My name is Katya. I live in Moscow with my husband and our adorable daughter Lisa who has Down syndrome. We adopted her a couple of years ago. She is very sweet and cute, and we love her very much.
As a creative soul, I love to design and sew costumes and flower crowns for my baby girl. Many costumes you see here were handmade by me. As a photographer, I love to create photo stories that show how adorable and loving kids with Down syndrome are, especially my Lisa.
A post submitted by Katya's friend Polina.
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Katya, Lisa's mom, answered some of the questions I left for her. First, I wanted to know what type of photography style she liked most, given that she's a talented photographer, and here's what she said, "I love portraits of people and animals. Because they are full of life, they have emotions."
Raising a child is no easy feat, and therefore I think it's also hard to take photos of children at times since they're always so active and immersed in their own world. I asked Katya whether it is hard to photograph Lisa.
"To follow her. She runs really fast! For her, a photoshoot is primarily a game and therefore we do not force her to do what she does not want. All photos are random shots that I am fast enough to take."
Of course, since Katya uploads pictures of Lisa on social media, people tend to give various reactions to the photos she posts, here's what she told me when I asked her about it: "Many people think that children with Down syndrome are ugly and are unable to show their emotions. For them, our page is a discovery. They learn that children with special needs are ordinary children who know how to play, be happy, be sad, to love."
Obviously, Katya's adoption story is touching and so are Lisa's wonderful pictures. I wanted to ask Katya what she would like for people to take away from this story.
"I'd like to point out one thing - all people are beautiful, regardless of their diseases and visual characteristics."
I also asked Lisa's mom what inspired her to start an Instagram page.
"Bad attitude of people on the street towards my daughter. I wanted to change it and show people that special children are as great as ordinary children."
Maybe it's a question with an obvious answer but I also asked Katya about her motivation as a photographer, and this is what she told me.
"My daughter is my main inspiration. I want to create a fairy tale around her at least in the photo. By changing the societal views about people with disabilities through pictures, we can change real life."
Lisa is such a beautiful little darling, she is very photogenic and I love her personality! She has the prettiest smile :)
You seem to have a child from a fairy tale, and a beautiful relationship with her. You're both blessed to have found each other.
So, so true! I wish them all the best during their entire lives. And so to you :)
Lovely little girl, I love her cheeky smile! The clothes are gorgeous. You have real talent.
It saddens me to see how quickly some of us are in judging others. In Russia we have a big taboo on adopting kids with different syndromes and illnesses. When Katya adopted Lisa she was ostracized by her own father who blamed her for adopting an invalid human, that is not good enough for the society. It is very very important for other potential adopting parents to know that it is ok to adopt different kind of kids. By sharing her story of adoption Katya is encouraging other people and we know several good stories that Katya influenced by showing her example. So please don't run to judge especially when you aren't aware of culture specific context. All best to you.
Load More Replies...I am glad you came with a reply. Yes, it is sad and infuriating that Katya needs to state that her daughter is adopted and has down syndrome besides of just posting photos of her gorgeous child in beautiful hand-made clothes. It is sad and infuriating that in this century someome needs to raise awareness that so many people from our society still marginalize children that are different from what the same society catalogues as normal. And it is equally infuriating that so many people comment without even reading the whole story, without trying to understand the message and judge Katya for saying her daughter is adopted. Thank you, Polina, for posting this. Thank Katya for being the marvelous mother she is and taking this life challenge of raising such a beautiful child while fighting against the prejudices of our society. Because of her, her husband and people like them I can still hope for a better world for all children some day.
As someone who is adopted I HATE it when someone refers to me that way. My parents are my parents, not my adoptive parents. Sorry if its taboo in Russia, but it still rubs me the wrong way.
My favorite part is where in every single picture shows how sweet, beautiful she is and how much she is loved, how proud her mum is of her, it's so much more than this amazing kid. I love it
Punctuation .... Uhhgg... Can we put a comma after this put an exclamation after kid toss in few periods and then commence with the I LOVE IT. ... I'm sorry
Simply lovely little lady you have, bet she lights up a room and your lives.
Lisa was meant to be your daughter. You are bringing out so much of who she is and her vast potential. Your artistry is also just amazing. Lisa's clothes, the settings and photographs are fantastic. These should be in a calendar.
