Why I photograph people the way I do...

I didn’t start photography with a grand plan or a calling.

I just liked the idea of stopping time.

What I discovered later was that standing behind a camera gave me something unexpected: space. When I was photographing someone, connection felt quieter and safer. There was no comparison, no pressure, no need to compete or perform. Just observation. Presence.

Over time, photography became a way for me to practice seeing people—slowly, carefully, without judgment. And in doing that, I realized I was also learning how to see myself differently.

That’s where fantasy entered my work.

Creating character-driven and composite portraits isn’t about escaping reality—it’s about approaching it sideways. When someone steps into a character, an archetype, or a symbolic role, they often reveal parts of themselves they’d never feel comfortable presenting directly. Strength, vulnerability, defiance, softness. Things that are real, but easier to hold when they’re wrapped in story.

Photographing people this way taught me something important: sometimes we need a little distance to tell the truth. Sometimes imagination is the safest way to be honest.

My work lives in that in-between space—between realism and fantasy, between who we are and who we’re allowed to be. I’m not interested in transforming people into someone else. I’m interested in creating images where they can recognize themselves without feeling exposed.

That’s why my sessions are calm.

That’s why I don’t rush the process.

That’s why one image can matter more than a full gallery.

The painterly quality of my portraits comes from the same intention. I’m not trying to capture a moment as it passes—I’m trying to hold it still long enough to let it speak.

If my work resonates with you, it’s probably not just because of the costumes or the composites. It’s because you understand the value of being seen without spectacle. Of stepping into something imagined and realizing it feels strangely familiar.

I didn’t start photography to express myself.

I started it to practice seeing myself differently—by seeing others differently first.

That way of seeing is what I offer now.

And it’s the reason I do this work.