact that person deep inside knows they are not so amazing. There is good EGO ,I believe, that EGO helps the individual succeed and make their mark in the world. 2. Inaccurate description Pay attention to the description of the workshop, terms and conditions (they may be listed separately), cancelling policies - professionals always have these described well as it is a common practice in the industry. Since you will be receiving an intangible good,  professional photographers will have these in detail. 3. Workshop trying to sell you on gadgets Do not think that a “cheap” workshop and a “costly” one designed to teach the same thing are the same. In my experience, the more expensive the workshop, the less likely it is that the instructor will be desperate to sell you on products from their sponsors or affiliates. Rest assured that the lower the fee for a workshop, it is mostly designed to advertise a new product and “teach” you around that. In conclusion, find an instructor that is not only experienced and with a consistent body of work but also passionate about sharing knowledge and educating others.