With These Childhood Photographs, I Want To Teleport People To The World Of Wonder (24 Pics)

Not only dark nights but also animated movies for children such as "Polar Express" or Pixar "La Luna" were the source of inspiration for my pictures. In the atmosphere of magic and wonder, I found my way of approaching photography.

I started creating magical images of my children's childhood eight years ago with a head full of ideas and an empty pocket. I spent all my savings to buy an affordable camera and started using analog lenses my parents used with their Zenit.

With time and a lot of hard work, I managed to upgrade my skills and equipment.

When creating those images the hardest thing is not the lighting or editing afterward or preparing the scene, but working with young children. To capture their beautiful emotion in facial expressions and body language, I need to be patient and quick if a perfect moment happens and have my camera always ready. Children can't be forced or talked into doing something they don't want to. My work with children doesn't start with the moment of taking the camera into my hand. It takes all the time I have to observe them, talk to them and spend time with them.

My images are something between dreams and reality. With the use of my camera, my imagination, editing software, and help from my children, I want to transport my viewers into the world of wonder.

After I got better with my photos I started getting requests to run workshops and mentor other photographers. So I started doing that in the afternoons and weekends. After two years, I was so tired that I decided to take a break in architecture, and that break still lasts. Now my job is to work with other photographers to teach them how to take dreamy photos. I also published an e-book called "Dreamy Childhood Photography" with ExpertPhotography.

Creating these images is a process that starts in my head just before I take a photo. I make a quick and very intuitive decision on the use of light and composition. I imminently see the scene with my imagination, not always as it looks in real life. I think of my camera's possibilities, and the possibilities photo editing gives me.

I usually have the editing (if I want to edit) ready in my head when I take the shot. Therefore I can take a photo with a specific angle so it's easier for me to edit and not spend a lot of time in front of my computer. People find it surprising how quick and effective my process is. Of course, I can't give you the exact time because it varies between 5 minutes and 20 minutes depending on my idea and how the photo looked on my camera. I edit mainly in Lightroom, and I use Photoshop to combine images or add overlays. 

I get many positive comments, and people say that these photos are like a dream just before you wake up. There is something magical and mysterious that reminds them of their childhood dreams. So many people message me to say that they have never seen photos like that, which is very rewarding.