Bio

Born in 1985 at the Arctic Circle, grew up in St. Petersburg, emigrated and became German in 2018. Elena Kaufmann is the author of two photo books that show very sensetive works about dealing with people without prejudice.

Working on photography series often takes two to three years, during which Elena Kaufmann seeks out and builds trusting relationships with the protagonists. For DER WEISSE FADEN series, for example, 20 women of different religions were found throughout Germany. In the current project YOUNG Elena Kaufmann is working with the youth of today.

Recognized for her expressive portraits and sensitive, attentive, artfully drawn documentary series. Her photographs have an emotionally charged connection to the subject, but they are the opposite of radical, clear and everyday.

Elena Kaufmann now works as both a photographer and a filmmaker and moves between portrait and documentary. Since 2015 she has been exhibiting her projects throughout Germany.

Based on her first university education in the field of psychology, Elena Kaufmann shows great interest in working with women and thus psychologically supports their belief in the beauty of their own bodies: „I look for what is hidden in people. This means a lot to me because I can show how beautiful we are when we don't bury ourselves behind the thicket of "having to appear external". I love the state of flow during my shoots. The freedom from self-criticism, from thinking and trying to do everything right. It's basically difficult. It's even harder in front of the camera. But this way we find the opportunity to get to know ourselves