There is nothing quite like a genuine smile or quiet, candid moment. We caught up with Laura from Siida Photography to talk about authenticity and connection in her work.

"I was born in Finland but we emigrated to Australia when I was a young child. I have a strong connection to the motherland, but I also feel very Aussie. I think my style of photography has elements of both places within it. A strong connection to nature through my Finnish roots, and a sense of fun from my time in Australia.

"Photography is so important for our memories of the precious people and times in our lives. I hope that people come to me because I can showcase them and a time in their lives honestly. I don't shy away from shooting the tears and tantrums, as well as all the dancing-around-the-lounge-room moments. I like to keep it real, for sure."

We asked Laura about the importance of printing.

"I still, to this day, go through my parents' albums and we talk about our holidays, our old homes, our friends. I love to show my kids those images too. There's something nice about sitting on a couch, cuddling up and flicking through your own childhood. Having said that, It's easy to let a whole year pass and realise not a single one of my thousands of images has been printed. But when I do print, I walk through my home and am reminded that it's the pictures of our loved ones that make it feel like 'a home'.

"It's so important to stamp out nerves - the camera highlights a nervous subject immediately. The first thing I like to do before I even pick up my camera at a shoot is chat and get to know the people I'm photographing. From there, I keep chatting so that with any luck, they forget why we're actually together. The telling fact is that the moment I tell my subject that a shoot is over, they immediately exhale, I grab my camera again, and I would say 75% of my best shots come from the last few frames when the shoot is officially 'over'."

"I find that the more I get to know a subject (speed dating on steroids basically), the easier it becomes to connect with them. I chat with my subject to begin with, and then once we're at a comfortable place, everyone is much more relaxed in the quiet moments. I find connection in those moments. They're usually my favourite images."

"The most rewarding things about the work I do are the travel, the people and getting paid to be creative. Pretty lucky, really!"

To see more from Siida Photography, check out her website here.

Victoria x