STORIES FROM BEHIND THE LENS
Journal
Observations on authentic moments, street photography, and why something means something in this world.
My photography journal
Cinematic Editorial Portraits
Two years after my first session, I returned to the Matinkylä boulder field in Espoo for a new portrait project. This case study breaks down how battery-powered film lighting added...
Cinematic Editorial Portraits
Two years after my first session, I returned to the Matinkylä boulder field in Espoo for a new portrait project. This case study breaks down how battery-powered film lighting added...
High-Fashion Editorial in Three Hours | Simo Tolvanen
What happens when an Art Director and a trusted model step into a studio to execute an entire editorial shoot from initial concept to a published Instagram series in precisely...
High-Fashion Editorial in Three Hours | Simo Tolvanen
What happens when an Art Director and a trusted model step into a studio to execute an entire editorial shoot from initial concept to a published Instagram series in precisely...
Panasonic Lumix S1R II on Test
I put the Panasonic Lumix S1R II through a rigorous field test across this summer's commercial assignments and video productions. Read this independent review of the new body's performance and...
Panasonic Lumix S1R II on Test
I put the Panasonic Lumix S1R II through a rigorous field test across this summer's commercial assignments and video productions. Read this independent review of the new body's performance and...
Digital with vintage optics vs. film with a modern lens
What happens when you pair a 50MP medium format digital camera with 1960s vintage glass and a 35mm film camera with modern optics? This low-light case study examines tone, texture...
Digital with vintage optics vs. film with a modern lens
What happens when you pair a 50MP medium format digital camera with 1960s vintage glass and a 35mm film camera with modern optics? This low-light case study examines tone, texture...
Case Tokyo: Film portraits in a Showa-Era setting
How to capture Tokyo’s vanishing history and authentic cinematic mood using only ambient light? Explore this case study breakdown of an analog portrait session with model Megu, shot on a...
Case Tokyo: Film portraits in a Showa-Era setting
How to capture Tokyo’s vanishing history and authentic cinematic mood using only ambient light? Explore this case study breakdown of an analog portrait session with model Megu, shot on a...
Planning a Destination Wedding in Finland?
Planning a destination wedding in Finland? Discover editorial documentary wedding photography, vintage 35mm film coverage, and video highlight films in Helsinki, the Archipelago, and Lapland.
Planning a Destination Wedding in Finland?
Planning a destination wedding in Finland? Discover editorial documentary wedding photography, vintage 35mm film coverage, and video highlight films in Helsinki, the Archipelago, and Lapland.
Design services for businesses: from photography to visual identity
Many businesses look for graphic design but forget that a layout is only as strong as the photographs it holds. Discover how combining professional photography with design saves your business...
Design services for businesses: from photography to visual identity
Many businesses look for graphic design but forget that a layout is only as strong as the photographs it holds. Discover how combining professional photography with design saves your business...
Understanding the value: A detailed breakdown of professional wedding photography
What lies behind the price of professional wedding photography? I invite you to explore the 60-hour process and the meticulous dedication required to transform your most significant moments into a...
Understanding the value: A detailed breakdown of professional wedding photography
What lies behind the price of professional wedding photography? I invite you to explore the 60-hour process and the meticulous dedication required to transform your most significant moments into a...
Like a scene from a classic film: Hunting for 1970s aesthetics in modern Japan
I took my 1969 Pentax Spotmatic back home to Tokyo. Two weeks shooting purely on film: explore this cinematic photo series from backstreets frozen in time.
Like a scene from a classic film: Hunting for 1970s aesthetics in modern Japan
I took my 1969 Pentax Spotmatic back home to Tokyo. Two weeks shooting purely on film: explore this cinematic photo series from backstreets frozen in time.
Outdoor Portrait Photography: Creating a Stress-Free Location Shoot
Dreaming of cinematic portraits in natural light or urban spaces? Discover how a stress-free location shoot and authentic vintage lenses guarantee natural, beautiful photos entirely on your terms.
Outdoor Portrait Photography: Creating a Stress-Free Location Shoot
Dreaming of cinematic portraits in natural light or urban spaces? Discover how a stress-free location shoot and authentic vintage lenses guarantee natural, beautiful photos entirely on your terms.
What is an anxiety-free photo session?
Nervous about standing in front of the camera? You are not alone. An anxiety-free photography experience and a safe space mean leaving stiff poses and pressure behind. Read how we...
What is an anxiety-free photo session?
Nervous about standing in front of the camera? You are not alone. An anxiety-free photography experience and a safe space mean leaving stiff poses and pressure behind. Read how we...
Moving Portraits – The Future Form of Photography
What is a moving portrait and why is it the future hybrid of photography and video? Professional photographer and Art Director Simo Tolvanen explores this dynamic new visual format. Learn...
Moving Portraits – The Future Form of Photography
What is a moving portrait and why is it the future hybrid of photography and video? Professional photographer and Art Director Simo Tolvanen explores this dynamic new visual format. Learn...
