I didn't know how much photography and videography could impact a family's life until I was hired to take family portraits.

You see, growing up, affection and love weren't really common in my family. So as a photographer, I never really believed in capturing happy moments. In fact, most of my early work consisted of artistic, moody photos of people, places and little moments that caught my eye.

Then one day, a close friend wanted to do a family portrait session and hired me to photograph her family.

I was reluctant at first. Mostly because I was afraid.

How do I take happy photos?

Nevertheless, I went ahead with it, and it became one of the greatest and most beautiful mistakes I've ever made.

Everyone loved the photos. They were happy with what I created and even encouraged me to pursue family photography.

Then my friend said something that stayed with me:

"What if growing up as a moody child shaped you into a photographer who brings light into families? Maybe it's actually a gift. Because of your childhood, you understand why it's important to create memories."

That was my turning point.

She was right.

Today, I've had the privilege of creating memories for families through films, photographs, birthdays and all kinds of special occasions.

It's been a blast. I've learnt so much about being a father, being part of a family, and what family is really all about.

And, of course, I've also learnt that family photography comes with a lot of screaming, running and cake-smashing kids.

To all my clients, thank you for allowing me to be part of your memories.

In another world, I run a video production company focused on producing brand story, customer experience and event videos: www.miixostory.com