My World

On August 26th I arrived in Athens Greece, the place I once called home when I was a child. I was mostly excited but also kind of scared because well, last time I was there was in May of 1996 when I was just 8 years old. Change is always hard to handle and the unknown is always a bit frightening. My husband and I were in awe when we were on the bus from Tirana to Athens, seeing all the beautiful landscapes and travelling by the ocean. We stayed in Athens for about two weeks. We didn’t get to see many things unfortunately because we were busy with a lot of paperwork and figuring out the next travel plans to Paris as well as visiting model agencies for future jobs. We did get to see the Acropolis but kind of from a far. Athens is a place that we will visit again in the future so we weren’t worried about seeing all its beauty on this trip.

As time flew by, we noticed that we hadn’t shot anything in ages so I got in touch with a young talented photographer named Thanos Houtos who helped us out with organizing a shoot for us. He arranged a stylist and a make-up artist that he knew and set up a meeting for us all to talk over ideas. He also figured out which models were in town and available and arranged the model for the shoot so we were lucky to have him co-ordinate and put it all together. It was like having a local producer and really made our lives easier.

Here are the photos I did from that shoot. Enjoy

The team:

• Model: Nilene Krazia (VN Models)
• Stylist: Dimitra Michalakopoulou
• Producer: Thanos Houtos
• Make-up: Despina Gavala

A few months ago, while in Albania, I was trying to keep myself occupied (when you are a girl in a country such as Albania there isn’t much you can do). Anyhow, I was trying to shoot but there were no modelling agencies in the city or in the whole country for that matter. I tried the whole going downtown and asking random girls that I found pretty and interesting enough to want to shoot but  most of them didn’t give me the time of day. They would walk right past me and the ones that did stop and gave me a chance to talk would let me talk for a few minutes before telling me “they aren’t gay”. When I first heard that I was shocked and speechless (those that know me know I am not one to be quiet and have nothing to say) but this came out of the blue and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was left dumbfounded and just in awe of what just had happened. I didn’t let it discourage me though. I still kept at it and I heard that saying a few more times and I would tell them “I’m not gay, I am happily married, I’m a Canadian photographer visiting family and just want to photograph people”. Nothing worked. So I just bowed my head down in shame and took myself back home. Since no one would let me shoot them I had a lot of time on my hands.

I had nothing better to do so I decided to make a few videos. These videos aren’t amazing by any means but I had fun and they were my first ever attempt to make something different. Since I had a huge problem with finding models I stuck to shooting myself hahaha

Hope you enjoy them.

Music: Deftones – Change / Music: The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build A Home

Change

Build A Home

So I have been in Tirana Albania for a little over two months and I have to say I am not thrilled about it but I am trying to make the best out of it. I’ve been going out with my cousin trying to enjoy myself as much as possible till my husband comes. I’ve been also keeping busy by looking for work here and just shooting for who every is willing to hire me

So I was hired by a magazine here in Tirana called ANABEL. I did a swim suit editorial for them in Durres. Check out the photos. There will be many more to come since I am in the talks with a few other magazines to work with them freelance! YAY!!

Hope you like them (Please note the Cover is not shot by me Photographed by: Geljant Kaleci

May 12, 2010

These photos I have posted up are of a shoot I did in April before I left Canada. I got to shoot with one of my favourite stylists Jamie Rae (she is amazing). We shot outdoors and with my luck not only did it rain but it also hailed. Thank you Canada for your unpredictable weather. The model was a trooper. She still rocked the shoot with the little amount of clothing she had on lol.

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed creating them

Model: Sheila Hui, Make-up: Floe and Stylist: Jamie Rae

May 11, 2010

I have been in Tirana for the past 11 days and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some of its true beauty that this unrecognized country has. Albania has so much potential as a country and many amazing things it has to offer, but it will never become well known nor be a part of the European Union unless the Albanian people change their way of living and most of all their way of thinking. Albania is Europe’s darkest corner and I hope as most of us Albanian’s hope that our country one day gets a light shining its way!

Enjoy the photos!

This is Tirana’s Beauty

May 7th, 2010

On May 5th , 2010 I went to visit my grandpa’s grave. Last time I saw my grandpa I was 14 years old him and my grandma came to Canada to visit us. My grandpa past away 2 years ago and I was in Canada while my mom and brother were here in Albania. I didn’t get to hug or kiss him one last time nor get to go to the funeral. Going to see someone who the last time you’ve  seen them they were alive, kind of freaked me out. It hits you hard and makes it reality that they are truly gone. I haven’t cried that hard since god knows when. It killed me inside. I kissed his photo there hugged him and talked to him. The hardest thing was when we had to leave. I couldn’t. my feet felt like they were nailed to the ground. I wanted to stay there forever.

When I got home I was talking to my grandma, she still feels the pain of my grandpa being gone and said it will never get easier. She said something to me that will never leave me. She said “Eri I have lost my mother, my father, and my sister and it was painful but nothing has been as painful as losing my husband, your life partner that you have experienced everything with, who knows you inside and out. It feels like you are no longer complete, you feel empty and no matter what something will always be missing.

I hope I never have to feel that kind of pain.

My Grandpa. Rest In Peace! I love you so much <3

May 4th, 2010

I’ve been in Albania for the past 4 days now and I can not put in words how much I have missed my family. My brother Elvis who I haven’t seen in 7 years and my mother who I haven’t seen in 6 years. My dearest  grandma who I haven’t seen since I was 14 years old and my cousins, aunts and uncles since I was 8 years old. Its been great spending time with them all!

Everything looks so different yet all to familiar. Remembering places where I used to play when I was younger, blurry faces clearing up and my mind begins to piece them together. I feel lost when I am out and about, people  looking at me like I do not belong, talking about me thinking I don’t understand them. So many people are so vulgar and have such animal characteristics here.

Feels weird to see animals roaming the streets eating garbage. Watching kids up to 4 years old walking around bare foot on the street looking for food all by themselves, sleeping on the street late at night with no one there to take care of them. I have never felt this kind of sadness like I’ve felt these past few days of witnessing all these things. I used to think my glass was always half empty, this life experience has opened my eyes and shown me that my glass has always been half full!

April 22, 2010

So I got published its an Online Magazine FANTASTICSMAG but we all got to start somewhere next step Print Magazines and then VOGUE hehehehe

Here is the story Enjoy!

Model: Elizaveta @ Sutherland Models

Stylist: Jamie Rae

Make-up/Hair: Liz Yu

April 21st 2010

It has been awhile since my last entry and I apologize for my lack of interest to be posting on here lately. I will update you on my life and shoots that I’ve done thus far.

On March 30th 2010 I got married. Yes this is true… I’m in love  :) I am going to Europe for about a Year and I am very scared and excited. My husband and I will be going to Albania to visit my family for a few weeks then going to make our way over to Greece, Italy and hopefully France and England. These trips are all just what we would like to do but things might change as the months go by. I will be updating my blog more often with stories and photos of my trips around Europe So keep in touch and lets go have an adventure!

Below I have attached a few photos that I have done during my time away from my blog. So enjoy!