With the rise of social media, there has been a particular focus in recent years on visual art, such as video and photography. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have given visual creators an excellent medium to express themselves, and share their work with people around the world, some of them to great acclaim. One of the most popular fashion photographers on the scene today is Yustina Valova, whom we were lucky enough to chat with.
As an influencer, artist, and also a social media manager for her own work, we wanted to get Yustina’s input on what it means to be creative in today’s world.
We asked Yustina about how she views social media, and social networking and the potential this has for emerging artists.
“Today, social networks are very important, both for people just starting their way, and for professionals. It is a platform to express yourself and tell others,” Yustina explains. Obviously, she enjoys expressing herself through her photography tremendously, and her unique photo style has gotten her work featured in publications all over the world, including Italian Vogue, which Yustina considers one of her greatest accomplishments to date.
One of the things that are powering her not just as an artist, but as a human being, also, is her incredible versatility. With a wide ranging palate that stretches to things like her music taste, but also her art, Yustina is perhaps one of the most versatile artists we’ve come across.
“Each person is unique in their own way. I think people see what they want to see in a person,” she says, speaking of herself, but it’s also a principle that can be applied to her art. Yustina’s photography definitely brings out unexpected angles, and unique takes on her subjects, which only serves to make her work more memorable.
Although meticulous and determined in her work, Yustina has a surprisingly chill and easy-going vibe. We asked her what she might’ve liked to do differently, in the early days of her career, and she answered with this.
“Everyone must go their own way, and if this is how mine turned out, then someone needed it!”
Yustina admits she doesn’t like making concrete plans, which is why she doesn’t know where her future will take her. One thing is for certain, though, she definitely doesn’t plan on stopping here. In the coming years, she looks forward to exploring new directions with her work, and helping photographers who are just starting out hone their skills.
“If photography brings you pleasure, try, experiment, surprise! Find your style and handwriting! Just go ahead!”
It’s certainly an approach Yustina has adopted in her own art journey, and look where it’s taken her. Currently, she’s at a place where her career is growing, and her artwork is helping determine and push forward the careers of many models and magazines.
“Through the prism of photography, our world is getting better,” she told us, in parting, and with photographs like Yustina’s, we can’t help but agree.
