A story about the Universe within you
The cosmos is not somewhere far beyond the sky — we are already within it, journeying through it every day. Through us, the cosmos works miracles such as transformation and the birth of life.
Or About Transformation
About tenderness, anticipation, and love. About your personal experience — the transitional state in which you change, expand, and open up. About your strength and, at the same time, your vulnerability.
Of the powerful and beautiful meanings that the Universe has placed within a woman
THAT WHICH YOU TRULY FEEL AND EXPERIENCE
Of the connection to something greater — to the universe, to nature, to the infinite flow of life.
Of the passage of time, of the anticipation that is already, in itself, a part of birth.
For me, pregnancy is a story of magic—a time when a woman becomes the entire universe for a tiny human being. This is exactly how I felt when I was pregnant myself, and it is why I searched for a way to capture that feeling in my photographs and videos.
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TO REVEAL YOUR TRUE AND SINCERE EMOTIONS, I CREATE A SAFE SPACE
A photoshoot is, first and foremost, about the process — the result comes second
Beautiful images can be created by AI today, but the feeling of a lived experience, of a unique day that stands apart from all others — AI cannot replicate that.
Pregnancy is a period of profound vulnerability. As an artist, my mission is to create a "cocoon" of safety for you, a place where you can release control. I do not demand posing, perfect makeup, or flawless hair. You aren’t here to "play the model"; you are here for a date with yourself and your partner.
And I do everything in my power to make you subconsciously believe that the whole world has stopped — just so you can simply be, feel, touch, dance, be silent, laugh, and live in the present moment.
A photoshoot is an act of deep trust—a moment when you allow yourself to be truly seen by another person
A Space for Calm and Creation
I understand that a photoshoot can feel like stepping onto a stage under spotlights, with the photographer as the only spectator. I often work with people for whom this is their first session ever, or perhaps their second, after their wedding. That is why I dedicate so much attention to creating a safe space for our co-creation. Here, you are the protagonist, and I am your attentive guide, helping you capture your unique story.
I have moved away from "quick" photoshoots because magic cannot be rushed. It is important to me that you do not feel the stress of time constraints.
- Light as a Tool: A studio session requires specific lighting preparation for every story. For every outfit change, I create a new lighting scheme. Light helps me illuminate what often goes unnoticed in everyday life.
- The Ritual of Getting Comfortable: The first 15 minutes of the session are for me to calibrate the camera and for you to get used to the sound of the shutter. While we will certainly get some great shots then, the real magic begins a little later.
- Two Levels of the Story: We have time for everything. We will create both classic, timeless portraits that you’ll be proud to send to grandparents, and a deep, intimate story of "your universe" that you may want to keep just for yourself.
- Photo + Video: During our session, I don’t just take photos—I also capture video. It is so valuable to preserve not just a static moment, but movement—the "before" and the "after." You will receive all the raw video clips and one professionally edited video of "your universe." This is why I may occasionally ask you to repeat certain movements—to capture the moment in all its dimensions.
- Ending with Gratitude: We leave the studio without haste or disappointment. We have time to pack up calmly, share our impressions, and leave with the confidence that we gave ourselves fully to the moment. We also ensure the studio is left exactly as we found it.
This is why I recommend renting the studio for a minimum of 2.5 to 3 hours
Let’s meet — I am fotospalakh / Anna Charchenko
My professional journey is a constant search for light. My work has gained international recognition: I am a Grand Prix winner of CzechArtPhoto, which confirms my status as a professional photographer in the Czech Republic. However, far more important to me than awards is that moment of trust when you close your eyes in my studio and simply breathe.
Specializing in Fine Art photography, I have moved away from templates. My work involves the individual development of lighting schemes and a unique visual language for every woman who comes to me for a maternity photoshoot.
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I don’t photograph events, but feelings. When the body becomes a space of anticipation, acceptance, and tenderness. It can be about pregnancy — or it can be about something entirely different
FOTOSPALAKH ❤
If you let me into your life to capture a few priceless, honest moments for you, then I keep them in my heart as well
FOTOSPALAKH ❤
The value of my work -
It is an investment in your state of being and your memories—one that cannot be measured by the number of hours spent or the frames received
What you receive by choosing our co-creation
Every maternity photoshoot in Karlovy Vary or Prague is a great responsibility for me—it is about how you will remember yourself during this magical time.
