Mindful Living and Photography | Minimalism, Authenticity and Connection
This article talks about what is minimalism, how I found it and how it’s influencing my photography.
What is Minimalism
I started my journey with minimalism right around the time when I got pregnant with my third and youngest child. I was overwhelmed with the clutter in my house already and the thought of bringing even more things for the new baby was terrifying. There had to be another way. “Ask and you shell receive” is what magically works in my life, so within a few days or so, since I thought to myself that I needed to change something, a documentary appeared on Netflix called “Minimalism”. This was the beginning of decluttering, simplifying and intentionally slowing down my life.
The philosophy of minimalism offers a refreshing perspective and that’s exactly what I needed. It encourages us to strip away the unnecessary and focus on what truly adds value to our lives. Minimalist living is about intentionally choosing what brings value into our life and letting go of the rest. It’s not just about having fewer physical possessions, but also about clearing mental space and simplifying your surroundings to focus on what truly matters.
For many, this means decluttering their homes, schedules, and even their digital lives. And that’s how I started, but what’s important is the reason why we do it. It’s about creating more room for the people, experiences, and moments that enrich our lives.
Now, I want to be clear. I am not an extremist, I still have stuff around my house. There are 5 of us living together and we have a dog. It’s a constant work, to keep clutter out of the way and sometimes things get out of control. However, this way of living has deeply changed my perspective on life and as a photographer it definitely influenced how I approach my work and how I handle my photo projects.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things”
How mindful living shapes my approach to photography
Minimalism encourages mindfulness in daily life - living in the moment and being fully present. I bring that same mindfulness to my photography sessions.
First of all, I take the time to connect with my clients, getting to know their unique story, traditions, small yet significant details that are important to them. This mindful approach not only allows me to create more authentic images but also helps my clients feel more at ease, leading to genuine, relaxed expressions. As a result, the photos reflect real emotions and connections, rather than a forced or staged performance. These are the images that hold deeper significance and that will stand the test of time.
I also like to think of my self as a facilitator or a motivator, to actually slow down for a bit, ponder on what truly is worth focusing on and preserving for the future. Everybody’s life gets busy and the time seems to speed up. I am here to help you pause, help you come up with a gentle plan to capture meaningful moments while you are fully present in them. And help you preserve them all for you or your loved ones to look back on in the future, so you could ponder again and be grateful for the life lived fully and beautifully.
Photos by Zuza M Photography