I'll never forget our first meeting on a photoshoot for Dorset Children's Foundation.

We had a connection immediately, which is the loveliest feeling in my universe.
You are quite experienced with photoshoots with Paddy.
What do the photos mean to you?

You’re so right, from our very first meeting we connected, and I hoped we might become friends. 
 
Over the years Paddy has been asked to attend photo shoots for several children’s charities that support us, and I have always felt honoured to be able to give a little back to promote their services.  Paddy has such an expressive face and very photogenic, his image has appeared in many leaflets, posters and even on the back of a double decker bus!
While it’s nice to have these images, the photoshoots have always taken place on location, they’re posed pictures that don’t capture a memory and memories to me are so important. 
Paddy has a life limiting condition, he is severely epileptic and has cerebral palsy. 
Both conditions can cause complications and his life expectancy is much less than average. 
To live with this knowledge makes you want to capture every moment of life and preserve it forever, ‘just in-case’.

I can confirm that Paddy is a dream to photograph - his eyes are just amazing!
After that formal shoot for the charity,  we started chatting and I was so excited to ask you if you would let me take photos of your everyday moments.
And you said yes :)

When I was offered the opportunity of a home photo shoot that would capture our everyday life, I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to create lasting memories for us but also I could see how being able to share pictures of our day to life would help enhance my educational work.
As someone that works to create awareness through Paddy's purpose and increase understanding of people with disabilities, I am used to talking about our life in a very honest and candid way, but never had the images to illustrate my words.
Now when I visit a company or school to share our story, I can show them our pictures, this has really added to my work and increased the impact of my presentations.
The photos are so powerful and really give people a glimpse into our day to day world.
I want the world to see that Paddy is human, and his family are very ‘normal’. 
I want to share our truth and show what goes on behind our closed door, the good and the bad. 
We have achieved that with this photo shoot. 

On an even more personal level, as a mother I am always doubting myself, feeling not quite good enough (as most mothers do).
To be able to take a step back and view myself and my family through a lens has been incredibly powerful.
To see my beautiful family, in harmony, connecting, playing, caring, I look at these pictures and see myself in a new light. 
I see a family at peace in a difficult world and I feel proud for all I have achieved.

This is so importrant, Gemma!
Your journey has huge ups and downs and I'm truly grateful for you to leting us be close to you.
You know, that your session is so special to me and I'm in tears putting the photos together for this post.

Can't wait to hug you again!
With Lots of LOVE,
Szandra

In-home family sessions are the best - especially with newborn snuggles :)

When it comes to capturing family memories, we love to stay real.
Visit the family in the warmth of their own home where they feel the coziest - in their own rythm and routins - gives us the best opportunity to get the most natural and unique shots of them.

Thank you again for K&K for having us and can't wait to see you again next year!
With Love,
Sz&G

We love to dance around our families beautiful chaos!
When we scedule an appointment, the priority is always their daily routine.
Trying to find that space where the kids are their happiest -> when that happens, parents relax and the magic happens :)

We are always flexible!
Typical, that the toddler has her longest nap ever on that specific day, the newborn has growth spurts, so breastfeeding seems never ending, etc etc.

We've been there!
We're happy to leave our home earlier to capture those happy moments, or wait in the car until everyone is ready, or just stay with you in your kitchen and have a good chat before they wake up (ok, maybe take some cute photos of them sleeping :) )

We've been extremly lucky with this session as the family's happy time coincided with the most beutiful light outside, so driving just 10 min to get their favorite field to take some great portraits there was the best decision!

With very gentle directions we created situations where they can connect to one anothers and really be themselves.

A new addition to the family is always a challenge as well as a miracle - we are here to show you how truly beautiful and magical you are!

Do you want to book your family session with us?
Let's talk! xx

At the beginning of May, on a crazy busy afternoon, we made the decision: we need a holiday!
We have never had a proper family holiday before, so we loved the idea to explore something new, only the 3 of us! 

So we were sitting in a coffee shop and tried to find a destination for a certain day, when we were booked for a session close to the Gatwick airport.
That's how we found lovely Barcelona, and we immediately booked our tickets - we felt incredibly cool and grown ups :D

One month later it was time to go and we were beyond excited!
We had all those beautiful ideas, and we were sure that we'll spend the best 3 days ever in Spain :D

On Friday afternoon we've got the e-mail from the nursery that sickness bug is around.... yes....yesss.....yeeeeeess.....

