Born in Kazakhstan, Tamara moved to Moscow at the age of 4 and led an uneventful life until trip to Paris changed the way she looked at the world permanently. There she discovered a love for the photography after a friend lent her a somewhat basic point and shoot digital camera , the love grew into a passion.

A big influence on her at the time was John Cumisky, another Parisian based photographer escaping the rat race back home in the UK. His photography changed her vision a lot, he introduced her to film rather than digital as a medium for her creativity, an introduction that soon became an addiction, she progressed from merely shooting to the full development cycle, learning the now esoteric art of the darkroom and what it could do. Other influences were Elliott Erwitt, and Araki.

She has been shooting constantly for the past 4 years, trying to capture the life around her,  and is now living in Montmartre Paris with John who eventually became her husband and continues to push her creatively.