A Swedish Summer Bliss with Michaela and Her Family
- Can you tell us a little about yourself and your family?
My name is Michaela, and my family consists of me, my husband Andreas, our three-year-old son Otto, our three-month-old daughter Alma, and our 13-year-old dog Willow. I live in Stockholm, but I've spent a large part of my life in different places across the United States. I work as a photographer and content creator, and I've been shooting on film for the past 15 years. There's something truly special about analogue photography, especially in a digital world. It encourages me to slow down and be present. When I'm not photographing my children and our everyday life, I love travelling and documenting the world through my camera.
- What summer memory from your own childhood do you hope your children will experience too?
Picking our own fruit and vegetables in the garden. There's something so special about watching Otto run around barefoot with a bowl of freshly picked berries in his hands, or standing beside him as he discovers new potatoes growing beneath the soil for the very first time. I hope our children grow up with the same close connection to nature that I was lucky enough to experience during my childhood summers.
- What is the best part about experiencing summer through your children's eyes?
Everything feels magical somehow. Children really take the time to notice the little details that adults so easily overlook. Through their eyes, summer feels slower and more present, and it's wonderful to see their excitement when they experience something for the very first time.
- What does the perfect summer day look like for your family?
The perfect summer day always includes sunshine, swimming, and long hours outdoors. A slow breakfast on the porch in the morning sun, children running around barefoot, spontaneous swims, and a simple dinner enjoyed late in the evening. For me, summer is all about spending time together without stress or fixed plans.
- What do you always pack when travelling with young children in the summer? Is there anything you never leave home without?
Right now, we never travel without a baby carrier. Since welcoming our second child, it's become even more important because it keeps both of our hands free for Otto. Another thing I never travel without is my cameras. I love documenting absolutely everything when it comes to the children, especially during the most beautiful season of the year – summer. Those are often the photos that become the most treasured over time.
- If you had to describe the Swedish summer in three words, what would they be – and why?
Natural, cosy, and full of life. The Swedish summer feels incredibly close to nature in a way that's hard to find anywhere else. Life is lived outdoors, and nature is in full bloom. There's also something special about how everyone embraces the season with such joy and appreciation, as though we've truly earned it after the long, dark winter months.