- The opportunity to see your true beauty: I notice what often remains invisible. As a maternity photographer, I gather the light, your emotions, and the fleeting nature of the moment to transform them into a tangible treasure.
- A deep experience of the moment: During the shoot, I don’t just record reality—I help you fill it with meaning and depth, allowing you to be truly "here and now."
- Safety and caring guidance: I create a space where you can be yourself. Whether it is a session in my studio, at your home, or in nature, you are the protagonist, and I am your attentive guide.
- Your state of being afterwards: Our meeting leaves a trace not only in the photographs but also in how you feel about yourself. It is a motherhood experience that builds inner strength and self-love.
My value to you lies not in the number of shots, but in the precision and depth with which I capture your unique story
Service pricing
Moments
A photoshoot for those ready to be present with themselves and close to the ones who matter.
❤ 2-hour photoshoot
❤ 40–60 edited digital photos in a signature style
❤ Video up to 60 seconds
*For a 2-hour photoshoot, the studio or location needs to be booked for 2.5 hours (allowing 30 minutes for lighting adjustments and outfit changes). Studio rental is paid separately.
€ 310 / Kč 7500
The price covers a creative, safe process where we create something truly authentic.
More Memories
This photoshoot is for those who want to feel and capture more. More playing with light, more room for spontaneity, more honesty, no rushing, and more freedom.
❤ 3.5-hour photoshoot
❤ 80–120 edited digital photos in a signature style
❤ Video up to 60 seconds
*For a 3.5-hour photoshoot, the studio or location needs to be booked for 4 hours (allowing 30 minutes for lighting adjustments and outfit changes). Studio rental is paid separately.
€ 450 / Kč 11000
The price covers a deep dive into the process and a professional, artistic result.
Important Details of Your Future Story
Locations and Travel My main studio is located in Karlovy Vary, but I regularly conduct photoshoots in Prague, Kladno, and Beroun, and travel throughout the Czech Republic. I will gladly come to you in cities such as Plzeň, Mariánské Lázně, Cheb, Františkovy Lázně, Teplice, Louny, Sokolov, Chomutov, Ústí nad Labem, Boží Dar, or the peaks of the Krušné hory (Ore Mountains). Travel within a radius of 120 km from Karlovy Vary is already included in the session price.
Photography Across the Czech Republic I am also open to bookings in more distant cities. If you are looking for a photographer in Brno, Tábor, Liberec, Český Krumlov, or Pardubice — I would be happy to visit you. Having worked in these cities before, I know the best locations for our shoot. For available dates and individual travel conditions, please inquire via private message.
International Bookings (Germany) My creativity is not limited to the Czech Republic. I am open to assignments in the border regions of Germany, particularly in Oberwiesenthal and Annaberg-Buchholz. I can also plan photoshoots in major cities such as Dresden, Nuremberg, Leipzig, Chemnitz, Bayreuth, and Hof. If you are located in Bavaria or Saxony, we can easily plan our session together.
Style and Results Every shoot for me is the creation of a piece of art in the Fine Art style. Whether it is an individual portrait or a maternity photoshoot, you will receive more than just digital frames — you will get deep, emotional images that breathe with light.
Please inquire about available dates and travel conditions for distant cities via private messages. Every journey is discussed individually to ensure we achieve the best possible result.
Write to me to learn more
and to book your date
PRICELESS GIFT
You can order a gift certificate based on the terms of one of the packages described above
The certificate can be personalized with the recipient’s name and include a greeting from you.
A gift certificate is a perfect present for an expectant mother or a family welcoming a newborn. It’s also an unforgettable gift for a mom, sister, daughter, or friend on her birthday
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Questions & Answers
Where exactly do you hold maternity photoshoots? My creative base and private studio are located in Karlovy Vary. However, I work as a traveling photographer throughout the Czech Republic and Germany. You can book a maternity photoshoot in Prague, Plzeň, Mariánské Lázně, Cheb, or Teplice. I also frequently travel to Dresden, Nuremberg, and the picturesque locations of the Krušné hory. Your story can be realized in any format. I conduct shoots in a professional photo studio, where we create complex lighting schemes, but I am also happy to come to your home to create a cozy lifestyle story. Additionally, we can organize a maternity session in a hotel, in nature among the mountains, or have an atmospheric walking photoshoot in the city center amidst the architecture. I have all the necessary portable equipment to ensure a flawless result in any chosen location.
