Nostalgic Influence

Personal Influence: Childhood Nostalgia and My Aesthetic

A big part of why I’m drawn to themes of femininity, fantasy, mythology and nature in my photography comes from the media I loved growing up. Films like the early Barbie movies and other fairytale-inspired stories had a huge impact on how I visualised beauty, storytelling and femininity. These films often showed girls and women as kind, strong, independant and deeply connected to nature. Whether they were mermaids, fairies or princesses, the themes of girlhood and friendship ran throughout. The soft colours, flowing dresses and magical landscapes left a lasting impression and helped to shape the dreamy, ethereal aesthetic that I still gravitate toward in my photography today.

As I’ve grown up, my understanding of femininity has evolved. I no longer see it as something only delicate or sweet, but as something layered. That’s why in this project I’m blending these nostalgic, childlike influences with more mature and contemporary ideas like ecofeminism, identity and empowerment. I still draw on the dreamlike visuals I loved as a child, but I use them now to explore deeper themes. This blend of childhood influence and adult awareness helps keep my work personal and rooted in my own lived experience, as well as keeping my passion.

Me, age 3