Intervention by Abilities Agency

01/07/2017

Behind every beautifully model, there are talented make-up and hair artists, who work hard to ensure that all the pictures look great. It takes an artful eye to see the beauty and potential in each face and a lot of professionalism to help photographer show all that beauty in the pictures. 📸
Many of us don't realize how important the job of make-up and hair artists is for the photo shoots especially for the photo shoots of the model agency. Even for black and white pictures that tell the stories of our models and talk about their inner world - professional make-up and hair styling are essential. And they differ greatly from those for every-day life - starting from the techniques and ending up with the cosmetic products that are used. By the way, have you ever seen the quantity of cosmetic products professional MUAs bring with them to the photo-shoot?? A whole suitcase!! 😁
Abilities Agency is lucky to be able to work with top Israeli professionals who despite there tight schedules find time to help the project. And we are really happy that some of them have truly become members of the team. These amazing people have their own inspiring life stories and their vision of the project. They believe in us, and for Abilities Agency working with them is an honor, a pleasure, and a motivation to keep doing our best to develop the project. 🙏
"My name is Alexandra, I moved to Israel 7 years ago. First couple of years were hard and I missed home a lot. But later on I understood how much I love this country. I got married, gave birth, found new friends. My ambitions and aspirations for personal growth helped me to move forward and brought me to make-up and hair-styling school. I fell in love with this profession and realized how important is to do what you love in life. It's been about 3 years that I work in this sphere but I keep on learning all the time, participate in various master-classes. I want to achieve great results in my profession and it requires a lot of efforts and persistence.
2 years ago I was invited to a photo-shoot of Abilities Agency. That was a great experience! A big team of professionals volunteer to help people understand how beautiful and admired they are, to give them confidence and new opportunities. I love the idea of the project and I work at almost every photo-session. When I come back home after a shooting day I'm always overwhelmed and full of positive energy! This project gives so much inspiration and emotions that I don't usually get from regular clients.
And of course I'm impressed by our models. These people are really special, they are so strong and cheerful, full of smiles and good mood, they know how to love and value the life. There is so much to learn from them and I'm really grateful to life that it gave me an opportunity to work with them!"
This is a beautiful story of Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova. We want to thank her and several other people for their help:
Biata Dribina Yuri Shabalin Olga Vashurov Moran Shimanovsky

It's not not taken for granted what you are doing for the project and we appreciate your work from the bottom of our hearts!💕

Pictures by Rana Schneider

12/06/2017

We want to introduce to you our backstage photographer Rana Schneider. She is with us at every photo-shoot but she is probably the only one who never gets into the frame. Which is logical ☺ but very unfair. So we are going to fix it right now!
Rana was born in Russia and when she was 19 she moved to Europe to study and to work in hospitality and hotel business. Several years ago life brought Rana (or Rana brought her life ☺) to Israel where she participated in MASA program because she wanted to realize her dream to become photographer. On the program she met well-known fashion and art photographer Jimmy Grass, who became not just Rana’s teacher but also good friend. Together they joined Abilities Agency.
Here is what Rana says about her experience in the project: “As a backstage photographer I’m not tied to the background and flashes, so I have a unique opportunity to capture the life and history of the project from the moment of its birth. I help preserving precious moments of reality that slips away with every second. Photography teaches to see and catch instants, perceiving and saving them. And it is magical to capture moments from lives of people that participate in the project. People who are really special, interesting and strong and at the same time absolutely ordinary. During each photo-sessions I observe how our models are changing. Communication with the team, atmosphere at the studio, and perhaps the magic of photography, open their hearts. Thus photo-shoots become therapy and socialization sessions and resemble old friends reunions. I’m really grateful to each team member for the opportunity to be part of all this!”
Rana works as photographer, photo-editor and content manger. She loves to travel and to get to know new people and places. She tries to learn from every person she meets. And as she says it is her great passion to organize or join projects that don’t bring financial gains, but really change our world to a better place according to her vision. Thank you, Rana, for being part of our team!!

