About
Hi! My name is Alena. I am a photographer and videographer based in Portland, OR. My love for photography has grown from my curiosity and respect for our planet and its people, a pursuit to see the beauty in the world, and my love of storytelling.
My journey as a photographer started at an early age. I was lucky enough to travel often as a kid, visiting my mom’s family in the Czech Republic and tagging along on my professor parent’s architectural study abroad programs. It was on those trips, disposable camera in hand, that I started to see the world behind the lens.
I was curious to use any camera I could get my hands. My grandad and father introduced me to lots of fascinating equipment. It was thanks to them that I got my start with a DSLR. Dressing up and going on photoshoot adventures with friends lead to a curiosity I knew I had to pursue in college.
The summer after my freshman year of college, I interned for my local newspaper. I worked with the head photographer and finally started dipping my toes in the professional world of photography. This led me to receive my degree in Photojournalism from Boston University.
After graduating with honors from university, I headed west in my family’s trusty Volvo. I started a photography internship for a sustainable fair-trade fashion company in Orange County, CA. There I learned about studio photography as well as lifestyle product photography. I enjoyed sunny California but knew my heart belonged in the moody and pine filled Pacific North West.
After a year and a half in California I finally made my home in Portland, OR. It was here that I started building creative communities and planting roots. I fell in love with the natural landscapes of Oregon and Washington. I have been freelancing for small businesses, ranging from herbal supplement companies to yoga studios. I continue to seek the beauty around me from behind the lens everyday.