Day 1

So on Saturday evening Szaffi got the tummy bug on the plane. You can imagine :)
As we didn't have much sleep on our first night, Szaffi was sleeping on my back in our beloved Tula carrier for hours and hours.
Our memorable first day in Barcelona :) :) :)

At least we checked the Sagrada Familia, but the all I remember is the endless queuing for the perfect point for all those fake and "perfect" instagram selfies. Guys, it was scary!
I wanted to scream like heeeeeeeeey, people! stop living your life on social media, cuddle your kids, kiss your spouse and enjoy your time here but forget your bloody phone for at least 5 minutes!!!
So, we don't have any selfies from the popular places.
We ate something and played a lot in the playground. We had fun and we felt absolutely FREEEEEE!

Day 2

We had our accomodation in El Masnou.
The town El Masnou is a municipality in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and features 2 popular beaches.
So we spent the 2nd day down the beach :)
We had so much fun there, and it really felt like a holiday!

In the afternoon we went back to our accomodation, and then we had the chance to capture some reaaaally important family moment for ourselves :)
These are the important moments for us.
That's what we will put it on the wall and into our family album.
All of these are captured with a Canon 6D and a Sigma 24mm, using the EOS Remote app on our phones.

If you want to have a contact to this house, just let us know!

Day 3

Awfully rainy day, 18*C....
We had tickets to the Guell Park, and we experienced the same thing like at the Sagrada Familia: tons of fake smiles and frustrated people around waiting for certain points to have the best selfies.
So again... we don't have any selfies from there :D

The park is gorgeous itself, but trust me, you won't need to take the 215218485184. selfie there - it's gonna be absolutely the same like everyone else have :D
Try to connect with eachothers and reconnect yourself - that's the holiday all about :)

With Love,
Szandra & Gabor

Yeah, guys.... in this post  I'd like to talk about my feelings and experiences.

As many of you know, I wanted to quit photography last year.
I was exhausted, I felt overwhelmed, I was struggling with my anxiety and I had a really close friend who "broke up" with me, so I needed time and space around me to keep my sh*t together.
I asked the Universe to help me, send a sign, just please let me know what is my way in this life.
I was open to be a shop assistant, a doctor, or even a diver, I really didn't mind!

Then the Universe was in her funny mood, so she sent me an award from the Voice competition (I was the winner of the Love&Connection cathegory).
I said ok, but I still took a few steps back from photography.

Who knows what happened, but in the first couple of month in 2019, completely out of my control, loads of awesome project found us, and the compliments arrived from the most unexpected places.
I was still careful and considered, but in March we've got a heartwarming and life changing e-mail.

Niké sent us a long and honest message, where she was talking about how she found us (accidantly) on the Internet, and since that she is sure: she wants to learn photography from us.
At first glance I thought I have nothing to give, nothing to teach as I'm still so far from where I want to be.
But in such a short time I realized, it's ok, I know my limits, but I have camera in my hands for almost 5 years, Gabor is doing photography over 15 years, so there must be something we can give!

Niké moved to Bournemouth for 1 year with her beloved family, so after a nice coffee we made the decision - let's try to figure it out together!
We were totally honest with her, mentioned that we have no experience with teaching, but this whole thing is tickling our minds, so let's dig in deep, and see what we can do together :)

The following day we were brainstorming a lot with Gab, how should we start with all the technical knowledge, etc...
then I felt, stop it!
If someone wants to learn from us, we should teach what we really know!
Emotions and connection, with ourselves and with our clients.
How could we teach it without giving real experience?!

So my criterion was: I'm happy to teach her, if we start the journey with a family photo shoot, where she can feel in her bones how the mothers are feeling prior and on the photoshoot, what is the client experience looks like, etc etc.
Many-many important things what we've learnt from our mistakes and through the self-portrait project.
She said ok, and I was over the Moon!
I had a pre-session meeting with them, then the mini session (in-home part and down the beach), the a viewing session afterwards.
So many feelings and experience to work with during her journey!

And of course, now we're teaching her all the boring technical details, but our goal is to give her our best during this year in a joyful way, where she can connect with herself, then she can create her own art.

Thank you Niké for giving our mojo back - it means the world to us!

With Love,
Szandra

A few weeks ago I felt something magical inside my soul.
After a long, dark winter my creativity started to glimmering and I wanted to create something real, beautiful, real, magical, real and... have I mantioned that I wanted to create something raw and real? :)

So I put a model call together on our Facebook page, and so many beautiful mamas signed in with their babies - it was really hard to choose!
Then someone tagged Heidi under the post, and I was over the Moon!
Heidi is one of the owner of the amazing Kind Kitchen Bournemouth (https://www.facebook.com/kindkitchenbournemouth/), and we've known each others for a while.
She is such a beautiful Mama, and I was tingled to photograph them.

I wanted to show motherhood stories on a different way.
Nothing posed, nothing staged - just the connection between mama and her baby, as it is.
Nursing, cuddling, playing, snuggling - I wanted to show those moments, that bring all the feels.
What you want to show your little ones, when they are going to be parents.
What you want to hang on the wall, and let your your soul feel warm, when you're look at on every day.

