HELLO FRIEND, I’M ELENA
Mama of three girls, wife, and self-taught photographer
Did you know…
My photography journey began during one of the most life-changing seasons, when I was pregnant with my first child. It turns out, those wild pregnancy hormones led me to the career of my dreams, and they couldn’t have been more right! Inspired by the beauty of capturing my daughter’s first moments, I quickly fell in love with photography! What started as a simple passion grew into a career I cherish deeply- preserving life’s most meaningful memories.
“Life has taken us from Canada & America, through Europe, to the breathtaking Pacific Islands of Vanuatu.”
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of capturing families, couples, and weddings for my incredible clients, turning fleeting memories into treasures that last a lifetime.
My goal is to create timeless, elegant, and romantic images that tell your story authentically. I specialize in bright and airy photography, delivering clean and crisp photos that will look just as beautiful on your walls for generations to come.
Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, a family milestone, or just everyday love, I’m here to help you preserve those cherished memories in a way that feels uniquely you.
Aside from photography, my life is amazing. I’m a mother of three beautiful girls—and a proud wife. I’m incredibly grateful for my husband, my number one supporter, who helped me become the photographer I am today.
Okay, enough about me! I want to get to know you and all the incredible details you’ve planned. My photographs are your stories. I hope we can write them together. .
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
2014
I’m a Ukrainian-American gal, who fell in love with a German Canadian guy! We got married in the states and moved to Vienna, Austria.
2015
My photography journey began in 2015, inspired by the arrival of my baby girl.
2015-2018
I had the incredible opporunity to grow my skills while capturing memories in the vibrant city of Vienna, Austria.
2015-2018
Just beyond Vienna, I had the chance of doing photography work in the stunning landscapes of Germany, Switzerland, and even Turkey.
Vienna, Austria
2018-2025
In 2018, We moved to the beautiful Islands of Vanuatu, where I began capturing destination weddings and family on holidays amidst the stunning tropical backdrops.
Switzerland
2025
In June of 2025, we made the move from the Islands to The States and now call Kansas City, Missouri home, where I have the joy of capturing your cherished memories.
Vanuatu Islands
And today I’m still helping you create lifetime memories.
"Absolutely stunning photos! Yelena was amazing to work with and helped guide us in poses to help create some lifetime memories" -Morgan & Daniel
"AMAZING! Highly recommend! Yelena is a joy and a gifted photographer. She was super engaging with our kids and the photos turned out perfect!" -Schmidt Family
"Yelena was wonderful! She was flexible when our original date got rained out, was great with our kids and had clever tactics to get their attention and produce wonderful photos of them. All photos turned out beautiful and in the timeframe she promised, Highly recommend!" -Wilburn Family
"We had Yelena take photos of our family twice. Yelena is great with kids (and grandparents 😉), provides just enough direction to get nice poses, and captures natural smiles. Her photography and gentle editing are superb. We are very happy with our photos. Highly recommend! Thanks, Yelena!" -Hislop Family
"Yelena is very professional. She handles children at the photo shoot in a very loving way. Every time she is in Europe we book a shoot with her. Her pictures are unique. Thank You Yelena" -Christina & Daniel
"My hubby and I were so incredibly grateful for the candid photographs Yelena took. With 3 kids in the picture we were looking for someone easy going, but professional, and that's exactly what we found. She had the ability to make our kids laugh and create a fun space to capture "us". I've had compliments galore since posting our photos" -Tabacaru Family
"Yelena did a wonderful job shooting and editing our photos! She's great at explaining the vision for every shot, and she's so sweet and easy to get along with! My fiancé and I have never done a photoshoot before, but we felt so comfortable around her. Her work is so beautiful, the photos can speak for themselves!" -Julie
"A beautiful friendly manner, highly professional, great with kids (and our huge extended family group) - thank you so much, we love our photos!" -Hardwick Family
"Thank you Niva Studios for the beautiful family photos! Yelena is very professional but also personable, listening to our desires and giving us clear directions for the best outcomes. She made taking pictures an enjoyable and bonding experience for our family. Thank you again!" -Meads Family
"Yelena was excellent to work with. Her ability to cope with the multiple little children is amazing. Our family photo shoot was amazing, and the photos look incredible. We are incredibly happy!" -Falls Family