CubaPLUS Magazine

Stanislav Solovkin is an internationally acclaimed television producer. For almost three decades, he has been producing popular television shows. To list all his filmography, one magazine will not be enough. But you can just type in his name in Wikipedia or IMDB.com – and everything will become clear.

We were very surprised to learn that Stanislav has been living and working in Cuba for the last six years. Here, in Havana, he became a famous photographer. We decided to talk to him.

Stanislav, did you abandon television and retrain as a photographer?

No, of course not. I, as before, am engaged in television production. I have several companies scattered around the world that are successfully operating. Of course, COVID has battered us all, but we are recovering. And here, in Cuba, I am a photographer.  

Why photography?

It’s hard to answer in a few words, but I’ll try. Television is a conveyor. Hundreds of people are involved in the creation of each show. It’s pure team work.

Photography is very personal. I consider that in this way - I create my second creative self.

What is your favorite genre in photography?

I don’t have a specific one.

I started as a street photographer, hunting for the unique shots, and have traveled all around the country with my camera. I also did and still do a lot of artistic photography. Actually, my exhibition called “Los Guardas de la Habana” was the last one to be exhibited in La Fábrica de Arte Cubano before the COVID lockdown. I also was lucky to have a chance to do a few special projects including the one with Teatro Público (the best theater in Cuba), featuring the best actors of this country.

So, photography is pure art for you? Creating for the sake of creating?

Not really. It is also a business. I have a large and well-known photo studio in Cuba. It’s called FF Estudio (also know as Fabrica de Fotos), which we started with my friend and photographer Edward González. Also, it has been just a few weeks since the famous Cuban actor, choreographer and producer Ernesto Codner has joined us as a partner.

We do photo shoots of 15-year-olds, weddings, children. Just recently, we have started producing content for musicians and actors. Each actor needs portfolio, and musicians need at least a photo for posters and other artwork.

Perhaps not all of our readers know about 15-year-olds … Can you explain it to us in a nutshell?

Many Cubans think that the celebration of the 15th birthday is a Cuban invention but this is not true. While 18 is the legal age at which a child becomes an adult, 15 is celebrated in almost all Latin American countries as the age of the transition to adulthood. In any case, in Cuba this is one of the most important days in a child's life. One of the obligatory elements in this celebration is the creation of a photo album with colorful outfits.

That is, your business is focused exclusively on the domestic market?

At first, it really was. But now we offer two new products. This is a Photo Tour and Tourist Album.

Cuba is one of the most photogenic countries in the world. However, a person visiting Cuba for the first time risks going home without a single photo of his own. To avoid this, we offer our Travel Album package. In a nutshell, we send one of our photographers armed with professional equipment along with our clients. As a result, the tourist receives a wonderful photo album of his trip.

How is this different from a Photo Tour?

A Photo Tour is something completely different thing. We invite a tourist to try out as a professional photographer. Accompanied by the best professional, the tourist travels to the most photogenic and authentic corners of the country. Also, any photo tour is always unique and off the beaten track. You will see a country that will not be shown to you on any excursion. Photo tour is one of the most fashionable trends in the world of tourism.

Why?

The value of any tourist trip is not measured by what you see or how many sights you visit. It is measured by the number of stories you can tell your friends about it, and not only tell, but to illustrate it with unique photographs you take yourself.

You can contact us at:

For English +53 56804411

For Spanish +53 50126179

Visit us in Instagram @ffestudio.cuba