Working in Rio. 

A week before the Olympic Games Rio 2016 was about to start I got the opportunity to travel and work together with Kenneth Nguyen at a photo og video production assignment. The result should serve to transmit the experience of the Olympic Games in this dream destination. It was an absolute unique experience, and I must say that Rio as an olympic host has everything to be proud of. This I'll get into in an other post.

Not a beach post.

For this post I decided not to show the regular landscape pictures of the sugarloaf mountain, the christ or the beaches because really... it's easier to just google it. Instead I want to take you with me to Recreio. One of my dearest places in Rio, solely because of a special family I know there. I've already written about them on my old blog.  But let me get straight to the point.

One of the photo series that made me develop my heavy interest in doing reportages, visual storytelling and portraits is the visual story of my dear friend's littlesister that became a mom at the age of 16. I followed her pregnancy from week 28 till after she gave birth to Victor Zendy. It moved me that she allowed me to portray this very personal process of hers and it's this feeling I cherish the most when photographing. Trust, honesty and intimacy. 

Today Victor is almost two, the cutest thing I now, calls me tia (auntie), and loves Hulk. Check out the story here, and please be aware that the quality of the pictures are awfully compromised, which is one of the main motivators for me to start this site. 

I had one demand for this whole trip. It was to go see Radhe and Victor + the rest of the family. Here are some photos <3

In the age of two Zendy both gives out plenty of hugs and kisses..... and fist pumps like a real Brazilian.

Powerwoman.

This is Radhe's grandmother and mother of many children (forgot the exact number but around 6-7?). She is somewhere in her 70'ties and runs the local restaurant. Won't start to talk about how good her food is. Last year when I was back in Brazil together with my dear friend Paulo del Valle, we also visited Recreio. At that time she was in bed with a broken leg and looked tired and awful. How soothing it was to see her with full speed and even more beautiful and colorful than ever before. 

Lovesquad. It wasn't Kenneth's first time in Recreio either. He visited the family on his own back in 2013 on a work trip to Rio. 

Nicholas. 

To the far left we have my great friend and cousin of Radhe, Isla.

Radhe.

My heart can't get over her and him.

The saddest part is when we have to leave again and I never know when I will see them again. Until then Fabres ♥

So amor e saudade.  
 

Back in June I had the pleasure of being featured in an Instagram campaign for Apple Music shot by the good man Max Madsen. Go check his legit feed. 
I feel so blessed to have all these talented people around me that wants to collaborate with me in their respective creative projects.
Can't stress it enough. 
For the people that has been asking on different social medias, the pictures are shot underneath a bridge at Amager Strandpark in Copenhagen.

if I should have done something differently, I would probably have ironed that shirt! But who cares anyway ;) 

Coat, Won Hundred.  Shirt, &OtherStories

So, something quite amazing happened a month ago or so. 
Before I tell, I'll dig into two questions that I get every once in a while

- "How did you get into photography?" 
- "Are you a photographer?" .

How did you get into photography? could be followed up by a long answer, but for this post I'll limit myself to three aspects of it: My grandmother and mother have always been interested in photography but never went for it and they've somehow passed along the interest. I've always been taking a lot of vacation photos. But the real transition from it being a hobby towards becoming something serious, started in the realm of my entrance on Instagram, and eventually meeting a few key persons that has inspired, helped and pushed me to get serious about it. This leads me to the answer of the second question.

.. in the realm of of my entrance on Instagram.

Are you a photographer? is what I'll focus on in this post. In relation to photography I've never attended an art school to learn how to photograph. Instead my photography schoolin' has been through masterclasses and 1-on-1 time with amazing photographers, where they have told me what they thought was important for me to understand in terms of photography. They have shared everything from settings on the camera in specific situations, work flow in editing programs or how to approach a subject you want to photograph. For me it has been the best way to evolve, because I was given tools and advices when I needed help, but I have had 100p space to feel free with it as well. I've gotten the chance to put myself into the artwork; my feelings, my take and my intuition, and not just focus on getting all the technical stuff right to get a technical good photo. I think this has been defining my way of approaching photography.

So getting back to actually answering the question, yes I am a photographer.
It isn't a protected title which means that you're free to call yourself a photographer without a having undertaken a degree. But It's not until recently that I started replying with confidence "yes I am photographer" when people asked me. It's been a steady process. A process for me which is still full of respect for the persons I've learned from and with a recognition that i'm not half as good as them - I still have reflections like how can I call myself what they are? But with paychecks coming in because of photojobs I do and people paying their respect to my work, I reached the point where it feels alright to say without having to taste every word when replying "yes I am". I'm still perfectly aware that there are still many years of learning in front of me and I can't wait. 

.. my photography schoolin' has been through masterclasses
and 1-on-1 time

.. Full of respect for the persons I've learned from

So that amazing thing that happened. Knowing where I can improve I started researching on how I could possibly expand the collection of photographers I've been learning from. This time I knew I wanted to add a fellow woman. And faster than a motherfucker I found out it had to be Kia Hartelius due to her professionalism, and the crooked and quirky feeling to her photography. Luckily she thought it was a good idea that we joined forces and that means I'm now her assistant on various photogigs. It has already been too cool. This is the latest step in my process of wearing the title tag "photographer" with confidence.

Last week we went to Aarhus for a couple of days to shoot a campaign. Since the content is exclusive I just putted together some behind the scenes iPhone flicks from the days over there. Besides sharing my happiness, I also just wanted to write for the 60th times that things you wish for will happen if you approach them with kindness, passion, boldness and good intentions. Don't be afraid of saying you want to learn, it's not the same as devaluating yourself or your skills, it's straight up imposing. So seriously go dream big and trace down the path towards those dreams - you'll get there or end up an even better place. Yes lawd!