BTV Episode Seven - The Photographer, the Muse & the Quiet Truth of Time

"In a world obsessed with filtering reality, choosing real, untouched images feels almost rebellious."

The Photographer, the Muse

&

the Quiet Truth of Time

There is a rare kind of intimacy that grows when the same photographer returns to the same muse over the course of years. Working with photographer Maria Simon and our muse Aiste has shown me that great photography isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. It’s about seeing the essence beneath the surface, without judgment or enhancement. Finding the essence of that person behind the eyes. That one shot is all you need.

Looking back at our images across a decade, I see the quiet evolution of a woman. In her early thirties, Aiste carried a boldness and youthful certainty. Today, that confidence has softened into something deeper — a grounded ease, a gentleness shaped by experience. Having trust in knowing that you have a team around you that brings out the best, most intimate images. Maria captures both sides without ever trying to refine or correct them.

That is the true gift of a great photographer: she doesn’t chase a moment, she waits for it. She listens. She sees the person, not the pose. These photographs have become a visual diary — evidence of who we were, who we are becoming, and the emotional seasons we lived through together. They aren’t always the ones with the big smiles or perfect light; often the most powerful images are the quiet, unguarded ones. In a world obsessed with filtering reality, choosing real, untouched images feels almost rebellious. It’s a passion of mine to show true beauty. They show life as it truly is — layered, shifting, honest.

This is the story of a photographer, a muse, and the beauty of being seen behind the veil.

Words: Louise Maxwell

Hair & Make-Up: Louise Maxwell

Photography: Maria Simon

Videography: Dara Dorsman

Muse: Aiste Miseviciute