Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrezza Haddaway

Hi Andrezza, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I’m Brazilian, living in the US for 12 years. I never thought that I would move anywhere away from my comfort zone since I have pretty solid roots in my country, with my family and friends. I met my husband, who is American, through a community online for photographers from all over the world. two strangers, one in Brazil and the other in the US, leaving comments at each other’s pictures. Until one day I posted a sunset photo and he sent me an email talking about it and I wrote him back. We never stopped it, we sent emails to each other everyday. The whole thing feels surreal to me until now.

My roots are very much strong in Brazil where my mom and sister live. My father passed away in a car accident when I was 9 years old. It was a big trauma that we all went through. My sister was one year old at the time, our lives changed completely after his death. My mom raised us alone. It was a very hard time, but together, we made it through it all.

When I went to college in the early 2000’s, I lived in Brazil and had no idea where life would take me, I had a big question my mind: what do I really want to do?. I ended up studying different things, like Economics and Computer Science, that I dropped off after the second year of each one because they didn’t really speak to me. I was looking for passion and inspiration, and I haven’t found any in those courses. I decided to study Journalism because it was a completely different field and I enjoyed writing. To talk about this part of my life is impossible not to think about my father. He worked as a political and sports journalist and had a show on a local radio station in my city. He was an inspiring passionate person who had always lived to the fullest. I wish I’d had more time with him in my life, maybe it’d have helped me to find my own path.

I discovered the love for Photography while I was studying Journalism. Suddenly it all made sense, I had no doubt about what I wanted to work with. When I felt the camera in my hands, developing films in the dark room, I felt such an exhilaration. I knew that I could do that forever.

When I was about to start my third year in college I wasn’t doing so well. Years before I started to experience a lot of health problems that would come and go in different waves. I went to many doctors and had tests that never gave me an answer and with time the symptoms were getting harder and harder to manage. Some of the issues were weakness on my right leg, dizziness, numbness, vision problems, a lack of concentration as if the things I was studying evaporated in the air right after I learned it. I couldn’t keep up with college demands. It was all very stressful, frustrating and troubling. It was like a waterfall of problems falling over me, I could barely breathe, then I left college behind.

At some point I started to photograph my friends, doing styled sessions and having so much fun! I photographed all the time, from the food that I was having for breakfast to Self Portrait, from beach scenes that always gave me so much peace of mind, to the window in my living room at the end of the day, when the golden light touched the curtains just right. My camera was always with me. It was the only way to deviate my mind from thinking and worrying about my health. Even feeling sick I would go out to shoot. I remember photographing my best friend at the beach, my right leg was so weak, I couldn’t manage anymore and I fell on my knees and pretended that It wasn’t anything bad, I kept shooting with my knees on the sand.

I joined a community for photographers from all over the world including my husband. We were contacts for years and years – Two strangers, one in Brazil and the other in the US, commenting on each other’s pictures. The whole thing feels surreal to me until now. I never thought in a million years that he would become my husband and I would end up moving here to the US.

In March of 2007 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After 10 years of experiencing symptoms and numerous relapses, I finally could start a treatment.

In 2012 I moved to the US and got married. We started our Photography business in 2015 and I could really dive into my creative journey professionally.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

The road is far from smooth. It’s been pretty rough a lot of times. Because of my health problems I can’t over do any type of job or my MS symptoms will flare up. My energy must be very well spent. When I have a photoshoot schedule I wont do anything extra, my energy will be saved all for that moment 100%. I need to be at my best, the result of my work will depend on this. Managing home/life/work is very challenging, but I learned to listen to my body and know when it’s time to rest. I’m so grateful that my husband has a regular job, as Graphic Designer, that can provide stability for both of us. He also photographs with me on our photography business, which is a huge help to have him by my side.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I’m a Portrait photographer. I specialize in Family, Maternity, Couples and Individuals. I don’t know what I’m known for, but I want to believe that the people I photograph will look at their pictures and feel that they are beautiful, powerful, authentic. I hope that they felt free to be themselves and express whatever there’s inside their heart. Often people don’t realize how stunning and fascinating they are until they see their pictures. I feel proud when somebody tells me how amazing I made them feel during our session, how natural and fun it was – It makes me beyond proud, it fills my heart with pure joy.
I try not to pursue perfection. I keep reminding myself, a photo doesn’t need to be perfect, It needs to have soul.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?

Virginia Beach has a lot of things that I like, such as, the beaches, the open fields, parks, forests, bookstores, nice places to eat and shop. It’s a peaceful place to live. I’m located kind of in between the country and the city. Depending on my mood on the day I decided what direction I should go. I’m not that far from anywhere, especially to the beach. What I don’t like over here is the public transportation. I was very surprised, in a sad way, when I first arrived from Brazil. Over there we have a lot of public transportation to go anywhere around. Over here it practically doesn’t exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://am-photography.smugmug.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrezza_haddaway/