Self-taught newborn and maternity photographer Reka Choy wants her past insecurities to help inspire women to celebrate their bodies, as Simone Hellyer discovers.
Her own insecurities made Sussex-based photographer Reka Choy miss out on the opportunity to get professional pictures of herself and her young children when she had the chance. But rather than dwelling on this regret, Reka retrained as a photographer and has now created a business that specialises in newborn and maternity images.
From her new studio, just outside Haywards Heath, Reka captures images of women in the throes of pregnancy as well as newborn babies in the first weeks of life – images that she wished she would have captured when her children were born.
“I didn’t have any professional photos taken of my children when they were newborns or any of me because of finances and because I thought that I looked too big,” she says. “But now I want to tell people not to let these feelings hold you back because in the grand scheme of things they’re not important. What’s important is that in years to come, when your child is grown up, they will have all of these beautiful memories to look back on as well as photographs to pass down to generations to come.”
After ten years working in the shipping industry in London, Reka taught herself photography and editing skills from watching YouTube videos and set up shop as a wedding and family photographer. But, after undergoing some specialist training, she now specialises in newborns and maternity – with the odd family shoot thrown in as well.
This story is from the February 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2019 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TAKE YOUR TIME
Dean Edwards’ new cookbook features delectable recipes that you can slow cook or stick in the oven. Here’s a selection of the best
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
ON THE FRONT FOOT
The rugby legend took the reins at Sussex County Cricket Club in 2017, rekindling his love for a sport that first won his heart on the village cricket fields of North Yorkshire
NAKED AMBITION
In the 1980s, Christine and Jennifer Binnie partied with Boy George and Marilyn and bared all as performance art collective The Neo-Naturists. Now they are working together to gain the recognition they feel they deserve
ROCKET MAN
Astronaut Tim Peake has come a long way since growing up in Westbourne and attending Chichester High School for Boys: 248 miles above Earth, to be precise. But, he says, life on the International Space Station has a lot in common with family caravanning holidays
Revolution man
Lewes’ most famous resident Thomas Paine may be the greatest propagandist who ever lived. But how did a humble customs and excise officer ignite the touchpaper for revolution in not one but two countries?
THE DIARY
17 exciting things to do this month in East and West Sussex
All in a day's work
Meet Tim Dummer, who has helped keep Midhurst’s Cowdray Estate shipshape for an impressive five decades
My favourite Sussex
Bruce Fogle is an author and a vet with a practice in London who has lived in West Sussex with his wife, the actress Julia Foster, since 1989. He recently became president of RSPCA Mount Noddy near Chichester
10 OF THE BEST Meat-free restaurants in Brighton and Hove
Brighton is often rated one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the UK. What these restaurants prove is that plant-based food doesn’t have to be puritanical – at all of these places you’ll find big flavours and a desire to push the envelope