Beautiful people

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KATYA CHISTOAVSKAYA:

I work in MILK Advertising Agency, is it necessary to write down what I do?..I’m Senior Account manager: I run projects, communicate with clients..Graduated from S. Ordzhonikidze State University of Management as sociologist-psychologist. My passions are mopeds, traveling, yoga and vine)) strange neighborhood)) if you need just one 

thing - choose traveling))) what do you mean by  “favorite thing”? my 

thing is to laugh out loud)) that’s what I love

About a year ago I was working on my project named “Beautiful people” with great help of Lubov Lerner, a friend of mine and a very talented artist. By that time I had plenty of photographs of my friends and customers. I have been often asked where I had found so many beautiful people and how I had been so lucky as a photographer to portrait them, as far as my models were not celebrities that you can see on the pages of fashion magazines but usual people, which we meet every day and which we actually are. In the middle of thinking up the name of the project, Lubov asked about the point of the project, so I said that it's something about the idea that we all are beautiful, & we should remember this and learn how to see people in that way. So, it doesn't matter how we're dressed or which hairdresser we visit, but it's our way of appreciating other people and ourselves which really matters.  And right after that she proposed to call the project “Beautiful people” as there was no need to invent any special name, in her opinion.

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KSENYA SOKOLJANSKAYA:

I graduated from MSU, Faculty of Journalism, now work on TV as producer and anchor - choose whatever you like)) I like when good things happen to good people)

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GALYA CHUGAY:

I studied in FINEC, Saint-Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. I work as economist, I like tea with ginger and honey.

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SASHA FOMIN:

I studied in Petrozavodsk at the Faculty of Mathematics, while in my life I like, let’s say, “analyzing stuff”) I work in the sector of Internet shopping. I’m the captain of Moscow Ultimate Frisbee team.

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DANA:

I study in SUTD Design of spatial environment (architect), I go in for art, I’m keen on art in all forms. I like paint on hands:)

So, when we started choosing photographs for the project I sent letters with three simple questions to all my personages: where did you study?, what is your actual occupation? & what is your favorite thing? And I found a true reflection of the people's personality beyond authentic, non-edited lines of their answers. So I decided to leave everything untouched and just print the plates with these answers to attach them to the photographs.

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KATYA SAFONOVA:

I studied Bulgarian language at Slavic school #479. Now I work as key specialist at the insurance company and study at MHTA, Moscow Humanitarian-Technical Academy. All you gotta do is be yourself))) or else you can just cite my ICQ status - arrested in spring!

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SERG OTREPYEV:

I learnt to become a subway driver mate, then a cook in Petersbourg, after that, I entered VGIK in Moscow, department of camera. I work as cameraman for MTV, A1, Serebrjaniy Dozhd’ and other.. I like milk and red cats.. and maybe something else..

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ANASTASIA YAKOVLEVA:

I studied in SPSPU (it’s a polytechnic university), now work in a furniture company as a head of wholesale department. My thing is that I like the smell of subway!)) will that work?

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ANASTASIA RESHETNIKOVA:
I used to study classic philology) i’ve been searching for myself for a very long time and finally found) now I’m everything that starts with “p”)) philologist-photographer)) I do some painting also) I like true people, believe in God and hope to become a real Orthodox photographer one day) for the time being I just photograph everything and everyone) I love Senya, my red rabbit, and Filya, my cat) I always hope for a miracle!) I know exactly that one cannot live without faith! and that love can heal any wound!It’s like that! I also love sushi and flitting snow)


The presentation of the project took place at one of St. Petersburg’s bars and lasted a week in the form of exhibition. Then, most of the artworks were given to the participants and friends of the project. However, I still keep the plates with the answers. Sometimes I read them and they make me really smile.

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LISA CHUGAY:

I’m a customs manager. I studied in Water communications University. I’m an engineer. I like balsamic vinegar.

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ALEXANDRA ATAMANCHUK:

I graduated from Moscow Academy of Education, faculty of Film and TV, department of acting, to be precise :) I work as actress and photographer :) I love rain :))) in every way... I love walking in the rain, looking at the rain, putting hands into the drops... smoking while listening to its sound...You should certainly edit this :))

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ALEXEY BELOZEROV:

I studied in N.G. Chernyshevsky Saratov State University. I work in Beeline as team manager. I don’t like thinking up interesting facts about myself.

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AIDA:

I study in Academy and work as a model.I like to work in Pekin. I find it silly to strive for Moscow. If I arrive there I usually go for a walk with my friends around the city. I don’t go to clubs and bars. I’m gonna become a supermodel of Milan and Paris, and then a Hollywood star...I know how it may sound like but if you don’t put the bar at such height, you will jump lower than you actually could...So, I just work hard and try to do my best.