About Svetlana Ozik – founder of Lana Sky Photography, a full-service family photo studio in Kirkland, WA

Have you ever heard the phrase, “hindsight is always 20/20?” It means that we rarely understand the importance of an event until it’s long gone. Well, my path to professional family photography was no different.

I was born in the historic resort town of Feodosiya, Ukraine, a beautiful place nestled along the Black Sea. Throughout the summers, I spent most of my time frolicking at the beach.

My parents were involved in photography, and some of my fondest memories include helping my dad develop pictures in his dark room. He would even allow me to hang the photos on the glass to help them dry on special occasions. My childhood was filled with thousands of images, and I loved every minute in that room.

At age 10, I moved to the United States with my parents, three sisters, and brother. Even though I picked up—and was instantly hooked on—my first camera at age 15, it wasn’t until years later that I began to understand that I might actually have a gift with photography.

The realization happened while I was having dinner with some friends I hadn’t seen. We were discussing a variety of things, and generally just catching up. One mentioned that she was recently looking through some old photos I’d taken of her during high school and that they remained the best pictures she owned. All my other friends at the table quickly chimed in and agreed.

While I was certainly flattered, I was even more intrigued: Could I become a professional photographer? Did I have what it took to make a living out of this?

While I entertained these ideas for quite some time, I have to admit that it wasn’t until several of my friends got married and had children that I began focusing on lifestyle family photography.

And in many ways, the business came to me: My friends would ask me to take their photographs during maternity, as well as of their newborns, infants, or toddlers. I happily obliged, and they were so pleased by the results that they referred their friends.

After several years of working professionally, I was blessed by a momentous event: The birth of my son. (And then two more.) In addition to all the other beautiful things about having a child, I was finally able to fully understand the complete range of emotions that a parent experiences when they view a photo of their child.

Having children of my own helped me realize how important it is to document and celebrate our journey through the years. I believe that if we don’t capture our memories, we risk losing them forever.