Freedom Seeker Photography
About
About Elena
Hi, I’m Elena - a photographer, storyteller, and freedom-seeking soul based in the Algarve, Portugal.
I work with women, families, couples, wellness leaders, and retreat hosts who want to receive photos that make them feel something when they look back at them.
My photography is mindful and intentional. It's about seeing you. The soft smiles. The belly laughs. The imperfections. The light in your eyes when you’re fully at ease.
A few random facts about me:
I love exercising - fast speed grounds me
I have three cats and two dogs
I'm a huge TEDx advocate, good ideas fill me up (I've organised two so far and attended eight in total)
I can be very chatty and warm, but can also suddenly feel the need to hide and recover from too much interaction
I believe fairy lights make everything better.
Why "Freedom Seeker"?
The name came from a deep desire to live life on my own terms - emotionally, creatively, and geographically. Freedom to be myself. Freedom to explore. Freedom to build a business rooted in joy, connection, and self-trust.
I believe we’re all lifelong students of freedom - each of us exploring it in our own way. Through movement, creativity, love, healing, or simply slowing down.
“Freedom Seeker” is how I live, and how I want you to feel when we work together: Free. Radiant. Comfortable in your skin. What I love most is helping women reveal their inner light. It takes courage to be vulnerable and inner work to love yourself as you are. This has been my lifelong journey, and I've come a long way.
I was born in Bulgaria, studied marketing in the UK, and ended up living there for a decade. I worked in various corporate jobs, being convinced that this is what I was “supposed to do”. It was fast-paced, exciting, and full of stories, but not always my kind of stories.
In 2020, I booked a spontaneous one-way ticket to Portugal, arriving just before the borders closed. I had no plan - just a desire for more freedom, more meaning, more sun. I landed in the Algarve, fell in love with its wild nature, and never looked back.
Here, surrounded by yogis, creatives, and retreat hosts, I picked up my camera again - just for fun. But soon, friends started asking me to photograph their classes, events, and businesses. One thing led to another… and Freedom Seeker Photography was born.
The digital nomad life
My photography is warm, natural, emotionally driven, and guided by intuition. I work mostly with natural light and soft tones to tell stories that feel gentle, true, and timeless.
Most of the people I photograph tell me they’re a bit shy or don’t usually like being in front of the camera, and I completely understand that. I grew up painfully shy myself, and spent much of my early twenties learning how to be seen. That journey taught me how powerful it is to feel safe, understood, and gently guided.
These days, I bring that same care to every shoot. Before we even begin, I take time to connect with you. Through words, mindfulness techniques, a gentle meditation, and space to simply be.
My style is dreamy and poetic, but at its core, it’s about making you feel like yourself. Seen. Comfortable. Beautiful in your own way. And maybe even a little freer.
Mindful and intentional photoshoots
Shall we?
Let’s create something honest, soulful, and beautifully you.