04/06/2017

We wrote a lot about our amazing models and their stories, posted photos from backstage and events we took part in. Now it's time to tell you about the people without whom all that wouldn’t be possible! We are really proud of our team members, as they are not just top professionals in their spheres, but also open-minded and big-hearted dreamers, who dedicate their time, talent and creativity to make this world a better place. Their passion and belief in success makes the project move forward, developing in new ways while preserving core values.
The idea of Abilities Agency belongs Maria Olshanskaya, who launched the project on a voluntary basis together with celebrity couple Philip Blau and Elena Blaunshtein – designers and founders of famous fashion brand Frau Blau. Their vision ignited amazing artist and photo therapist Jimmy Grass, who joined the team as the main photographer and invited her best alumni Rana Sheider to become backstage photographer. There are also other very important people that do great job for the project but usually stay behind the scenes – make-up and hair artists, video producers, studio-owner, another great photographer Dima Valershtein and business-development manager. All of them are our good friends and deserve separate posts! So let’s go ☺

06/05/2017

As the holidays are over we are sending you good vibes and sunny energy through our Backstage photos to prolong your positive mood :)

Backstage photographer: Rana Shneider
Volunteer: Julia Prober
MUA: Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova and Moran Shimanovsky
Photographer: Jimmy Grass
Art directors: Helena Blaunstein Philip Blau
Producer: Maria Eliana Ol
Models: Anastasiya Gilevskaya Agnessa Kustanovich Yulia Gladky Inbal Pezaro Александра Казаченко
Studio: Photo4sale

Pictures by Rana Shneider

28/03/2017

Abilities Agency is a project that raises important questions, deals with serious issues and aims to bring big social changes... At the same time everything we do, we do for fun and enjoyment, for inspiration and fulfillment, for creativity and beauty, for friendship and love, for our models and ourselves.

This video made by most professional, talented and positive Maria Bado and Gregory A. Bado illustrates all that the project is about, shows our values and gives a taste of our work. We are endlessly grateful to Studio TRINITY for this present!! Happy Good-deeds-day, Israel!!

With Philip Blau Helena Blaunstein Maria Eliana Ol Jimmy Grass Rana Shneider Moti Vagman Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova Yuri Shabalin Biata Dribina Olga Vashurov Niffer Nay Juliette Stepanenkova Viktoriya Shubin Cohen Yam Matoki Guy Blau Irina Ignatova Damir Miller Yvonne Aaronberg Talia Agranat

04/02/2017

"Unlimited opportunities in the modeling industry" - that's how iLand (Israeli online TV channel) called the interview of Maria Olshanskaya (co-founder and producer of Abilities Agency) taken in June, 2016. And we believe that soon this will be not just a title but a new reality!

With ILand Helena and Philipp Blau, Jimmy Grass Rana Shneider Maria Bado Gregory A. Bado Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova Olga Vashurov Biata Dribina Yuri Shabalin Valershtein Dima Moti Vagman Yam Matoki Damir Miller Denis Dorum Juliette Stepanenkova Таня Фельдман

We are also really grateful to our beautiful models who were not shown in the video but are very important for us! Thank you, for taking part in the project, we are working hard to share your inspiring pictures and stories with the world!! - Miri Kunkes Zinaida Nevzlina Niffer Nay Emilia Mazur Guy Blau Viktoriya Shubin Cohen Irina Ignatova Yvonne Aaronberg
Since the interview was made several new amazing girls joined us! Anastasiya Gilevskaya Agnessa Kustanovich and Yulia Gladky Thank you!

Interview was taken in Russian. English subtitles were written by Abilities Agency.

22/01/2017

Our new project! Наш новый проект! (Текст на руссском после английского)

There is beauty in everyone. It’s so hard to believe in it and its power, yet so easy to loose this feeling… Meanwhile we all have are own stereotypes about what makes us attractive to others. And if part of this «asset» changes because of the reasons we don’t have control of, our self-confidence starts to disappear as well.
What if such changes affect also the entire life? If one is diagnosed with unpleasant disease which is hard to put up with and the society’s attitude to it makes it even worse? Then it seems that it’s not the right moment for beauty and self-esteem. Not the right period for life. Life is postponed for better times and the fight is started. Fight with the illness, with one’s own body, with public opinion, with doctors’ suggestions, with perplexity «Why me?». And if the person has to move abroad for treatment, all alone - living the life to the fullest looses its priority at all. But what for to fight then?
These are the thoughts Anastasiya Gilevskaya shared with Abilities Agency when she told us about the idea of Russian project Cancer Confession Control to make photo-shoots for people who are undergoing cancer treatment to give them back at least part of what the diseases is taking away. She suggested partnership with them in organizing a series of photo-sessions and in promoting our similar missions. So the baton was handed over to Tel Aviv and Anastasia became our first model in this project!

