Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Reyn
Hi Angelica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Angelica, and I was born and raised in Russia. I grew up in a creative family – my mother was an art teacher, while my father and his parents were actors. My childhood was spent behind the scenes of the theater where my grandmother worked, and by the age of 13, I had already played the lead role in my first theatrical production.
I also completed a seven-year music school program in piano and later composed music for two musicals performed in Moscow theaters. I pursued higher education at one of Russia’s most prestigious theater schools, the Shchukin Theater Institute. After graduation, I worked as a theater actress for 10 years, during which I performed in more than 30 films and television series.
While working as an actress, I developed a passion for photography. I started as a headshot photographer, creating portfolios for my actor friends. Over time, I became increasingly fascinated by visual storytelling, which led me to work on film sets as a focus puller, camera assistant, and video engineer. My love for working with the camera grew, and in 2008, I took a bold leap – I sold my only apartment to buy a digital cinema camera.
Together with a friend, I launched a film production company and became one of the first in Russia to introduce digital cinema technology to the market. We shot films, commercials, music videos, and TV series. As we developed the company, we learned to wear many hats due to our small team size. This allowed me to acquire a range of skills, including writing scripts for commercials and music videos, as well as editing and color grading.
In 2014, I emigrated to America with my child and settled in Los Angeles, where I still live today. Here, I started my own photo and video production company. Currently, I focus on photography and shooting movies, commercials and music videos. I have a full set of cinema equipment, including cameras and lighting gear.
Throughout my journey, I have drawn on my rich artistic background to approach every project with a unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a deep appreciation for storytelling. From my roots in the theater to my current work behind the camera, my passion for the arts continues to inspire me. Whether I’m capturing a moment through a lens or crafting a narrative, I am driven by the belief that every frame holds the power to tell a story.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was born in a working-class neighborhood in the city of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad). The city was poor and had not yet recovered from World War II. My grandparents participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, and it’s a miracle they survived, as more than 1.1 million Russian soldiers died in that battle, and the city was wiped off the face of the earth. From a young age, I could feel the oppressive atmosphere of the city – after all, we were literally walking on one giant mass grave. I could cry for no apparent reason and grew up as a very sad and withdrawn child.
That’s when I first began to understand the phrase “Beauty will save the world.” Amid all this poverty and hopelessness, I found joy in drawing, music, and growing flowers. I created an entire garden under my window, and this beauty saved – if not the world – then at least one sad little girl.
Then the 1990s came, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the country plunged into chaos. My parents weren’t paid their wages for months, gangs roamed the streets, drug addiction and alcoholism were rampant, and grocery stores had empty shelves. Food was rationed, and we had to line up at 3 a.m. to make sure we’d get anything. We survived thanks to a tiny plot of land where we grew potatoes, but hunger was a constant companion.
Since then, I’ve been able to go without food for several days, and now I sometimes practice therapeutic fasting. My body handles it easily because it got used to it during my childhood. Fasting is actually very healthy and rejuvenates the body, so I’ve learned that even negative experiences can have their benefits.
After finishing school, I decided to move to Moscow because, at the time, it was the only city where you could live and earn a living. I was 17 when I left my hometown and went to Moscow to study at a theater institute. I passed a rigorous competition of 300 applicants per spot and got into the most prestigious theater school in the former Soviet Union – the Shchukin Institute.
It was the late ’90s, and food shortages were still a reality, especially for a student surviving on a tiny scholarship that barely lasted a week. The professors, who were stars of Russian cinema, helped us out – they brought us pies and set up private scholarships for students from poor families. Clothing issues were solved in the theater’s costume department – there were always warm clothes available. They weren’t exactly fashionable, but at least we didn’t freeze.
After graduating, I married another theater student, and life slowly started to improve. I acted in movies, but there wasn’t much work, and the pay was minimal. My husband and I started organizing events and working as hosts. We had a son, but my happiness didn’t last long. My husband fell ill and passed away, leaving me alone with a two-year-old child.
Acting couldn’t support us, so I had to look for other ways to earn a living. Shortly before he passed, my husband had given me a camera, and I started shooting weddings. I became more and more passionate about photography – it allowed me not only to express my love for beauty but also to earn a decent income. But I was still drawn to cinema.
At that time, Russian cinema wasn’t in the best shape, and I decided I wanted to make films myself. I needed a cinema camera, but I couldn’t afford one. So I did something crazy – I sold my only apartment in Volgograd and bought my first digital cinema camera, the SI-2K. In 2009, it cost as much as an apartment. This allowed me to become a co-owner of the film production company Color Dreams Cinema, and we became one of the first to introduce digital technology to the Russian film market.
We shot films, music videos, and commercials, and rented out film equipment. To promote the company without a large staff, we had to do a lot ourselves, so I learned how to write scripts, edit, and color grade.
But I had always dreamed of Hollywood, and after working at the company for a few years, I sold my share, took my child, and emigrated to America. The first few years were tough – it was hard to find a good job without knowing English. I took on all kinds of work: restaurants, farms, editing. But eventually, I got lucky. I got married. My husband proposed to me on the day we met. He later said that when he saw me, he immediately knew I was his wife. We’ve been together for nine years now.
I finally had the opportunity to pursue my professional dreams. We started a company called Belvedere Studios and began working on photo and video projects. Now I work as a photographer, shooting portraits, headshots for actors and portraits in the style of Golden Age Hollywood. I’m also a cinematographer and director, creating films, music videos, and commercials.
As you know, we’re big fans of Belvedere Studios . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our company specializes in portrait photography, including headshots and creative photoshoots. What sets us apart and makes us proud is our photoshoots in the style of the Golden Age of Hollywood. This type of photography allows you to feel like a true star of the Golden Era.
The cost of such a photoshoot is $1,500, which includes:
* 2-hour studio rental,
* Specialized lighting equipment necessary to achieve the signature Golden Hollywood look,
* 2 hours of work by the photographer,
* 2 hours of work by the assistant,
* Wardrobe styling by a professional stylist,
* Makeup and hairstyling by a professional artist.
* 5 photos of your choice, fully retouched to high quality.
For readers of this article, I’m offering a 20% discount.
We also specialize in shooting music videos, commercials, and reels. The cost of each project varies depending on the complexity of the shoot.
Pricing:
- Golden Age of Hollywood photoshoot – $1,500
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photographer: Angelica Reyn
MUA, Hairstyle: Daria Ryabova, Alina Abolinya, Elena Savina
Wardrobe stylist; Olga Moskovenko
Lighting assistant: Igor Mischenko
Models: Nina Lisnik, Anna Melihova, Anastasia Sizova, Vladimir Grechko, Mikhail Krylov, Viktoria Starostina, Alina Efremova.