Professional vs. hobbyist – what does your investment actually get you?
Visual identity is vital for business, yet in the age of AI and hobbyists, many cut costs in the wrong places. Discover why professional photography builds genuine trust and how...
Professional vs. hobbyist – what does your investment actually get you?
Visual identity is vital for business, yet in the age of AI and hobbyists, many cut costs in the wrong places. Discover why professional photography builds genuine trust and how...
The World’s Northernmost Metro – Street Photography from Helsinki by Simo Tolvanen
What happens when you spend two weeks capturing life in the Helsinki metro? Simo Tolvanen's documentary street photography exhibition "The World's Northernmost Metro" is now open at Gallery IPIOMA (IPI...
The World’s Northernmost Metro – Street Photography from Helsinki by Simo Tolvanen
What happens when you spend two weeks capturing life in the Helsinki metro? Simo Tolvanen's documentary street photography exhibition "The World's Northernmost Metro" is now open at Gallery IPIOMA (IPI...
Photowalkcast x Simo Tolvanen: Own path, Metro & Inspiration
I recently joined host Tan Vuong on the Photowalkcast podcast. We discussed the underground world of Helsinki, the Are Bure Boke photography style, and how my metro project came to...
Photowalkcast x Simo Tolvanen: Own path, Metro & Inspiration
I recently joined host Tan Vuong on the Photowalkcast podcast. We discussed the underground world of Helsinki, the Are Bure Boke photography style, and how my metro project came to...
The Photography Dictionary: 30+ terms you should know
What is the difference between a quote and an estimate? What do image usage rights mean, and what exactly is bokeh or the golden hour? Photography terminology can sometimes confuse...
The Photography Dictionary: 30+ terms you should know
What is the difference between a quote and an estimate? What do image usage rights mean, and what exactly is bokeh or the golden hour? Photography terminology can sometimes confuse...
Video is the new photograph – or is it?
The world is in motion, and your story should move with it. While a still photograph freezes a moment, video brings it to life. Discover why cinematic video and hybrid...
Video is the new photograph – or is it?
The world is in motion, and your story should move with it. While a still photograph freezes a moment, video brings it to life. Discover why cinematic video and hybrid...
Photographer and Art Director in one package?
In today's creative landscape, it's often more efficient when the photographer and Art Director are the same person. This synergy keeps the artistic vision intact while saving on costs. Read...
Photographer and Art Director in one package?
In today's creative landscape, it's often more efficient when the photographer and Art Director are the same person. This synergy keeps the artistic vision intact while saving on costs. Read...
Authentic stories require authentic visuals
The world's leading tech giants are hiring storytellers at astronomical salaries to combat the rise of 'workslop.' But while companies refine their narratives, many fall into the trap of visual...
Authentic stories require authentic visuals
The world's leading tech giants are hiring storytellers at astronomical salaries to combat the rise of 'workslop.' But while companies refine their narratives, many fall into the trap of visual...
Why vintage optics and the analogue feel triumph over technical performance
No one wants to look clinical or over-sharpened in photos, yet modern technology often emphasizes every detail in a way that feels cold and artificial. I’ve chosen a different path:...
Why vintage optics and the analogue feel triumph over technical performance
No one wants to look clinical or over-sharpened in photos, yet modern technology often emphasizes every detail in a way that feels cold and artificial. I’ve chosen a different path:...
Collaborating with Canon and SPCF: When a photographer captures the moment
How does a digital vision come to life as a physical print? Read Simo Tolvanen’s thoughts on the collaboration between Canon and Street Photography Collective Finland. Discover the "Stop" exhibition,...
Collaborating with Canon and SPCF: When a photographer captures the moment
How does a digital vision come to life as a physical print? Read Simo Tolvanen’s thoughts on the collaboration between Canon and Street Photography Collective Finland. Discover the "Stop" exhibition,...
Stop listening to everyone else and just do it
The world is full of people who can tell you why now is not the time to start. If we only listened to this ”wise” advice, not many cool new...
Stop listening to everyone else and just do it
The world is full of people who can tell you why now is not the time to start. If we only listened to this ”wise” advice, not many cool new...
Mediocrity leaves no lasting impression
The boring basic photograph has reached the end of its road, and rightfully so; its passing finally makes room for authentic storytelling. Mediocrity is safe, but no one has ever...
Mediocrity leaves no lasting impression
The boring basic photograph has reached the end of its road, and rightfully so; its passing finally makes room for authentic storytelling. Mediocrity is safe, but no one has ever...
When the tool became an idol
In the age of social media, photography has increasingly devolved into a competitive sport where the brand logo carries more weight than the work itself. When influencers fuel brand wars,...
When the tool became an idol
In the age of social media, photography has increasingly devolved into a competitive sport where the brand logo carries more weight than the work itself. When influencers fuel brand wars,...