Photography

How much is a memory worth?

The power of photography in our lives

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A bit of my life and path

I've always been fascinated by photos. Since I can remember. I spent hours looking at photos of my parents, and people, and creating stories in my head about the day and the moment they happened. I loved "living" those moments through the images.

That's me. Little trouble maker.

It always moved me.

I liked when people showed me their old photos, telling the stories behind them. I loved it.

I loved it when my father bought 24-shot film (in the early days we had to hold on our finger to take pictures) and took pictures of our moments, our days together, my childhood... All of this is very nostalgic.

My handsome father. He loves being the spot light.

My father and mother are deaf. Just like the movie CODA (2021), you know? I'm the daughter of deaf parents. My father always loved photography and always was an excellent photographer, in my humble opinion. My guest woudl be because the image is way of communication for them, which goes beyond the "spoken words". I connected with this.

Meus pais segurando uma bochecha com um bebê, Eu mesma.

Maybe that sharpened my vision.

As a child I was always very shy, but very creative. I remember that I used to play alone for a long time and imagine many stories, and games. I'd go far!

I remember that onde time when my father gave me an analogic camera, which no longer worked and I spent the whole day playing, pretending that I was a photographer. I've that memory very vivid.

By the way, my parents are my biggest inspirations. My life examples. Even in such adversity, I couldn't say a single negative word about my childhood and the ways they rased me. I have the most loving parents ever! Beyond being my biggest fans and my biggest encouragers in creativity. Both have a very strong artistic and creative side. They're part of who I am and what I feel for them goes far beyond the words GRATITUDE & LOVE - and if you let me, I'll go far on this topic.

This is the proof that my father was always a great photographer

Adolescence is never an easy phase.

But surely the friendships that we have make the path lighter. I am very proud to say that I only have long-term friendships.

Since I was a child, Pâm and I, my card-carrying BFF, created a lot (we got ready sometimes, go)! And when I got my Sony Cybershot (the dream of any teenager from the 2000s) it yielded good stories and good laughs.

Eu e Pâm desde sempre.

But what about those who live off photography?

Apparently it wasn't something thinkable to be a photographer as a profession... Or so people thought, or so I let myself think - it stayed inside me for a long time and I believed it.

Then go to college. And what is the faculty of the undecided?

Administration.

I passed the federal entrance exam and entered the Administration Sciences course in 2010. Although that didn't move my heart a bit, or make me feel alive and purposeful, I can say that it was one of the best phases of life.

The friendships I've made, the people I've met and how much I've grown personally, and professionally too. Things that we only learn, only evolve, when we leave our comfort zone completely.

Agora sim um diploma para pendurar na parede - e empoeirar.

I loved that environment, those people and everything I experienced. I am grateful for this phase of life and it is also part of who I am today.

But that wasn't what made sense inside me.

But then you have to work, right? Isn't that the thing about being an "adult"?

We, or at least I (I hope it's not just me) leave college feeling completely unprepared for the corporate environment. I learned hard. Even though I had excellent co-workers and bosses (some of them not so nice), who made me evolve and strengthen my psyche, it wasn't something that moved me.

But and now? Is this life? Wait for Friday?

It can't be... There's more to life than that!

What made me think...

Even in college I took a photography course, which only fed what I had inside. I bought my first used professional camera...

I never stopped taking pictures. This has always been a part of me. I've always loved looking at photos and images and imagining myself far away, around the world, with a camera: just me and my camera.

Euzinha feliz da vida em uma prática no curso do SENAC - foto da colega Dani.

When we meet the right people.

Nanda was that person for me. My soul sister. Friend since I was 15, my biggest fan (and also my foot - here's another story, lol) and one of the smartest people I've ever met in my life. She always saw potential in me, always believed in me even when I didn't.

Ensaio lindo, ao pôr do sol em um pasto ao lado da casa da Nandinha.

"You're going to take the course, Duda!" , when I was in doubt about the photographer course at SENAC.

"Come on, let's go buy that camera, I'll help you", he went with me to buy my camera, helped me haggle and everything (fag good at negotiating).

My first model.

There's so much I have to talk about her that it wouldn't even fit in all the books in the world.

She is part of who I am.

Prática de estúdio com a melhor modelo de todas.

But what now, I'm a photographer?

Let's go. To recap: I graduated in ADM, worked for a few years in some places... And, after several anxiety attacks and a mild depression, I decided to resign from my last job and "go with fear" after what motivates me.

So yes, I'm a photographer - hallelujah chorus in the background.

For me, photography has that power.

Tell stories.

Save memories.

Kill the longing

Or simply see "the beautiful" - a somewhat abstract concept, but still valid, as seeing "the beautiful" through other people's eyes is always amazing.

Ilha do campeche ao fundo e eu sendo feliz com o que eu amo.

And how much is a memory worth?

It's worth the love, it's worth the life lived, it's worth the passage, it's worth the trajectory, it's worth every second here on this plane!

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Finally, in addition to my family, my parents, today I thank my husband, who is, and was, one of the most important figures on my journey. Love of my life, he supports and encourages me in every decision I make and is happy with me on this path.

Meu marido lindão - fiz esse registro em uma das nossas viagens.

Also Tai and Ana, my zero defects friends (in soul, and appearance too) who always supported me, served as a guinea pig and were together with me.

To all my clients who made my life more meaningful through photography.

Thank you, with all my heart.

And for you: how much is a memory worth?

Foto feita durante o curso de fotógrafo.