Ekaterina Popova | Artist Studio Portraits | Wilmington, DE

I recently had the chance to photograph painter Ekaterina Popova in her home painting studio in Wilmington, Delaware. Kat and I go way back! We attended Kutztown University together and have known each other for a long time, so it was especially fun to reconnect and photograph her in her creative space. Her studio is filled with color, texture, paintings in progress, and all of the little details that make her work feel so alive. Being surrounded by her paintings gave me a glimpse into the world she creates in, and I could have spent all day photographing it.

Of course, no portrait session at Ekaterina’s studio would be complete without Kolibri, her dog and, according to Ekaterina, her “muse, boss, manager and piglet.” Kolibri was very much part of the studio’s personality and kept us company throughout the session. Between the colorful paintings, the natural light, and Kolibri supervising everything, the whole session felt like a little peek behind the scenes of Ekaterina’s creative life.

Ekaterina’s work is full of color and life, and I loved getting to create portraits that felt like an extension of that. There’s something really special about photographing someone you’ve known for years and getting to see where their creative journey has taken them. I’m so glad our paths crossed again and that I got to document a little piece of the world she’s built around her art.