Inspiring workshop with the Bulgarian writer Victoria Beshliiska

Just another reminder that life is truly magical! And I’m honoured to be living it here and now!

I’m a high percentage book worm. I adore the experience books give - the font of the printed on paper letters, the smell of the ink, the weight of the book itself, the feeling of turning page after page diviner's into the lake of the story until you find yourself facing the back cover.

This is how Victoria Beshliika’s book Glina made me feel. I red it for 5 days, like a junky got hooked from the page one. Powerful and interesting story that reminded me of my mother tongue and how less time I spent with it.

For the past 15 years I’ve been partly running after my roots in order to find myself. But the more I run, the closer I want to feel. The further I go, the more I sense my heart being pulled back. I miss my roots, my land, my people but I’m also happy learning new things, exploring the world. Maybe one day I’ll be back, just not now.

The practical workshop we had with Victoria thought us how to right better and what to look for in a story. We had a lovely chat about her work and life. Got our books originally signed and left with heart full of love towards Bulgaria.

Thank you Victoria for everything you do - for your story, our passion, your art and for the resilience of following your heart and sharing it all with us!

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A post shared by Mariya Mileva Photographer | Barcelona (@mariyamilevaphotographer)

Portrait of a Woman & an Artist

When the client’s requirements are to hit more with one shot - I’m always up for it! Especially if is working with artists.

Talents are one of my favourite people to photograph. They have this different point of view about the world that you can easily catch if you observe them for some time. Not all artists dedicate themselves to make a living from their craft, yet each of them incorporates their art in everything they do.

This is also the case with Dominique. An incredible woman I saw on the beach playing on her violin one winter morning while the sun was rising over the sea. I count believe my eyes. Sunrise, music, woman… what more I can wish for? It was a pure inspiration for my eyes and one of the loveliest sunrise experiences I’ve had.

Normally I’d pass by as I like having my mornings for myself, but I couldn’t resist to go find out more about her. So after I took some photos and videos, I went closer and introduce myself. Told her how inspiring I found her practice and gave my contact, hoping we can connect.

And so we did. She invited me to open mic sessions, I went to some of her events, she came to some of ours in Art Project Poblenou. And on top of that she became my client.

This is her portrait session where we focused on professional portraits for her day job and artistic portraits for her music performance. What an honour it is for me to be able to serve her and fulfil her photography requests.

Beautiful soul! Thank you Dominique for the trust in photographing you!

More about her work you can find on IG https://www.instagram.com/la_lionne_75/

Would you still be you if you could choose?

In an ideal world, where you ca be anyone you wish, where money weren’t a factor and you would do anything you want, would you still do what you’re doing now? If you could choose, would you still be the person you are today?

Pain is inevitable, however it offers us a queue jump ticket to the growth we actually need. Happiness is great, yet for every achievement a certain discomfort is required. If things were all well all the time nobody would’ve move, make a difference or accomplish anything else. It is not necessary to wait for the extreme pain to force you to take a different road ahead, but it is necessary to decide to make the change.

And so, if you’re truly being honest with yourself, could you say you are being the most authentic representation of yourself right now? Do you spent your time working just to pay the bills or dedicating your time on something you care deeply about that you would do even if you weren’t paid for it?

It’s uncomfortable to go against the commodity, yet more painful on the long run if you haven’t. Life goes by and what we do affects us. Big shifts are easy to see but all of them are result of a small steps. Drop after drop. Step after step. Only at the end we can connect the dots and see the whole picture.

Are you doing something today that will help you get where you want to to keep you staying in the familiar reality?

Level Up or stay the same?

Last weekend I attended a 3-day business conference by the well known Spanish formation Level Up here in Barcelona. The topic was Reinicia tu Negocio and was full of content, talks, practical and educational tasks.

As a professional who is establishing their business and work in a new country and new language for a second time, going to a conference like this in the local language and participating, making contacts and enjoying the whole experience was super nurturing and beneficial for me. I liked the organisation, what they gifted to all of us, how they structured the blocks of talks, the inspiring guest speakers who were invited. As a whole I liked the experience and it surpassed my expectations.

In fact I went without much of expectations for this reason - to be able to take it all in as a student, as a newbie, as open and receptive as possible. Sometimes we block out own flow of benefits by having too much of or certain expectations. It’s much more beneficial if we see the world from the eyes of the beginner, like a child who is learning about everything around for a first time.

I’m happy I went and manage all the 3 full days of lectures and activities. It was an experience I was in fact looking for. I see why they’re on the level they are and I loved the passion and commitment they have towards their craft.

January was great, let’s see what February brings….

I will allow photos of myself when I loose the weight

But what are we really missing? We’re missing the true meaning in the record of our life, ourselves and our work. Record that helps us see our progress as well as adds to the history for future generations.

Waiting to be ready, get ready, feel ready, look ready is a futuristic moment in time that might never comes around. Our lizard brain is trying to protect us and puts us in procrastination mode to wait for a time in this imaginary time where everting is perfect and we don’t feel any resistance. Both you and me know this moment in time is a pure illusion. It was never there, it will never be. So then, aren’t we simply wasting precios time instead?

Yesterday I heard it again - “I want to come for a photoshoot, but first I have to loose the weight”…
Do you really?

I’ve spent years of my life hiding, not allowing myself to appear on photographs with friends and family, not attending events because I didn’t feel good in my body. Years passed to realize I’ve lost recording special times in my life what will never come back again. Looking with a wiser eye now, I see the weight wasn’t really that bad and even if it was, life is a constant change, things transform, body size too. What never returns are the experiences that shapes us, that nurture us, that help us become the people we’re meant to. And this is exactly what we have to celebrate.

It is one thing if you want to put an effort and look the best while having your photoshoot and another if you’re actually hiding. Are you not allowing yourself to see yourself in your glory?

How you feel is important, but we wait to find the moment where we feel perfectly ready inside and out to do something for ourselves. There is no such moment. We can always find an excuse, something to insult ourselves for, something to compare with others, but that only stops us of feeling the love and joy of being alive, being here, experiencing life as we do.

Furthermore, artistic photography is not about purposefully pointing your flaws. It’s about celebrating them instead. It’s about capturing your energy, your essence, the soul that lives in this body that you constantly insult and harm. It’s your vehicle, your house, and has nothing to do with your sense of worth or beauty. Yes, it can help if you feel good in your skin, but you might be surprised that after a sensual photo session you will feel more connected and inline with the body you so wanted to change beforehand.

You don’t need to change to feel worth it, to feel beautiful or special. You don’t need to loose the weight, buy the clothes, find the partner. You need to change the way you look at yourself - to learn to accept this magnificent being you are with flaws and all. We’re not here to be perfect but uniquely ourselves.