Heidi told me, that she is so shy front of the camera - thank you for trust me enough and opened up front of me and my friendly camera :)

Ok, enough of the words, enjoy the next few moments, and feel free to ask, comment, share your own stories with me.

Can't wait to dig deeper in these beautiful stories!
With Love,
Szandra

info@kidsinlight.com

Hey guys,

how are you? How has the New Year started for you?
We're buzzing to dive into so many ideas, plans and projects, and it gives us enough power to survive the January blues :)

Our team has 2 photographers, a man and a woman, a mother and a father - so we have sooo much to think about, to talk about, to create!
It seems a deeply self-healing way, not to mention all the practice of photography skills and developments as artists.
Being on the other side of the camera teaches us plenty of things and we' like to dig deeper into this viewpoint for being more emphatic and sensitive photographer for you and for your family.

Our first few portraits are just like saying hello, and hey, this is us :)
We took a nice walk in Bournemouth town center and when Szaffi fell asleep in the carrier, we pushed ourselves into the frame :)
We found a hidden place above the Triangle, and fell in love with the black wall, so we set up the tripod, then... nothing :)

Guys, it was just weird!
Aha... emphatic moment - that's how our clients feel when we start the shoot.
So we had so much fun, took a couple of terrible photos and finally chose our favorites to share.

Ok guys, enough of the words, let's do that :)

Szandra & Gabor

Feel free to follow the Self-Love Project on Instagram:

To take these pictures, we used the followings:

• Sigma Art 35mm
• F4 - to make sure we're all in focus
• 1/400 - for tack sharp image
• ISO 1600
• 4pm - soft, natural light, coming from behind the camera, it was a bit cloudy, close to sunset
• Tripod - we're both quite tall, so we needed a tripod with longer column, and the camera was a bit tilted to the subject (us) for better angle
  
  We used a full frame camera (Canon 6D), set to self timer (10sec).
  The only reason we didn't use the smartphone as a remote that is was freezing cold outside, and our fingertips were dead.
  So when Szandra pushed the button, she had to run next to me,
  we had to count to ten and don't blink.
  
  The tripod was standing on the road while we were posing in front of the black wall, so we had to make sure that we can pick it up when a car is coming.
  
  Hope it was useful for you all,
  we can't wait to see your self portraits!
  
  Feel free to ask any question, guys!
  Hugs,
  Szandra & Gabor
  info@kidsinlight.com
  

Creative people's life is tricky.
Business owner's life is..hm... pretty tricky :)
Mum's life.... khm.... you know exactly :D

We're all spending so much time online, and when we finally meet with REAL people, we're working then, we have to be the 'fly on the wall', so it's an outsider position again.
The isolation is a real struggle, that's why is so releasing, when you meet someone who is in the same situation and you completly understand eachothers.

That's how we met Danielle and her wonderful family.
Danielle is a fellow wedding supplier who is working a lot with children as she is the owner of the The Wedding Crecherz and she is such an inspiration.

We first met in February, and we found the common voice really soon.
Since that we've figured out that we have loads and loads of similar stories in our life, and you know the feeling, when you just want to hug your mum-friend, just because she is amazing and incredibly strong to keep everything together...!

You know, when after a long day mamas send gifs and 'awards' to eachothers via messanger - just because we are still alive :D
But this year Danielle is a REAL finalist at Venus Awards in 'Business Mother of the Year' cathegory.
I'd really like to give her that REAL award, but I couldn't do more than voted for her.
But if you love her story, please vote for her right here: 

https://valasystem.com/public-voting/events/16/view/Dorset%20Venus%20Awards%202018

Would you like to feel how we feel for them?
Just go through on these photos :)

Hugs,
Szandra

Have I told you the story how we met Ola, Jonah and Nastka? No?
Just listen :)

A few years ago we took a nice walk and a Mama was coming with her kids.
I stopped there, forgot to breath and just stared them.
I was impressed and fell in love immediately!

Then Gabor told me:
- We kow them!
I was like:
- WHAAAAT???

It was true:
we've met before on a carbootsale, but I'm afraid Szaffi was too small,
so I had massive baby brain :D

All in all, we had the chance to take a gorgeous lifestyle session with them (2 years ago!), and every time we meet since then,
I get the best hug from Ola :)

It was definately the time to our next session,
so we went to the beach, and had some really good fun there.

No posing, no awkward directions,
only real moments
what make real memories.

This is the storytelling of love.
Sz&G

P.S.: Thank you for the amazing vegan chocolate cake for the Sukha Lounge!

This year we've re-launched our personal, 365 project on Instagram (#kidsinlight).
This is really important for us but we've never explained and talked about it for you.

