Vladimir Pcholkin was born in Moscow, Russia in 1957. His career as a freelance photographer began at the age of 19, when he started to shoot ballet. His stage shots and studio portraits of famous Bolshoi dancers and other theater and movie celebrities soon brought him acclaim. Vladimir�s ballet and portrait work has been widely exhibited, and he has had 5 personal shows in Moscow (including one at the Bolshoi Theater), St. Petersburg, and Vilnius.

His work has been published in books and magazines around the world, including an exclusive nine-book ballet series published in the United States, and individual ballet books in France and Japan.

As his images of cultural celebrities, such as Rudolf Nureyev, gained him international recognition, Vladimir found himself shooting for such personalities as Pierre Cardin and being interviewed by the press and television, even appearing on Good Morning, America.

After 1988 Vladimir moved beyond ballet, turning to art, editorial, and commercial photography. His photographs have appeared in international editions of Vogue, Elle, Time, Fortune, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and other magazines. Book credits include A Day in the Life of the Soviet Union and CNN�s Seven Days That Shook the World. He also worked as a contract photographer for New York�s Black Star Agency, doing editorial and commercial shots for clients that included American Express and Fedex.

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Vladimir has traveled extensively; his travel photography and other stock work is currently handled by agencies in seven different countries. After moving to the United States in 1993, Vladimir has also explored the digital frontier, doing work for assignment and stock. His digital work was profiled in Computer Graphics World magazine and is being published around the world.