Elegant and Romantic 40s-Inspired Portraits on the Broadway Bridge
I love the 40s style—it’s so classy, elegant, and utterly romantic. In the creation of this series, we wanted to contrast (but also complement) this styling with the Broadway Bridge, which represents the earlier 1910s era. In my creative portrait sessions, I like to play with contrasts—stillness and motion, focus and blur, and the fluidity of the model’s movements against the solid, unmoving presence of the bridge, like in this series. Why contrasts? Well, I believe that the world is a better and more interesting place with variety. If everything was one way and no other, wouldn’t it be rather boring?
Around Valentine’s Day, I wanted to create a powerful single-person story, one that speaks of elegance, beauty, and self-love. Gabby and I developed this visual story where we celebrate romanticism through elevated reds (lips, roses, bridge) and intentional posing. Downtown Portland in the background also added a special feel to the series—so close, yet so far. We were both in the middle of a busy city but also at a distance. Winter can be quite chilly here in the Pacific Northwest, but we were lucky to have the company of the warming sun one January morning.
Just like with all of my sessions, I prepared an entire concept and a desired shot list, making the preparations seamless. This approach also allows me and my models to shift the focus from rigid expectations and forced posing to inspiring guidelines, which ultimately assist us in reaching our goals while adding unique individuality and a personal story throughout the process. This is how the magic happens.
—Photographer and author: Alina Veksler @veksalinaphotography
Model: Gabby @canadapanda
Location: Broadway Bridge, Portland, Oregon, USA
Gear used: Sony a7iii | Minolta MC Rokkor 58mm f1.4
Alina Veksler – a creative portrait photographer based near Portland, Oregon, offering professional photography and creative direction for individuals and businesses seeking unique, tailor-made sessions defined by quality and artistry.
Want your unique story told like this? Let’s make it happen—inquire at veksalinaphotography.com
