Senior Photo Editor

I'm a photo editor with 5 years of experience in digital newsrooms and editorial media. I specialize in visual research, editorial photo selection and curating imagery for breaking news, long-form journalism and feature stories.

Professional experience

Holod.Media | Senior Photo Editor | Nov 2024–Present

— Source and curate visuals for breaking news, features, long-form journalism and documentary projects.

— Research imagery through international agencies, archives and open sources; manage licensing and copyright.

— Commission photographers and illustrations and collaborate with editors, journalists and illustrators.

RAMBLER&Co | Photo Editor | Sep 2021–Apr 2024

● Curated photography for breaking news, politics, history, culture and feature stories.

● Sourced and selected imagery from international agencies, archives and open sources under tight deadlines.

● Worked with editors on daily news coverage, analytical articles and special projects; ensured copyright compliance.

Magisteria | Photo Editor | Apr 2023–Nov 2024 | Part-time

● Researched and curated archival, historical and illustrative imagery for online courses on art, history and culture.

● Collaborated with lecturers and editors and ensured accuracy and copyright compliance.

RBC | Photo Editor | Jun 2024–Oct 2024 | Part-time

● Curated visual content for editorial coverage of real estate and architecture.

● Conducted image research, licensing and collaboration with the Lead Photo Editor.

Editorial skills

Photo editing · AI Image Genration, Visual research · Breaking news · Editorial photography · Photo agency & archive sourcing · Image verification · Licensing & copyright · Long-form & documentary · Investigative journalism · Photography commissioning · Portrait commissioning

Tools

Adobe Photoshop · WordPress · Kaiten · Proprietary editorial CMS · Figma · Flourish · Microsoft Office · Midjourney

Education & languages

Russian State University for the Humanities — Cinema and Contemporary Art, 2020–2022

Academy Fotografika — Documentary Photography, 2021–2022

Russian — Native, English — Professional working proficiency

Personal Photography

My photography portfolio: 

https://maria-marco.com/


Selected Editorial Work

Lenta.ru

The Search in Chechnya

https://lenta.ru/articles/2022/07/19/checnyapoisk/

MH17 Investigation

https://lenta.ru/articles/2023/09/01/sbili_boeing/

The First Days in Chechnya

https://lenta.ru/articles/2022/12/11/chechnyapervyedni/

Holod Media

This City Doesn't Accept Black People

https://holod.media/2026/04/13/etot-gorod-ne-prinimaet-temnokozhih/

An IT Specialist and a Philosopher Created the World's Most Evil Company

https://holod.media/2026/04/24/ajtishnik-i-filosof-sozdali-samuyu-zluyu-kompaniyu-planety/

Human Safari in Sarajevo

https://holod.media/2025/11/22/saraevo-chelovecheskoe-safari/

The Tuareg Matriarchy

https://holod.media/2025/08/10/matriarhat-tuaregi/

The Model Capitalist

https://holod.media/2025/09/24/obrazczovyj-kapitalist/

Editorial Series

Deportations of Peoples in the USSR

A long-form historical series examining the deportations of ethnic groups in the Soviet Union.

  • Researched and sourced archival photography 
  • Commissioned and coordinated custom illustrations 
  • Developed the visual approach for each feature 
  • Worked closely with editors from concept to publication

Articles:

Editorial Photo Shoots

  • Planned editorial photo shoots
  • Commissioned and briefed photographers 
  • Edited and delivered final image selections

Moskvich Mag

One Day in Degunino

https://moskvichmag.ru/gorod/odin-den-v-rajone-degunino/

One Day in Vnukovo

https://moskvichmag.ru/gorod/odin-den-vo-vnukovo/

Holod Media

Interview with Ilya Fomintsev
holod.media/2025/01/28/ya-mnogo-let-uluchshal-mediczinu-v-rossii-no-poteryal-vse-iz-za-vojny/

Commercial Editorial Work

Sber Business Journal

Lifestyle and business editorial content.

https://sberbusiness.live/categories/stil-zhizni

  • Researched and sourced editorial imagery
  • Selected visuals for digital publication 
  • Ensured visual consistency with editorial and brand guidelines