When a portrait photo is combined with art, something really special is created. I was able to shoot an artist and entrepreneur from Hämeenlinna at the Van Gogh exhibition at Tampere House – a replica of the artist’s bedroom, to be precise. This was not just any shoot, but a story about a dream, inspiration and the courage to realise an idea at the last moment.
Where the idea came from
It all started in a small moment. Rina told me that her daughter had snapped a picture of her on her phone at a Van Gogh exhibition. In the picture, she was sitting in a replica of the famous bedroom – and that little shot stuck in her mind. She was so taken with the idea that she dreamed of a full-length portrait session in the same setting.
A week passed, and the closing date of the exhibition was approaching. But she decided to follow her dream and contacted me: could we make it happen before the doors closed? Luckily, the schedules fell into place – and two days before the exhibition closed, we headed to Tampere.
Journey and encounter
Already on the way to Tampere, I experienced how special this shoot was going to be. We chatted happily for a long time in the car, and I was overwhelmed by Rina’s story. She has a varied and rich life behind her, including living in different countries, international experiences, and ever rediscovered creativity. I felt that every story she told opened up a new layer of her personality.
Photography in Van Gogh’s room
An iconic sight awaited in the exhibition hall of Tampere Hall: an exact reconstruction of Van Gogh’s bedroom. With the museum’s permission, we were allowed to enter and use the room as a stage. It was like a little trip back in time to the world of art.
Rina, who has a background in art therapy and organises “paint & wine” nights and creative events in Hämeenlinna, blended in perfectly. It was as if Van Gogh’s bold colours and her own creativity were in conversation. The pictures showed the same passion and power that was already evident in the car’s travelogue.
Why a portrait photoshoot can be an experience of a lifetime
This portrait photo shoot in Tampere reminded me again that images are not just an external surface. They can be an experience, a shared journey and a story that will live on for a long time. When you combine a creative milieu, the subject’s own history and a warm interaction, the result is more than a picture – it is a memory and a feeling.
I am grateful that I was able to do this unique portrait photoshoot. It was a mixture of Van Gogh’s spirit, travel companionship and Rina’s own wonderful creative energy. And most of all – it proved again that sometimes the best ideas come from small moments, which are worth following boldly to the end.
Rina also wrote a very moving blog post about our little adventure. You can read it here.
When a creative entrepreneur who has turned 50 (or 5,0?🤭) has a spark & a dream of a photo shoot inside the Van Gogh Live exhibition at Tampere Hall…
– Provided a quick execution and a commitment from both of us without a specific plan, Viktoria accepted my invitation!
What a unique and meaningful experience and stunning pictures I had, words are not enough! 🥹😭🙌❤️🥰
Inside the exhibition, the shot with permission in a small window of time contained interruptions, but Viktoria professionally captured many angles.
As a photographer, Viktoria is a visionary and I warmly recommend her to anyone, but especially to entrepreneurs who want to open up their story.
❤️ Thanks Viktoria, this stays with me forever!
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