She is a beautiful little girl, and both the photography and the costume making/dressing skills shown here are outstanding. I often think when a mother photographs her child the result is extra special; almost as if seeing the child through the mothers eye allows all that motherly love to be captured through the lens
thankyou for this it reminded me of my brother who shall be well missed
I can't get over how adorable she is. Katya, you're so blessed to have this beautiful little angel as your daughter.
Awwww she's so cute and the costumes are awesome and the photos are beautiful
Thank you for asking. In Russia adopting children with special needs is a taboo and few people do it because of associated financial difficulties but also because of societal prejudice. Katya and her husband are a special case of very special loving people who adopted a girl with Down syndrome as their first child. This is exceptional and very impressive which is why worth mentioning. Maybe without a context it seems strange but it is not at all if you know that the vast majority of adopters want healthy normal kids without any specialties and syndromes.
She's amazing and your photos are awesome 🤗 I could feel love and happiness.
She is such a darling little girl! Thank you for helping me smile today! ♥️
Thank you for sharing your love with lil Lisa. May you and your family grow in love and wisdom Pax+
what a beautiful girl. And so amazing that she gets a second chance at life with this wonderful mother!
Lisa is more than adorable, to see the joy in her cute cherub face, I can only imagine, the tremendous happiness in the family, a baby can complete a family, when the love is there, a lifetime of love !!!
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, sweet little girl! And you can see how happy she is in each of those photos. Also, as a sewist, I am so impressed with your costume-making skills!
These photos are insane! Some of them look like paintings! She is beautiful and the photos are gorgeous! Very talented photographer and subject. Love them all!!!!
WARNNG - I'M AUSTRALIAN. She is F*****g Gorgeous! And your photos are Amazing!
Your French is excused, the girly is mega adorable and the love shown in these pictures demonstrates the bond real love can make with a child that is not biologically your own and has special needs. This article warms my heart and the little sweety is gorgeous!
Your little girl is such a wonderful child. Your talent as a photographer, not to mention costumer, is also very good!
She is SO beautiful!! Congratulations =] Thank you for sharing your precious one and your photography talent ♥
I'm sorry but... it feels like the little girl is used as a prop, and that makes me uncomfortable. I hope I'm wrong but it looks like the hair is dyed as well (In some pictures in the link it's a faded pink) and I don't think you should do that to a child so young. Same with the need to mention she's adopted, it's just....very over the top.
She’s the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen! Lovely shots!
These are absolutely gorgeous! How perfect is she!? I'm in love and my heart just melted everywhere on the floor! <3
Thank you, for adopting and loving this wonderful child who has Down syndrome. They are wonderful children and grow to be amazing young people! Your life will always be filled with wonder and joy. Seeing things through her eyes, has already and will continue to, make you better human beings! Enjoy your daughter!
Not all down people are wonderful and cute and joyous. There are plenty that are aggressive, mean and are not having a good time. Stop glorifying a serious birth defect that creates severe health issues.
As someone who has an adopted child, I gotta say this behavior is concerning. Your child is not a prop to show off your talents, and I'm concerned this person will not be equipped as their child gets older and issues begin to arise and the honeymoon ends.
Lisa is adorable, You bring out the best in Lisa and yourself, you have a great bond with Lisa, is Lisa, a mommy's girl, or daddy's girl ? just wondering !!!
Lisa is such a beautiful little darling, she is very photogenic and I love her personality! She has the prettiest smile :)
You seem to have a child from a fairy tale, and a beautiful relationship with her. You're both blessed to have found each other.
So, so true! I wish them all the best during their entire lives. And so to you :)
Lovely little girl, I love her cheeky smile! The clothes are gorgeous. You have real talent.
It saddens me to see how quickly some of us are in judging others. In Russia we have a big taboo on adopting kids with different syndromes and illnesses. When Katya adopted Lisa she was ostracized by her own father who blamed her for adopting an invalid human, that is not good enough for the society. It is very very important for other potential adopting parents to know that it is ok to adopt different kind of kids. By sharing her story of adoption Katya is encouraging other people and we know several good stories that Katya influenced by showing her example. So please don't run to judge especially when you aren't aware of culture specific context. All best to you.
Load More Replies...I am glad you came with a reply. Yes, it is sad and infuriating that Katya needs to state that her daughter is adopted and has down syndrome besides of just posting photos of her gorgeous child in beautiful hand-made clothes. It is sad and infuriating that in this century someome needs to raise awareness that so many people from our society still marginalize children that are different from what the same society catalogues as normal. And it is equally infuriating that so many people comment without even reading the whole story, without trying to understand the message and judge Katya for saying her daughter is adopted. Thank you, Polina, for posting this. Thank Katya for being the marvelous mother she is and taking this life challenge of raising such a beautiful child while fighting against the prejudices of our society. Because of her, her husband and people like them I can still hope for a better world for all children some day.
