Hello and welcome to my photography page! I want to start by saying thank you for visiting and wanting to get to know more about the girl behind the camera.
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I have always loved photography. Whether it was behind the camera or in front of it. My love and passion didn’t start to grow until I shared with my wonderful husband of 5 years that it was something I wanted to pursue. On December 31, 2015, my husband gifted me with my very first professional camera(Olympus OM-D EM10). It was the best gift I have ever received regarding my dream of one day becoming a photographer. I used this camera religiously for 2 years taking pictures of friends, family - but mostly wildlife. My passion and joy was wildlife photography. There was something so interesting and amazing about little critters or big mammals that caught my attention. Fast forward another year and we ended up buying our first house. At that moment my photography dream was put on hold since we had to move and do some renovations. Fast forward another year and my husband I started talking and praying about starting a family. It was such an exciting and joyous time in our lives.
My journey and testimony with photography and motherhood didn’t being until March 8, 2017. March 2017 was when we started trying for a baby. We were so excited to become parents! As months went by and there was still no baby, I started to have doubts and worry slowly started creeping into my spirit. Of course we weren’t really concerned and kept our faith strong in God and His word that said for us to fill the earth and multiply(Genesis 9:1). After a few seasons have passed we really started to get hopeless. We decided it would be best to see some fertility specialists. Everything with my husband and myself was totally normal and healthy which was a big relief but our OBGYN still could not figure out why we weren’t conceiving. Well you see this’s plan.
As hard and painful as our infertility journey was we decided to continue to keep trying and trusting that in the midst of our pain and suffering there will be a miracle! I was having such a hard time coping with the constant thoughts of what-ifs: What if I never become a mom? What if something is terribly wrong that that doctor couldn’t see? What if I'm not worthy enough of being a mom? I know this was all part of the enemy's plan to distract me from the purpose and calling that God had planned for my life. One day when I was pouring my heart out to the Lord in prayer He showed me this vision. As I was praying on my knees in our bedroom with tears flowing from my eyes, He showed me sitting in front of His Holy throne. It was like I was a 3rd person watching it all play out. I saw myself sitting in front of God almighty. I couldn’t see His face, just shoulders down, in my hands, I was holding a baby. I was so downcast. Just seconds later I saw myself handing over that baby to God and Him delightfully and carefully taking it. I saw myself get even sadder than before. Just moments after He took the child from my arms He placed a crown on my head and then He handed the baby back into my arms, back into my care. Y’all, I remember crying so much harder after he showed me that. I thanked Him for what was to come and this vision was hope, hope that this too shall pass. The days didn’t get easier but we were filled from fear to faith.
On our 3rd year anniversary my husband and I were driving home from Atlanta after celebrating. It was a Wednesday. On Wednesday nigh our church has an evening service. God spoke into my spirit and said put it on. I honestly really didn’t want to but in obedience to Him we pulled over to watch it. During the service God so clearly spoke into my spirit again and said that my husband and I will have a babygirl and that we shall call her Oasis Rain. After He spoke that into my spirit I was so taking back because I had never heard of a name like that before. A few moments later I started getting attacked by the enemy with thoughts of discouragement. He was attacking me saying stuff like you made this up and God didn’t give that name to you. I decided to silence the enemy and look up what the name Oasis meant. The name Oasis means a pleasant or a peaceful area in the midst of difficulty. The name Rain means abundant blessings from above. This to me was confirmation that this was from the Lord. After the service was over I looked at my husband and was like, I have to tell you something crazy. I told him God had given us a name for our daughter. After I told my husband he didn’t look at me like I was crazy intact my husbands response was '“wow God giving us a name means the promise is on its way”. A few weeks later I was having another hard day and I was walking by my camera that I have not touched in a while. God so sweetly and softly spoke into my s’t touched in a while. God so sweetly and softly spoke into my spirit and said “pick it up'“. I started going to a local park and capturing the beauty that He has created. There would be days where I would go to the park and get so lost in capturing images that hours would pass and I wouldn’t even notice!
Another year went by and my love, passion, and skills grew. I started a photography Instagram page dedicated to wildlife photography. I wanted to share my work with the world to see. One day as my husband and I were driving home, we started talking about my photography and I said “how cool would it be for me to start taking pictures of people”. In reply, my husband said that it would be pretty awesome. I hesitated to say anything back. I said let's ask God for confirmation if people photography would be something that He wants me to do. Moments after pulling into our driveway, I opened up Instagram. I had gotten a sweet message from a woman who had been following my wildlife photography page and loved my work. She asked me if I would be willing to take some pictures for her and her husband in a few days. As I read the message out loud my husband and I looked at each other smiling because God has given confirmation to us so quickly. I agreed to do this for this sweet couple and come to find out it was a pregnancy announcement. I was so overjoyed that my sister in Christ was expecting a little blessing and the whole photography session I was so excited and happy for them, and not to mention I had so much fun too! This was the start of the journey of people photography. I started doing free sessions for friends and family from that moment on.
Fast forward to a year later my sweet husband and I found out we were expecting a healthy little girl! I gave birth on May 12, 2019, which so happened to be Mother's day! When I say God is in every detail of our lives I truly mean it. Before becoming a mother, God wanted me to figure out my calling in the kingdom of God. Next month our daughter is turning one and we still to this day can't thank God enough for His love, patience, and faithfulness to us.
A few months ago before the coronavirus hit, my husband and I were driving to church, I said to him that I want to do more than just photography. God has blessed us financially more than we deserve and I want to give back. Back in October 2019, God put it on my heart to do free Christmas pictures for families that wanted to capture some memories but would rather spend their income on something more important. I said to my husband how cool would it be to do something like this again this coming Christmas but instead of free pictures maybe every family that books a session can bring a box of diapers and wipes so I can get a collection going to donate to families in need that holiday season. That's when the idea hit me like a brick wall! The thought came to me - what if we partner with nonprofit organizations and anytime I get booked for any photography session, I donate 100% of the proceeds? Both my husband and I thought this was an amazing idea but decided to pray about it and ask God yet again for conformation. As we pulled up to church and sat down in service our campus pastor shared a scripture before taking up the offering.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
My husband and I both looked at each other blown away because this was the exact conformation that we needed for me to start nonprofit photography. So here we are today excited to take this adventure with you all!
With each photography session booked you will be helping me change the world. Here are some of the organizations that we felt lead to help,
https://www.newbeginningslife.net/
https://jentezenfranklin.org/israel
( Not affiliated with these organizations)
Thank you for being apart of something much greater than us all!
— with so much love Gazhenko family