Tiia with peonies, 2016

I am ever-fascinated by makeup, fantasy-looks and unorthodox beauty. It is one of the greatest feelings to let your own imagination taking over, create an aesthetic and to see it come to life through photography. When I create a photoshoot, I want to make sure every detail is carefully planned, which is why, for now, I plan and execute the makeup, hair, set and props myself.

Tiia with peonies, 2016






Funky Shades II, 2021

Model: Pinja Koponen


Hair Adventure, 2021

Model: Tiia Vartiainen






Funky Shades I, 2021

Model: Pinja Koponen






Hair adventure, 2021

Model: Tiia Vartiainen

Mortis, Vivea & Hallucinea, 2020

Three incarnations of the properties of fungi: Life-taking&devouring, Life-giving&healing and Affecting&controlling.

Model: Tiia Vartiainen

Frida Kahlo, 2016

Model: Jenna Harjuveteläinen

Angel, 2019

Model: Tiia Vartiainen

Tale of the Daffodils, 2020

I was inspired by the Kabuki, Kintsugi and Kanzashi.

I interpreted the meaning of daffodils in Hana-Kotoba, the ‘language of flowers’ in japanese culture. They represent among other things respect. Respect doesn’t require perfection, but owning one’s flaws, which is why I included the golden ornaments to represent kintsugi, an art form of repairing broken objects with gold and appreciating the story that the object bears. 

The shape of the makeup is inspired by lion character’s makeup in kabuki-theatre, because the lion is an animal that is respected and even called the king of the jungle.

The flowers are placed in the hair to represent the kanzashi, hair decoration worn by geisha-students.

All of this is mixed with a dark and moody atmosphere and rather stoic facial expression to bring the silent finnishness to the picture. 

Model: Tiia Vartiainen



Jenna Harjuveteläinen, 2015

Sirkku Rouvinen, 2020

Crown made out of fungi

Promo shots for HUMANxFUNGI – Self-Embellishing Jewellery, 2020

Models: Tiia Vartiainen & Jenna Mäkäräinen

Jenna Mäkäräinen, 2020

Promo shot for FUNGIxHUMAN


Monika Eklund, 2016


Monika Eklund, 2016

Shot through a prism, 2020

Model: Tiia Vartiainen

Shot through a prism, 2019

Model: Monika Eklund