hi. my name is Raphaela.
I’m a quiet observer of life. it is fleeting, fragile, and oh so worth preserving. my guiding principle is ‘making the most of our time, with the people we love’. it’s what I try to live by. the days are long but the years are short, they say, and believe that too.
my work is rooted in presence. in curiosity. in experience. in my own lifelong chase for deep connection and a meaningful life. I'm wildly aware that the hustle and bustle of everyday living doesn't always allow us to stay in the moment, or appreciate it and that’s why I made it my mission to have that involved in anything I do. Be it in my personal life to take a pause and reflect, as well as in my work as a photographer and a filmmaker to offer a place to just be and appreciate.
WHERE THIS BEGAN:
for nearly a decade, I had the privilege of working closely with children and families. coaching parents to build homes rooted in intention, rhythm, and real quality time. I ran an outdoor club for kids, planned adventures in nature, and spent years helping families create the conditions for presence. for connection. for the kind of slow, grounded life that feels increasingly rare.
I'm not a mother myself. but I have loved children as if they were my own. I have watched them grow, held their hands, witnessed the tender chaos of family life from the inside and I carry that with me into every session I do. when I photograph a family, I'm not seeing strangers. I'm seeing something I know and love deeply.
my years in the Bay Area, California shaped something in me that I couldn't have found anywhere else. I was fortunate enough to have met (and keep meeting) the best and kindest of people all throughout my life which led to the opportunity to create a home in another country for over a decade. the people that filled this part of my story are the reason I use my creativity to create lasting memories.
it is fleeting, fragile, and there is no certainty in how much time we have with the people we love.
let’s create something. I would feel so honored to use my passion to serve you.