What took me years to figure out …

I’ve realised over (a long!!) time that what really drives me as a photographer isn’t recognition—it’s connection. I’m not chasing likes on Instagram or trying to win competitions. What matters to me is the person in front of the camera, and what we create together. I want them to walk away with photos that don’t feel generic or overdone, but something that actually feels like them—yet something they’ve never quite seen before.

When I shoot, I’m looking for the in-between moments. The second someone drops the pose, relaxes a bit, or shows a side of themselves that isn’t usually on display. That’s the good stuff. I’m not just trying to make people look great —I’m trying to capture something real and personal.

It makes the whole process feel more human. Slower, more relaxed, less about performing and more about just being. And yeah, those photos might not always be the ones that blow up online, but they tend to mean a lot more to the person in them.

Honestly, one of the best feelings for me is when someone picks one of my shots as their profile picture. It might seem small, but it actually means a lot. Out of everything they could’ve chosen, they went with something we created together. It tells me they saw themselves in it—and liked what they saw.

That’s what I’m after. Not attention, but that moment where someone feels properly seen.