The Posternaks
Tanya and Zhenya Posternak are fashion and life photographers who came to New York City by way of Kiev.
Photo by Erik Melvin for Doré
Zhenya (L) and Tanya (R) photographed by Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Style Magazine
After graduating from Ukraine’s National Academy of Arts with a focus in graphic design, the Posternak sisters moved to NYC in their mid-20s and began fully focusing on photography and collaborating. Tanya and Zhenya first broke onto the scene with their closely-collaborated campaigns with luxury brand Mansur Gavriel, which saw the twins’ images wheat-pasted around downtown Manhattan. The luxury brand published a photography book in 2017, LA Flower Market, featuring the Posternaks’ vision of this visually rich flower market through Mansur Gavriel-tinted glasses.
The twins are known for their keen observations of quiet moments and close-up sensory details—some of their friends jokingly call it the “Posternak crop.” Zhenya reported to W Magazine that, “[Tanya and I] are deeply moved by human imperfections, whether it be a birthmark or facial hair.” Instagram loves this aesthetic, garnering Tanya and Zhenya guest posts for various brands including All Blues and Glossier.
The sisters almost always share the by-line and say that they field a lot of questions about their working style. Tanya noted in the aforementioned W interview that, “We work as a team, but a pretty chaotic one. We share the set, most of the time, but rarely cameras and hardly ever the opinions about a frame and an angle. It's an unusual marriage, but it works.” The editorial world is taking note of this unusual marriage, with the sisters taking on major assignments such as shooting Serena Williams for Allure’s February 2019 cover story.
Posternaks photography via ignant.com
Posternaks homepage thumbnail image by Marc Wilkins for Metal Magazine
More Posternaks
Posternaks website
Tanya Instagram
Zhenya Instagram
Photography duo Posternaks talk us through their collaboration as twin sisters, Billie Muraben for It’s Nice That, January 2019
In the Studio With Mansur Gavriel, Where Instagram Is Real Life, Laura Neilson for The New York Times Style Magazine, February 2017
The Ukrainian Twins Behind Mansur Gavriel Ads Love Color, Side Boob, Emilia Petrarca for W Magazine, June 2016
Style Story / Tanya & Zhenya, by Doré, 2016