Dreams can and DO come true!

once I was 7 years old...

I have a continuing dream, a dream to work with children. This dream has followed me since I was an elementary school student. I remember every year when returning to school after summer break, we were assigned to write an essay answering the question of what we wanted to do when we grew up. My answer was always the same, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and work with young children. Other professional opportunities were not even an option, not until it was time to step into my adult life.

I had a dream, but I succumbed to the pressure of having a proper career that offered a higher social status. I found that I was leading a life that went hand in hand with the existing stereotypes in society. I walked that path for a decade, working Monday to Friday at a well-paid job, creating a family and raising my children. Deep inside, however, I was still yearning for more freedom, joy and self-expression.

Being behind the camera offered me a different outlook on how I was living life. It was a completely new, refreshing and definitely challenging experience. Why kids photographer? For the first time in a very long time I was able to explore my deepest feelings and thoughts which in turn helped me to refuse the imposed stereotypes I had felt pressured to maintain. I started feeling the balance between my life and work. Perhaps most importantly, I could finally be at peace with myself.

It was through photography that I was able to gradually revive my childhood dream to work with children. Children are so sincere. They share their true emotions, their wildest dreams permeate the air with inspiration to create fine art or lifestyle kids portraiture. As I was photographing children, I began to discover that the photo sessions were full of excitement, playfulness, and joyful emotions which allowed the camera to metaphorically disappear. The results delivered from such wonderfully inspired sessions reflected the pure essence of joy in the sincere smiles that radiated through their whole bodies. Often even capturing that dreamy gaze that is usually seen only after a fairy tale before bedtime...