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

Today we played a special game.
We wanted to see what's happenning when we gently touch the other's face.
Sounds simple, right?

The one who gave the touch, held the camera and took the photo, so we used the other's face as a mirror of the connection between us - that's why we count these photos as self portraits, too.

The result is beyond surprising for us.
We're so curious how do you feel about them!
These moments brought so many emotions up from our souls - Szaffi cuddled me so long after her photos taken. She was so calm and open after these minutes.
With Gabor we had a deep conversations and releasing tears before our photos taken - we had a short walk without Szaffi today, so it gave us the perfect opportunity to take self-portraits.

This is only the 4th week of the project but OMG, I can't  wait to see what's the next week brings to us!

We kindly suggest you to take these kind of photos with your beloved ones at home (never mind if you don't have a camera, you can do it with your phone).
Hopefully it brings you so much joy and intimacy - it's a much needed healing power in the middle of the January blues :)

Hugs,
Szandra and Gabor

We reeeeally would like to write all those honey-sweet words here - love, connection, harmonie, blablablaaa....

But the truth is a bit different :)

We're in CONSTANT USE as parents, grown-ups, business owners.
We hardly find any time for in the strict sence: ourselves.

Normally, Wednesdays are our yoga days.
We take Szaffi to the childminder and we practice bikram yoga for 90 minutes, then we try to change the world in 2,5 hour without Szaff.
But this week we're still feel poorly, so we didn't have the chance to do the yoga.

So... we took off our yoga pants (haha), and decided to take our self portrait instead of laying in the bed and continue to coughing and blowing our nose - this time: only of the 2 of us.
Guys, this project is HARD!

It was a lovely, sunny day - let's take a walk. But I have nothing to wear! Gaaaaab, what are you going to wear?! Red? Aaaaaawww... whyyy??? Yes my nose is awfully red - I hate it :D
And where to go? And what to show? And how to pose? Noooo, I'm not a drama queen today :D

On the way we decided to show something of our actual feelings - more confused than romantic, but next time we'll try to do it. 
So we arrived, tried to set up the tripod, then.... yep. We left home that little stuff what connects the camera to the tripod (quick release plate).

All in all, we had to leave all the expectations behind and improvise.
We quickly found a nice, white wall - as we couldn't use the tripod, we had to find a way to connect eachothers.... on the floor.
Guys, it was freeeeezing cold!

But there were something warm inside....
It was so lame situation sitting together on the dirty floor, and try to find ourselves in a motion, in a touch.
It took no more than 3 minutes (have we told that it was chill?!) but we found something.
A tiny little spark. 
We had a good lough together and we truly love how these photos turned out :)

Ok, enough of us for today - let's find a way to connect more often!
We know: all of us are in constant use.

Hugs,
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
• 1/160 - for tack sharp image
  
• ISO 800
  
• 2pm - The light was coming from behind the white wall
  
• We used a full frame camera (Canon 6D), and Gabor's smartphone as a remote
  

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

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 :)

First of all, here is our weekly self-portrait project.
Our goal is simple: get in the frame, once a week in 2019.

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 (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!

Barbara and her beloved family have in-home family session in every year with us.

We have to be honest: they are ideal clients for us, as every time when we arrive they say:
- We don't want any posed shot, just capture us as we are.

What a perfect opportunity for us!

So the only thing we have to do just open our eyes and hearts, and the rest is a beautiful record of their everyday life.

Thank you for being so open-hearted and sharing your moments with us!
With Love,
Szandra & Gabor

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.

- Hallo, am I speaking with my mother-in-law and father-in-law?
- Yes, you are, Sweetheart. Please call us back in 20 years :D

We know, you want to remember the precious moments with your family.
We completly agree with you.
THESE are the moments that deserve to be captured! 

In-Home Family sessions are fulfilled with
* Real Moments
* Raw emotions
* True Love
* Endless Treasures

and they are soooo comfy for you <3

Can't wait to see you soon,
Szandra and Gabor
Kids in Light Photography
info@kidsinlight.com

The best thing in documentary style that you don't have to explain your photos.
They tell the stories and you can feel the emotions.

Here is a piece of our toddler-story. 
Can't wait to tell your stories!

Szandra & Gabor