As someone who is adopted I HATE it when someone refers to me that way. My parents are my parents, not my adoptive parents. Sorry if its taboo in Russia, but it still rubs me the wrong way.
My favorite part is where in every single picture shows how sweet, beautiful she is and how much she is loved, how proud her mum is of her, it's so much more than this amazing kid. I love it
Punctuation .... Uhhgg... Can we put a comma after this put an exclamation after kid toss in few periods and then commence with the I LOVE IT. ... I'm sorry
Simply lovely little lady you have, bet she lights up a room and your lives.
Lisa was meant to be your daughter. You are bringing out so much of who she is and her vast potential. Your artistry is also just amazing. Lisa's clothes, the settings and photographs are fantastic. These should be in a calendar.
She is a beautiful little girl, and both the photography and the costume making/dressing skills shown here are outstanding. I often think when a mother photographs her child the result is extra special; almost as if seeing the child through the mothers eye allows all that motherly love to be captured through the lens
thankyou for this it reminded me of my brother who shall be well missed
I can't get over how adorable she is. Katya, you're so blessed to have this beautiful little angel as your daughter.
Awwww she's so cute and the costumes are awesome and the photos are beautiful
Thank you for asking. In Russia adopting children with special needs is a taboo and few people do it because of associated financial difficulties but also because of societal prejudice. Katya and her husband are a special case of very special loving people who adopted a girl with Down syndrome as their first child. This is exceptional and very impressive which is why worth mentioning. Maybe without a context it seems strange but it is not at all if you know that the vast majority of adopters want healthy normal kids without any specialties and syndromes.
She's amazing and your photos are awesome 🤗 I could feel love and happiness.
She is such a darling little girl! Thank you for helping me smile today! ♥️
Thank you for sharing your love with lil Lisa. May you and your family grow in love and wisdom Pax+
what a beautiful girl. And so amazing that she gets a second chance at life with this wonderful mother!
Lisa is more than adorable, to see the joy in her cute cherub face, I can only imagine, the tremendous happiness in the family, a baby can complete a family, when the love is there, a lifetime of love !!!
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, sweet little girl! And you can see how happy she is in each of those photos. Also, as a sewist, I am so impressed with your costume-making skills!
These photos are insane! Some of them look like paintings! She is beautiful and the photos are gorgeous! Very talented photographer and subject. Love them all!!!!
WARNNG - I'M AUSTRALIAN. She is F*****g Gorgeous! And your photos are Amazing!
Your French is excused, the girly is mega adorable and the love shown in these pictures demonstrates the bond real love can make with a child that is not biologically your own and has special needs. This article warms my heart and the little sweety is gorgeous!
Your little girl is such a wonderful child. Your talent as a photographer, not to mention costumer, is also very good!
She is SO beautiful!! Congratulations =] Thank you for sharing your precious one and your photography talent ♥
I'm sorry but... it feels like the little girl is used as a prop, and that makes me uncomfortable. I hope I'm wrong but it looks like the hair is dyed as well (In some pictures in the link it's a faded pink) and I don't think you should do that to a child so young. Same with the need to mention she's adopted, it's just....very over the top.
She’s the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen! Lovely shots!
These are absolutely gorgeous! How perfect is she!? I'm in love and my heart just melted everywhere on the floor! <3
Thank you, for adopting and loving this wonderful child who has Down syndrome. They are wonderful children and grow to be amazing young people! Your life will always be filled with wonder and joy. Seeing things through her eyes, has already and will continue to, make you better human beings! Enjoy your daughter!
Not all down people are wonderful and cute and joyous. There are plenty that are aggressive, mean and are not having a good time. Stop glorifying a serious birth defect that creates severe health issues.
As someone who has an adopted child, I gotta say this behavior is concerning. Your child is not a prop to show off your talents, and I'm concerned this person will not be equipped as their child gets older and issues begin to arise and the honeymoon ends.
Lisa is adorable, You bring out the best in Lisa and yourself, you have a great bond with Lisa, is Lisa, a mommy's girl, or daddy's girl ? just wondering !!!