How does the preparation for the photoshoot work? Preparation is 70% of the success of an artistic story. My task as your author is to ensure that your maternity photoshoot in Prague or Karlovy Vary is effortless and the result exceeds expectations. How we build the process:
- Exploring Meanings: We discuss the mood you want to capture. I ask about your favorite colors, music, films, and visuals that resonate with you right now. This helps me understand your individual "Universe."
- Creating a Moodboard: Based on our conversations, I create a visual moodboard (concept). This allows us to see the future result of the Fine Art photoshoot in advance and agree on all details.
- Selecting the Look and Location: According to the concept, we select clothing (from your wardrobe or sourced items). I help choose the location: a cozy photo studio, an atmospheric hotel room, or a special place in nature — in the forest or the mountains of Boží Dar.
- Style and Details: We decide if professional makeup is needed to highlight your state. I also prepare the technical tools: selecting studio lighting schemes, preparing a smoke machine, or other special effects to create a unique atmosphere. Such thorough preparation guarantees that a professional photoshoot in the Czech Republic or Germany will be a pleasant adventure for you, not a source of stress.
Privacy and the Right to Your Images I deeply value your right to privacy and understand how personal a maternity photoshoot or an individual artistic session is. My privacy policy is simple and transparent:
- Publication Only with Consent: I do not publish anything in my portfolio or social media without your direct permission. Usually, we discuss this after you have received the finished photos and have had a chance to evaluate them.
- Full Confidentiality: You can book a shoot on terms of full privacy. This does not affect the cost of my services in Karlovy Vary, Prague, or other cities.
- TFP Conditions: If we plan a creative shoot on TFP (Time for Print) terms, we agree on publication rights in advance, before our collaboration begins. Your comfort and confidence that your artistic portraits will remain only a part of your family history is my priority as an author.
Do I need to know how to pose? Absolutely not. My specialization is the artistic portrait through your state of being, not through frozen poses. I am your guide, helping you relax and be yourself. My task as a professional photographer in the Czech Republic is to create conditions where every movement is natural and beautiful in the camera's light. Beauty is You! I will emphasize your beauty with the help of light. I will guide your gaze, your hands, your wings — not because it’s "right," but because that’s how the light will highlight your uniqueness.
At what stage of pregnancy should I plan the shoot? The best time for a maternity photoshoot is between weeks 28 and 34, when you feel energetic and your belly has a beautiful shape. However, every story is individual, and we can create your "Universe" at any moment you feel the need.
What is included in the cost of a travel photoshoot? For residents of Sokolov, Chomutov, Ostrov, and other settlements within a 120 km radius of Karlovy Vary — travel is already included in the package price. For distant cities like Brno, Liberec, or Bavaria (Germany), we discuss conditions individually. Important to know: wherever I go, I bring everything necessary to create magic. The price includes professional studio lighting and special effects tailored to the result we want to achieve. This allows us to get high-quality Fine Art photography even at your home or in a hotel. You receive not only digital photos but also an atmospheric video and the option to order Fine Art prints.
Can I purchase a gift certificate? Yes, a gift certificate for a maternity photoshoot is one of the most valuable gifts for an expectant mother. You can choose any of my packages, and I will ensure the experience becomes an unforgettable event for her.
Can I get unedited (raw) photos? I specialize in creating finished artistic works, so I typically do not give out "raw" material. Every maternity photoshoot in Prague or Karlovy Vary is a process where editing is an integral part of my signature style. After our meeting, I send you a link to a personal online gallery with ready, professionally edited photos. In the "Moments" and "More Memories" packages, the number of frames is more than enough to preserve all your most precious emotions. If you still wish to receive all successful frames from the shoot without retouching for your personal archive — please let me know in advance. The additional cost for all files from the shoot is 100 € (2500 Kč). This allows you to preserve every moment of our collaboration in full.
When will the photos be ready? I understand how exciting it is to wait for the results. The standard delivery time for finished material is up to 3 weeks. This time is necessary for every maternity photoshoot in Karlovy Vary or artistic portrait to undergo careful author's editing in the Fine Art style. The delivery schedule may vary depending on seasonal workload. If I see that the preparation of your story in Prague, Plzeň, or Germany requires more time, I will definitely inform you before the shoot begins. If it is important for you to receive the first frames or the full result earlier (e.g., for a special event) — please let me know in advance so we can agree on the possibility of express photo processing.