The girl with the camera

Hi, I'm Masha Tovt, and I've been photographing the world since I was 16. It started with a simple camera, a gift that turned into a quiet obsession. At first it was just a hobby, a way to make sense of what was around me. But before long I knew it was more than that.

At 23 I decided to make it my job. I trained hard, learning studio work and how much a single light can change a picture. Every shoot taught me something new about people, and about the way a moment can be held onto. In time I built a name for myself and a busy portrait business back in Ukraine. It was everything I'd wanted.

Then, in 2022, everything changed. The invasion of Ukraine meant leaving my home, my work and the people around me. Moving to England was a step into the unknown, but one I knew I had to take. It felt like somewhere out of a novel, all old streets and quiet corners, and slowly it has started to feel like home.

Now, rebuilding here, I've got the same drive I had at 16, only with a clearer sense of why. For me photography was never really about the pictures. It's about the feeling behind them, and I think a good image reaches past how something looks to how it makes you feel.

I'm looking forward to this next chapter. Every shot is a chance to share a bit of my story and make something people want to hold on to, whether that's a portrait, a brand shoot or a project we dream up together.

Masha