Photoshoot vision: “We are different. We are similar.”

A long-lived idea in my head — “how I wish one day I could realize the vision of inviting many different women to a photoshoot” — has finally COME TRUE.
I had been postponing this idea for a long time, knowing that in our two-day cold-season photoshoots, time is already “tight”—and many women mean extra time we simply don’t have.

But this time, I decided to go for it.

The women of my life gathered at the manor—some I’ve known since the very first moments of my life, others that fate allowed me to meet later.

With Vaida (founder of Ridikiulis), we went to the same school, spent our teenage weekends together, and grew from complete “little girls” into mature women who now have families of their own. Today, we are both “captains” of our own brands and friends who quietly admire each other’s strength while calling each other by affectionate nicknames (Vaidute and Viktoryte).

I called Sigita hesitantly when I heard a “rumor” that a boutique of Lithuanian brands was about to open in my hometown (Panevėžys). I gathered the courage for a long time. And when I finally did, and she answered—we spoke for a long time, in the same language of sincerity.

For more than 10 years now, we’ve been walking side by side, supporting and motivating each other: “go forward, don’t give up.”
Sigita is not only the founder of the boutique, but also the “captain” of her own brand Big Hug. And a person whose sincerity and kindness know no limits.

Justina is my sister. My strength and my support. The person I would run to first, no matter what happens.

And to prove I’m not exaggerating, I can tell the story of how, already grown up and building my own family nest, while quietly waiting for a longed-for expansion—and finally seeing TWO LINES appear…

I called my sister first. From the bathroom.
That says everything.

While working a serious job unrelated to loose, muse-filled creativity, she is the best “supporter and critic” of my work.

Fausta and Liucija—my nieces.
They’ve grown from tiny “little chicks” into young women taller than me.

Now, in the bloom of their teenage years, they are my creative “youth elixir,” occasionally adding a splash of fresh perspective into the V&V “boiling collection pot,” consulting me on what is currently trending.

Erika is the V&V photographer, a person who would do ANYTHING to bring a beautiful idea to life.
Throughout our friendship, there have been many adventures proving that “impossible” simply does not exist for her.

We would both agree that just as important as the result is the process of getting there.

Laura is the V&V creative director and my right hand (because with my left hand I can barely do anything).
She has been with us since ancient times, when I first decided—holding a few-month-old Dominykas in my arms—to look for extra sewing hands.

“At first, you rejected me,” Laura smiles.
“Nonsense,” I disagree.
“Yes, yes—you said you had already agreed with another seamstress,” she adds.
“But a few days later you called me and said you wanted to meet.”

I have often wondered: what if fate had arranged the cards differently? What if we had never met?

It would be nonsense, I think to myself—and I’m grateful life dealt the cards the right way.

Karolina is the person I’ve known the shortest among this beautiful circle of women—but does that make my admiration any smaller? No.

I had been watching her for a while, and I already knew: when the time came for her to step back from her modeling career and sit on the bench of “substitutes,” I would trust her with everything—this patient, hardworking, never-complaining beauty.

Natalija didn’t make it into the frame because she was deeply busy creating a film—but she is also a woman of my life, someone fate allowed me to meet as a creative personality who doesn’t recognize “I can’t,” “I don’t want to,” or “I’m tired.”

And if speaking into other cameras is hard, then speaking into Natalija’s “blinking eye” has always been almost stress-free. Because behind that eye stands she—an amazing videographer with kind eyes and joyful energy—who has filmed almost all V&V videos.

At Raguvėlė Manor, women of different professions, ages, body types, appearances, and styles gathered—yet they were united by the same sense of beauty and aesthetics.

Together, they blossomed.

And I looked at them—so different, yet so similar—and admired, down to my fingertips, their connection, their joy in knowing one another, and their willingness to support each other and occasionally give a loving “kick in the backside” when needed.

V.