Masha photographed prolifically throughout most of her life, but she hoarded her photo-films in the attic and rarely developed them.

[1] In this regard, Masha Ivashintsova's work and story have been compared to those of Vivian Maier.

Masha was born into an aristocratic family whose assets were seized following the Bolshevik Revolution.

She worked odd jobs as a theater critic, a librarian, a cloakroom attendant, an elevator mechanic, and a security guard, amongst others.

She was in relationships with photographer Boris Smelov, poet Viktor Krivulin and linguist Melvar Melkumyan.,[4] the latter whom she married and had a daughter, Asya Melkumyan.