We had a mindful conversation with Ivett, who is one of our best friends.
Ivett - as someone, who loves and understands us - was curious and she had a really open-hearted and honest viewpoint in our conversation.

Thank you Ivett, for the lovely time, and for the tickling in our mind :)

Guys, please enjoy the interview, and feel free to ask anything, and follow the project on www.instagram.com/kidsinlight

With Love,
Szandra and Gabor
info@kidsinlight.com

What is the 365 project? How did you come across it and what got your attention about it?

I have come across it about one a half years ago.
We found it through a mostly Canadian photographer community that we love.
This community is formed by photographers who (like us) work in documentary style.
I also remember that Ashley Marston’s photos (multi award-winning birth- and lifestyle photographer) were the first ones that I was looking forward to seeing every single day on Facebook.
Szaffi was only a few months old.
Everydays were running away with us and this project pointed out that it is possible to find a moment worth capturing in each and every day.
This was so inspiring for us. At the time, I only thought: I wish we could be such good photographers to dare to start a challenge like this.
The project itself means only as much as its name: 365 days, one photo each day.
The subject of the pictures, if they are connected or not, it is all up to the artist. 

When did you decide to start your own 365 project and what moment did you start working on it?

When I looked at Ashley’s photos I thought that it will take us many-many years to be good enough to start something like this.
Then we were in Hungary on the 1st January and the sun was shining so beautifully.
I run down the stairs and said to Gabor: I have a plan for the year :)
We took the first photo on the very same day for the project.
In 2017 we only managed to do it for 78 days.

We felt sorry about running out of energy.
We took loads of pictures, but we did not have the time to edit them each day then to upload them while doing our job and having a family to look after.
So, we didn’t fight for it.

However, in December we both felt that we will start it over again this year – this time for ourselves.
It was interesting to experience our change of approach.
There was another thing that held us back last year. We have seen so many incredibly creative, amazing, artistic 365 project that we felt we were nothing compared to them.
And this did not help to push ourselves through the harder times. We have been paralysed by wanting to come up to the mark.
This year we said, we will not compare ourselves to others.
With this decision, we saw an instant improvement after last year’s photos and that gave us fresh energy. Not to mention that we are capturing important moments, thoughts, little stories for Szaffi and ourselves for a lifetime.
I think looking at it this way was a total game changer.

I agree, that is a huge turn. What does this project give you right now? It is not only the pretty and shiny moments that you post in the 365 days, but the harder days, raw emotions, too. It honestly shows how real life is not made of only the “perfect Insta-photos”. How do you choose what moment of the day to capture, to keep forever? What do you want to say with your photos to those seeing them?
 
Well, that is a good question!
On one hand, there is a very down-to-earth side to it. Our daughter is 2 years old.
She has literally life-threatening ideas sometimes. So even if the moment itself is funny or emotional, or happens in perfect lighting, it may not be possible to capture it. This fact opened our eyes: it takes self-discipline and creativity to make this project happen.
 
On the other hand, it has to do with the responsibility of visual education as photographers.
We want to show everyone that you do not need a make-up artist, a hairdresser, a stylist, a studio, posing, looong preparations, 2 hours of arguing with your children. You do not need to bribe your children with chocolate, ice-cream or whatever to have a great family photoshoot.
It is more than enough if everyone can let their guards down and just be themselves. That way you will have true, real memories to treasure for generations.
 
For us, storytelling means honestly telling it as it happens.
We can only do this project with all our hearts if we look at every moment with a doubled point of view.
Living it and feeling when the moment moves something in us – and as an outsider at the same second.
That is the position of the storyteller, who has the voice of a narrator, who has humour and most importantly functions as a mirror.
A mirror that is almost our self-reflection but clearer and more loving as there is no criticism and judgement in it. Those two are, most of the time, found in our self-reflection.
This non-judgemental side is the reason why we would “selfishly” do this project even if no one else was following. It gives us so much personally that it is easy to become addicted to the feeling.
We have learned that if we can be truly honest with ourselves, it can give a lot to others as well.
They recognise themselves in the everyday moments, and all the waves of self-doubt, guilt and self-hurt can calm down a bit.
Knowing that we are not alone.
Knowing that others struggle, too – maybe with the same challenges.
And seeing, it is even possible to take a photo of it, let alone showing it to the world.
It is a huge absolution.

Last week we had a session in Horgos, Szerbia.
A place where time seems to stand still, lights seem softer, shadows are longer, dawns are pinching cold and feelings are more true.
We shot a modern family - we took lifestyle pictures as always - wrapped up into the romantic mist of timelessness.

Here are our favourite photos of the session to you with love,
Szandra, Gabor and Szaffi
Kids in Light Photography

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