Exploring Friendship: I Captured 15 Artistic Portraits Of My Friend And Myself

Let me take you on a journey through friendship, creativity, and the unexpected twists of life.

Katarina and I have been friends since elementary school. Our journey began during a 6th-grade project when the two of us were tasked with painting a massive background panel for a school play. While meticulously crafting a landscape with a house, a tree, and a lake, Kat, as I affectionately call her, decided to defy gravity by painting the lake from a bird's-eye view on a horizontal wall. Initially, I was taken aback, but soon, we decided to roll with it, and it turned into pure fun and joy.

Enjoy the gallery of our favorite images we created alongside comments and stories behind the images:

More info: Instagram

15 PHOTOS

#1 Unravel

Here's another dress from Katarina's creative arsenal, infused with my longing to revisit classic fine art through intricate editing and rich textures.

Kat's embrace of the vibrant color red she used to hate, captured in the unique setting of a building's hallway we seized to quickly craft our vision.

Our art teacher probably wasn’t thrilled, but hey, it was worth it for the memories and a beautiful friendship. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed—except now I’m the troublemaker, and Kat’s the voice of reason.Back to the story, we did a photoshoot when I was starting with photography in elementary school but we lost touch when we got into high school, catching glimpses of each other on the school bus or meeting up once or twice a year to reminisce.

After graduation, life once again took us in different directions. I moved away, and Kat started college. But she gave me her favorite childhood painting before we parted. It’s still hanging in my room, a cherished reminder of our bond. We kept in touch sporadically, snapping a few bad photos here and there, but nothing serious.

#2 To Run Aground

One of my favorite photos. My significant red, antique look, is Katarina with disheveled hair. A combination of portraiture and fine art that I have been striving for for years.

#3 Untold Stories

Most of the time Katarina is the one in front of the camera while I shoot and edit.

On rare occasions, we practice storytelling with objects. Kat helps me sometimes bring my ideas to life.

Then fate intervened a few years back. I returned to Serbia, and by chance, after meeting her in the town we both moved to, we discovered we were practically neighbors. Soon enough, we found ourselves embarking on a creative journey. It started with impromptu photoshoots in my brother’s apartment and quickly blossomed into a full-blown passion for photography.

With each click of the camera, our friendship grew stronger, and our creativity soared. We became unstoppable, turning thrift store finds into stunning costumes and even dabbling in fashion design. Katarina rediscovered her love for design and sewing, crafting garments that breathed life into our shoots.

#4 Hide And Seek

The image was made after we decided to switch a DIY lamp we used for lighting with a professional flash.

We drifted the outfit for a couple of dollars and started with learning the basics of how the flash works.

#5 Unsee

Kat and I have both longed for images on a seashore, so we figured out we could go to a local beach on the Danube River and photoshop it so it looks like we're somewhere remotely.

Sometimes you don't have all the possibilities in the world, and that's fine.

You can always take what you have and make it work.

We decided then and there: that this would be a year of creation. And what a year it’s been. Our creative energy spilled into every aspect of our lives, filling us with a newfound sense of fearlessness and optimism. Through our art, we found peace and purpose—a form of meditation that helped us navigate life’s challenges with grace. Our friendship kept growing with each photoshoot we did.

#6 A Kiss With A Twist

The only disagreement we have in our creative process revolves around the rating of photos for editing.

While I may overlook certain nuances, Katarina's discerning eye often unearths hidden gems, like with this particular photo.
I recall hesitating between giving it 3 or 4 stars, whereas Katarina argued passionately for a 5-star rating.

It's funny how a memorable photo sticks with you, even if you initially don't see its full potential among hundreds of others.

#7 "Young Tesla"

It's been a hot minute since I'd been in front of the camera, but I was totally feeling myself that day on a quick thriller shooting with Kat.

After snapping away, I sat back, feeling pretty satisfied with the results.

And then, lo and behold, a guy in the Instagram comments hit me with the bombshell: "You look like a young Tesla."

Now, I gotta admit, I had to do a double-take on that one. But hey, I decided to take it as the ultimate compliment!

A new Tesla in town?!

At one point we started sharing our images with the world, and that was when something magical started happening. People started reaching out, inspired by our work and eager to join our journey. They started sending us props and costumes, even offering to join us on sets or have a coffee to meet us.

#8 To Run Aground

One of Katarina's favorite photos, which is similar to the previous one.

One thing always noticeable is that Katarina will always root for blue versions of images and I for red.

#9 Ramonda

My favorite image of Katarina. Pure visual poetry.

We realized that our energy, multiplied by the support of others, had the power to inspire change.

So here we are, sharing our creations with you hoping it spark a fire in your soul, igniting a journey of your own that’s been waiting in the wings.

Let’s create, inspire, and embrace the beauty of life together.

#10 Conventional Beauty

Yearning for a break from our usual fine art escapades, Katarina desired a taste of 'conventional beauty' in our photography. Spotting an enchanting location, we boldly jumped the fence to gain access. The house and its picturesque yard captivated us, yet time proved to be far more fleeting than we had imagined.

In our village, fence-hopping meant endless hours of photography fun. But in a bustling town, we soon learned that others were eager to join in the exploration, too.

A valuable lesson learned indeed!

#11 Kat

As we embarked on one of our first photoshoots of the year, it marked the beginning of Katarina's journey toward self-liberation in front of the camera.

Amidst the array of folders for each model, one stood out: 'Katarina as she is,' serving as a lasting reminder of her authentic presence.

#12 Snow

I love that Kat's such a chameleon.

One moment you'll get a warrior-like, bigger-than-life expression and pose, and then the next she'll be all tender, fragile, and emotional.

#13 Melodrama

My absolute favorite set. Fake Hollywood, melodrama and the thinnest line between a failed and 100% successful photo shoot.

There was a moment of doubt when I wondered how people would react to these photos. Yet, in that same moment, I realized that this uncertainty signaled something significant.

Stepping outside one's comfort zone breeds unfamiliarity, leaving us unsure of what to expect.

But in creativity, embracing the new is always a positive sign, especially for those who have been creating for an extended period.

#14 Vigile 2

Recreation of one of my older self-portraits done upon my wish.

I thought the sister image of one of my most beloved images would be significant for our friendship.

#15 Katarina As She Is

Switching genres and aesthetics is huge for us. Not only does it bring so much fun but it also keeps us motivated to conquer new territories and learn something new about photography.