Some of the best stories start without a plan. One moment you’re wandering through your day, and the next you’re knee-deep in blooming tulips at Holland Park, camera in hand, capturing something that feels like magic. That was today with Justyna Sekmistrz, in a kimono from rai kimonos, under a spring sky that made every color pop just right.
This blog post is about more than a shoot. It’s about how unexpected meetings become meaningful work—and how creativity sometimes finds you.
I first met Justyna the day before the end of 2024. At the time, it was just a brief encounter—one of those fleeting moments you tuck into the back of your mind without knowing how important it might become later. We didn’t stay in close contact, but life has a strange way of looping people back into your orbit when it feels right.
Fast forward a few months, and we reconnect through Olesia Ra, a visionary creator, DJ, and founder of RAÏ COLLECTIVE. Olesia has a talent for sensing potential and bringing people together at the exact right moment. She introduced me to the idea of collaborating—me as a web designer and Justyna as a visual muse, model, and creative force. But the real beginning wasn’t a meeting, or a job—it was me picking up my camera and photographing Justyna… for fun.
Today we spent a few hours at Holland Park—partly with the goal of capturing new visuals for RAÏ KIMONOS, but mostly just sharing a moment in time that felt light and effortless. There were no plans, just sun, shadows dancing on soft fabric, and the kind of silence that lets creativity breathe.
The photos turned out beautifully—yes, of course they did. But more than that, they feel like something. Like truth. Like chemistry. Justyna radiates brightness, peace, and that kind of inner strength that doesn’t need to be loud to be seen. It’s not just her style or posture—it’s presence.
Working with Justyna isn’t something I’d define with words like “project” or “assignment.” It’s more like… tuning into a shared frequency. Things flow naturally. No second guesses. Just light, connection, and the impulse to press the shutter when something real appears.
These images are now part of my portfolio at dzh0.com—they are a glimpse into the kind of work I love: intuitive, unscripted, and deeply human.
More than that, they’re a testament to how meaningful collaboration doesn’t need a timeline, a pitch, or a strategy. Sometimes, all it takes is two people being open to something beautiful unfolding.
We’ll be adding these images to both of our portfolios. You’ll start seeing more of our work on raikimonos.com and here, where I continue documenting not just the garments—but the feeling they carry. And maybe that’s the real takeaway here: the right people show up when you’re not looking. All you need is to stay open—and maybe bring your camera.
This post is a reminder to embrace the accidental moments. That’s where the good stuff lives.
If you’re curious to see more of our work together, keep an eye on the raikimonos.com and follow me for more behind-the-scenes stories. And if you’re wondering how a kimono might look on you—trust me, there’s one waiting to find you.
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