Photography has always been a passion of mine. I am not sure when exactly I got my first analog (film) camera, a Smena Symbol, but I was maybe 13-14 years old. I started out with photography the old-fashioned way: I used to develop my own black and white photos with a friend in my home studio (aka bathroom). It was fun to be able to control the whole process and to be able to take photos of me, my friends, and pets. Even though that camera, along with the the photo chemicals and papers available for me, were not of high quality, it is great to have all these photos as a memory from my childhood.

I was a young adult when I changed my Smena for a Praktica analog camera made in East Germany.  This camera came with several lenses and was compatible with colour films. It made my photography skills reach higher levels. Very few people during these times had a good camera, so I was often asked to take photos. I even shot some my friends’ weddings. This camera served me well for many years, and I still have it.

I stopped taking photos in 2005. I did not want to continue analog photography, as it became ridiculously expensive, but I refused to start digital either. I really did not like the quality of digital photos and I thought that my time in this field is over.

For nine years, I did no photography at all. Even when my husband bought a Canon 600D for himself, so I was not able to play my low quality card anymore, I refused to try it. Then one day in 2014 I was challenged by a friend to take the camera and go on a photo walk. It was a global photo walk organized by a photographers’ community in 500px. I have to say it was really embarrassing for me to shoot together with professionals, not knowing my camera at all. I tried hard and to my surprise, some photos came out nice. This encouraged me to learn digital photography. I shot landscape, architecture, and flowers for fun, and started as a photographer for Wings for Wheels events. (Wings for Wheels are working with people with mobile disabilities in Latvia.)

After years of shooting with my husband’s camera, I felt that I wanted to take it more seriously. In 2020, I got my own digital camera at last – a Canon 6D Mark II. Shortly after that, I went to study photography. Seems like I like challenges, as now I needed to learn to use my camera and complete school assignments at the same time. It was fun, but hard. It is incredible how much you can learn if you are open and eager for this.

School gave me the confidence that I have what it takes to be a photographer. It gave me the technical skills, but also the passion to try new things. It confirmed that I have my own specific handwriting in photography, and that it is good to be original. I love colours, but sometimes a good black and white photo is even better. I am back where I was when I was 13-14 years old – I have a passion for photography.

I shoot portraits, events, landscapes, architecture, weddings, street photography, black and white photography, golden hour photography, travel photography.