Красота есть в каждом человеке. Как тяжело поверить в ее наличие и силу, и как легко это чувство потерять… При этом у многих из нас есть четкое представление, в каких случаях и при каких условиях мы привлекательны для окружающих. Когда часть этого «набора» меняется по независящим от нас причинам, мы утрачиваем уверенность в себе.
А если подобные изменения затрагивают еще и всю жизнь в целом? Если человеку ставят малоприятный диагноз, который и так сложно принять самому, еще и общество, мягко говоря, совсем в этом не помогает. Тут уже не до красоты и уверенности в себе. Не до жизни. Она откладывается на потом и начинается борьба. Борьба с болезнью, своим телом, общественным мнением, с непониманием «Почему я?». А если человек еще и оказывается на лечении за границей, совсем один - тут вообще жизнь полной жизнью теряет приоритет. Но ради чего тогда борьба?..
Такими мыслями поделилась с нами Анастасия, когда рассказала про идею российского проекта ССС (Cancer. Confession. Control) - делать съемки для онковыздоравливающих, чтобы вернуть им часть того, что пытается отнять болезнь - и предложила организовать совместную серию фотосессий. И мы приняли эстафету в Тель Авиве, а Настя стала нашей первой моделью!

Model: Anastasiya Gilevskaya
Make-up and hair artist: Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova
Photographer & photo-therapist: Jimmy Grass
Backstage photographer: Rana Shneider
Project coordinator: Elena Mukhortova
PR manager: Kirill Dianov
Art-director: Helena Blaunstein
Producer: Maria Eliana Ol
Studio: Photo4sale (Moti Vagman)

21/01/2017

2017 has started and we are full of energy, ideas and new plans that we want to share with you!
Abilities Agency continues to organize photo-shoots for people with special needs with the aim to create portfolios for them and to open a model agency, to provide socialization and rehabilitation through art and photography, to collect material for the future exhibitions. This year we are expecting celebrities to join us (tssss, it’s a secret) :)
A small video about Abilities Agency is almost ready and we are looking forward to create a full-length movie with interviews of the participants and team-members. Meanwhile the stories of our models and the project itself don’t stop attracting media attention. A new article in on-line newspaper Isrageo will be published very soon.
Last year showed that small exhibitions of our pictures are really inspiring people to choose life and to become more active, more loving and caring, more open-minded. Therefore we keep searching for partners and sponsors to organize huge events in Israel and abroad!
As for completely new ideas, one of them is to produce a «coach-book» where not only models will share their advice for being strong and happy but also a famous coach. This is another secret :)
We started a new photo-project together with Russian organization CCC - Cancer. Confession. Control. In the next post you will learn more about it and will see the first pictures.
Our web-page (www.abilitiesagency.com) will be updated and completed with a portfolios section so it will be easier for our potential customers to find a model they want to work with.

This is just a small part of our great plans! To help us fulfill our dreams we are inviting interns and volunteers and we will be happy to share our knowledge and experience with them. At the moment we are building a partnership with MASA participants in this direction but everyone is more than welcome!

On the pictures: Backstage photos from our last photo-shoot that took place on January 19, 2017!
Models: Anastasiya Gilevskaya and Agnessa Kustanovich
Models coordinator: Elena Mukhortova
Make-up and hair artist: Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova
Photographer & photo-therapist: Jimmy Grass
Backstage photographer: Rana Shneider
Copywriter: Kirill Dianov
Art-director: Helena Blaunstein (Frau Blau)
Producer: Maria Olshanskaya
Studio: Photo4sale

31/12/2016

Happy New Year to all the world!! Tons of happiness, millions of smiles and unforgettable moments, lots of beautiful people, close friends and beloved once around. Let the year be full of sunny mornings, active days, cosy evenings and crazy nights… and let the life be full of life! Hoorayyyyy!!!

Model: Yvonne Aaronberg
Photographer: Jimmy Grass
Make-up: Olga Vashurov
Hair: Biata Dribina

30/12/2016

Imagine the world where people will express positive emotions as "loud" as they express negative now... That will be a world full of happiness! Super-atractive hyper-active model Viktoria that takes maximum of each moment makes you believe that you can create at least mini version of such a world for yourself!

Model: Viktoria Shubin Cohen
Photographer: Jimmy Grass
Make-up: Alexandra Melandovich Drozdova
Hair: Yuri Shabalin