The Main Character: Tetiana Kurbakova on Starting Again in Vancouver
Modern Romanticism is a menswear editorial photographed by Tetiana Kurbakova with model Nikita Chebanov, wearing Zara, published as one of the twenty editorials in MALVIE MAIN ISSUE 72, the 190-page, perfect-bound November 2026 main issue of MALVIE Magazine. Shot in soft summer light between a rose garden, a shoreline and a lawn full of Canada geese, it pairs cream linen tailoring and loose knits with a single silver cross on a chain.
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Tetiana Kurbakova: the interview
Looking back at your creative journey so far, was there a moment when photography stopped being something you did and became the way you see the world?
For me, it started with how I see the world. Photography began simply as something I loved doing just for myself. I initially chose a completely different professional path, but eventually, I came back to photography, because I truly believe that what is meant for you will find its way to you no matter what. Even now, I can walk down the street, see a gorgeous woman working as a police officer, and instantly imagine her in another reality—as a top model.
Of course, she might love her actual life and never want to model, but in that exact moment, a picture of her alternative life forms in my mind. So many times, I’ve brought these imagined stories to life simply by walking up to someone and asking if they’d be open to an experiment. That kind of vision and spontaneity has always pulled me in.
Moving from Ukraine to Vancouver meant starting your creative career again in a new place. What did you have to let go of, and what did you choose to carry with you into your work?
Moving meant letting go of doubts and, finally, letting go of the opinions of other people. I realized that if I keep concentrating on what others might think of me, I will never move forward. What I chose to carry with me—and deeply preserve—is storytelling and the art of creating a whole atmosphere around a photoshoot, bringing my distinct vision and resilience across the ocean.
How has living between two cultures changed the way you look at light, places, and people when you shoot?
It has definitely opened up so many more possibilities. Vancouver brings together diverse nationalities, unique and unexpected locations, and people who have completely different expectations and desires for what they want to see in their photos. Blending my background with this rich multicultural environment has made my perspective much broader, richer, and more dynamic.
You speak about making people feel like the main character of their own story. What happens on set, before the camera even comes out, to help someone reach that feeling?
I view everyone around me as the main character in their own personal timeline; I’m simply stepping into their timeline for a moment to look at them through the eyes of an admiring spectator. That energy, my attitude, and how I talk to them are transmitted directly to them, giving them total confidence. I want my subjects to feel entirely seen, pampered, and empowered.
I guide them not by giving stiff poses, but by giving them a scenario to live in, so by the time we start shooting, they aren't just posing for a camera—they are starring in their own movie.
When you look at a finished image, how do you know it shows who the person really is, and not just how they look?
We are all so multi-faceted. In my work, I might capture only about 5% of who a person truly is in total, but the best indicator that we’ve succeeded is their reaction when they see the photos. When they look at the images and say, "This is exactly how I’ve always wanted to be seen," or "No one has ever seen me the way you did"—that is when I know we've captured their true essence.
As you keep building your work in Vancouver, what stories do you feel ready to tell next, and what would you like people to feel when they see them?
That’s the kind of thing you can't really plan in advance. It always depends on inspiration, the situations you find yourself in, and the environment you surround yourself with.
My next big step is simply for people to instantly recognize my work and my signature style—for my visual language to speak for itself.
Modern Romanticism credits
Photographer: Tetiana Kurbakova @tiana.kurba
Model: Nikita Chebanov @nikitachebanov_
Modern Romanticism fashion credits
Wardrobe — Zara
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