Photo by David Beltran-del-Rio
I’m a Russian-Ukrainian American editorial and commercial photographer in Los Angeles specializing in environmental portraiture.
I work on contemplative stories about our connections to each other, our personal and communal histories, and the places we inhabit.
My work has been described as authentic, intimate, quiet, and thoughtful. As an immigrant, I relate deeply to immigrant-Americans and our shared yet diverse experiences and stories. My storytelling aims to center the dignity of people grounded in our shared humanity. My clients include publications, institutions, and brands. For commercial clients, I offer an elevated documentary approach, particularly for campaigns featuring real people. I'm a graduate of ArtCenter College of Design where I studied commercial photography and the University of Pennsylvania where I studied economics and computer science. I’m a member of Women Photograph, American Photographic Artists, the Luupe, and The Journal Collective.
In addition to editorial and commercial work, I teach workshops through the Los Angeles Center of Photography. Previously, I’ve taught at Houston Center for Photography and lectured at Las Fotos Project, ArtCenter College of Design, and The Armory Center for the Arts.
Collaborations
Publications
The New York Times
The New Yorker
The Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
NPR
NBC Universal
Mother Jones
The Guardian
The Verge
Bloomberg Businessweek
Barron’s
Inc.
Business Insider
The Wall Street Journal
KCET/PBS SoCal
ESPN
High Country News
Smithsonian Magazine
The 19th
Le Monde
Marie Claire Korea
CalMatters
Prevention
Institutions and Nonprofits
California Community Foundation
Earthjustice
Trust for Public Land
City of Los Angeles
Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Skirball Cultural Center
National Young Farmers Coalition
Clockshop
AIGA
ArtCenter College of Design
Harvard Business School
UCLA
University of Southern California
University of Portland
Brands
Airbnb
Rivian
LegalZoom
Cadence
GrubMarket
Group Exhibitions
Unfinished Business, Photoville Festival, Brooklyn, New York (2025)
Cafecito: A Proclamation of Presence, Photoville Festival, Brooklyn, New York (2025)
Between War and Nostalgia: A Ukrainian Trajectory, ReflectSpace Gallery, Glendale, California (2025)
Oyako, The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Tokyo, Japan (2024)
Illuminate LA: Collective Memory, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture at Grand Park (2022)
Crossroads, Doheny Memorial Library at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (2022)
Four Degrees: Eco-Anxiety and Climate Change, Strange Fire Collective & Humble Arts Foundation (2021)
Embracing Stillness, Humble Arts (2021)
Athens Photo Festival, Greece (2020)
Documentary Landscape, Six Feet Photography (2020)
Nostalgia, Six Feet Photography (2020)
Becoming Los Angeles, National History Museum, Los Angeles, California (2018)
APA Off the Clock, Los Angeles, California (2018)
Awards
American Photography 41, Photo Annual Winner (2025)
Lucie Awards: Heritage, Category Winner: Still Life (2024)
American Photography 40, Photo Annual Winner (2024)
American Photography 39, Photo Annual Winner (2023)
American Photography 38, Photo Annual Winner (2022)
Social Documentary Network, Reviewers Choice Award Winner (2021)
American Photography 35, Photo Annual Winner (2018)
Photo District News PDN, Photo Annual Winner (2015)