On the cover of Premier Bride Magazine. Interview with Helena Raju

How to be a supermodel bride. Q & A with Fashion Photographer Helena Raju

Helena Raju arrived recently to Philadelphia, but she’s already setting bridal trends with her fashion photoshoots and this issue of Premier Bride’s gorgeous cover. Ever wanted to be a supermodel and pose for a cover shot? Helena thinks your wedding season is the perfect time for such an adventure. But she takes out one key part: the wedding. Here Helena tells us why some of her most glamorous brides are opting to capture their special time far from the rush, the stress and the perspiration of their wedding day. Just think, a little less pressure to maintain your cuteness for upwards of 10 hours.

Photo credit: Raymond Liu. Instagram: @liu.rymd

PB: So how did you get into wedding portraits?

HR: I’ve been painting my whole life. I was an artist in Ukraine. So it has helped me with my vision in terms of photography. When I came to Philly, I didn’t know what direction to go first, because there are so many kinds of photography and I just want to make something that will catch somebody’s eye.

Premier Bride Philadelphia features Helena Raju on the cover of their magazine.

PB: Having a separate shoot, that’s not on your wedding day, seems ingenious.

HR: Absolutely. Lots of brides stress out on their wedding day. They don’t sleep and might not look their best in their pictures. There’s so much going on and only a limited amount of time to take detailed, personal shots.

Maria Nguyen is the cover model for Premier Bride Magazine Issue.

Photo credit: Raymond Liu. Instagram: @liu.rymd

PB: And so beyond just taking away the stress of getting beautiful photos on your big day, what else do you offer with these shoots?

HR: I try to create a unique experience and create something that nobody else would have. It takes about 2 weeks to prepare for each shoot. I look through lots of art books and pieces, magazines and fashion shows.

I try to incorporate culture and traditions of my client as well, so the photoshoot is personal and unique.

Maria Nguyen is the cover model for Premier Bride Magazine Issue.

Photo credit: Raymond Liu. Instagram: @liu.rymd

PB: So you don’t even need to wear your wedding dress?

HR: Most bring their wedding dress, but because this is a fashion shoot, we get more creative.

PB: It sounds like you’re definitely bringing ides ti the table for brides, you create additional visions for them?

HR: Absolutely. I aim to create that editorial, magazine-style look, edgy and minimalistic. We talk about styling and sometimes I would even make a dress! I’ll go to the store, buy fabric, sketch the design and work on the mannequin. I will do minor adjustments on the model herself during the shoot.

Pooja Patel, a model from Delaware, featured in Premier Bride Magazine.

Photography: Helena Raju

PB: Because you’re just creating the impression, it doesn’t need to hold up through s reception dance or anything. That sounds really kind of liberating, like the sky’s the limit in terms of creativity. You’re not constrained by things being rushed and getting to the guests and all that. So this is a completely separate shoots and you kind of go wild creatively.

HR: This shoot isn’t for everyone, it may get pricey. Lots of time and preparation as well as financial expense go into it beforehand.

PB: Do you ever include the groom in the shoots? Or it is mostly geared towards the bride?

HR: I can include the groom. But, the brides, they like to come by themselves, they are the center of attention. The bride is the focus and the groom just pays for it (laughs).

PB (laughing): He does his part.

How long do your shoots typically take with the bride?

HR: About four hours.

PB: Wow.

HR: Yeah, and that doesn’t even involve makeup and hair. To be honest, it goes by so quickly though!

www.helenaraju.com

Instagram: @helenaraju

Premier Bride Magazine. Summer / Fall 2019 Philadelphia, PA. www.pbphiladelphia.com

Photo credit: Raymond Liu. Instagram: @liu.rymd

Interview with SD Voyager

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helena Raju.

Helena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Creativity and art has been two important parts of my life since childhood. It began with two colored crayons and a piece of paper. I realized that challenging myself while expressing the creativity of my mind gives me the best satisfaction. Focusing on many things, rather than one, is a key to my personal success. As a self-taught artist, who expresses its vision on canvas with help of oils and acrylics, I’ve decided that incorporating digital approach will be a great idea as well.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road of the beginner is never smooth. Having a professional digital camera does not make you a professional photographer. I had to go through many art and photography books and magazines, attend multiple online classes of well-known local and international photographers, visit museums and galleries. It helped me a lot to build my own style, learn about composition and create a story instead of just a regular boring shot.

The biggest challenge for a travel photographer is overcoming the jetlag. It is necessary to wake up super early if I have a fashion photography session on a popular landmark. Sometimes I assist with make-up and hair that could take up to 2 hours. Getting up as early as 3 am in the morning is usual, but still challenging thing for me. The next challenge is to find the best spot and “beat” the rest of photographers and their models to get the best angle.

Please tell us about Helena Raju Photography.
I specialize in different types of photography. As I mentioned before, it is extremely hard for me to focus on one thing. Therefore, stimulating my mind in various areas is essential to me. I do travel and fashion photography. I enjoy working with families, couples and aspiring models. I also collaborate with restaurants, cafes and bakeries as a food styling photographer.

My vision of creating photographs is fun, colorful, full of emotions and has a story behind each scene. I help my clients with choosing perfect location, clothing and try my best to make them comfortable during the session.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was born and raised in a small town in Ukraine. Since it rains or snows a lot in Eastern Europe, we spent most of our time at home. We used to have a big library in our house with many books (which my parents carefully collected): from novels and short-stories to encyclopedias and educational books. I was a “professor” to my imaginary students and was plunged myself into science, history, art and other fields. And I really enjoyed those moments.

Source: http://sdvoyager.com/interview/meet-helena-raju-helena-raju-photography-downtown/