O meu testemunho de sobrevivência a uma relação com traços narcisistas.

Durante muito tempo, não tive palavras.
Tive sintomas.
Tive noites sem dormir, ataques de pânico, uma voz interna que se calava, uma força que parecia evaporar.

Estive dez anos numa relação que hoje reconheço como profundamente desequilibrada.

For a long time, family photography was synonymous with posing: everyone lined up, smiling, dressed to the nines. But every time I looked at an image like that, I felt an odd emptiness. As if something essential was missing. And, deep down, it truly was.

The power of belief is something profound and transformative. Our beliefs, especially those we hold about ourselves, shape the way we see the world and, consequently, how we behave in it. The belief we have in our own ability, value, and competencies defines the limits of what we think is possible for us. On the other hand, limiting beliefs, those that make us think we are not worthy of success or happiness, can keep us trapped in cycles of frustration and fear.

We live surrounded by invisible clocks.
By 30, we should already have a solid career.
By 40, a house.
By 50, complete stability.

But... what if we’re just getting started?

I remember one autumn afternoon, when I was at my mother’s house organizing some old things. I found a box of photos that had been stored for years, full of black and white images, some slightly faded by time. Like a child, I started taking them out one by one, and as I did, something unexpected happened. I came across a photo of my father, still young, smiling at a family party. He was with my grandparents, my uncles, all gathered around a table, and the image captured the essence of that joy, so pure, so full of life.

One day, while editing a set of documentary photographs for a family, I saw it clearly: romanticizing life isn’t about creating a fantasy, it’s about noticing the magic that already exists.

Life has a curious way of leading us exactly where we need to be, even when, in the moment, it feels like we are lost.

My story is not one of shortcuts or instant success but of overcoming, reinventing, and loving—what I do, my children, and life itself.

From an early age, my curiosity about the world led me to study International Relations. But the paths we choose don’t always make us feel whole.

There was a time in my life when anxiety felt like a constant hum in the background, an unshakable presence that colored everything I did.

My mind was always racing—rehashing the past, worrying about the future—but rarely here, in the now. It was exhausting, and in those years of healing, I found myself searching for something—anything—that could bring me back to the present.

I always thought burnout would arrive with a lot of fanfare—sirens blaring, smoke rising, and me waving a white flag. But instead, it crept in silently, like an uninvited guest, pulling the rug from under me with every “yes, I can do that” I said.

This theme of embracing imperfection runs through everything I do, especially in my work as a documentary family photographer. I’ve built my career around capturing the real, unfiltered moments that tell a family’s true story. It’s not about posed smiles or perfect lighting—it’s about the laughter, the tears, and even the messiness that comes with family life. It’s those raw moments that mean the most because they reflect who we truly are.

Childhood trauma often leaves a lasting imprint on our lives. For me, these imprints were like invisible threads woven into the fabric of who I am, shaping my interactions, relationships, and worldview. However, as I grew and found solace in creative outlets, I began to see those threads not as limitations but as opportunities for healing. My journey as a family documentary photographer has been one of the most transformative aspects of that healing process.

It was because of my need to organize my life (but mainly my mind) that I developed the new Planner 2024 A New Beginning.

Embark on a rollercoaster of emotions in this candid journey through anxiety, resilience, and self-discovery.