A PEEBLESSHIRE photographer is realising a lifelong dream and opening a studio.

Magdalena Banka has been a photographic force in Peeblesshire, having taken amazing snapshots of various events around the region – including this year’s St Ronan’s Border Games week.

Now Magdalena is opening her new studio.

To be based in Melrose, she hopes the first-floor hub will give her the chance to help families capture the important moments in their lives.

“I was always wanting to open my studio and shoot cake smash and portraits for families,” she said. “It was always my dream to open a studio.”

As well as local events such as Games Week – which she photographs free of charge for the community – Magdalena also takes photos of important life events, including weddings and family portraits.

Magdalena first fell in love with photography when she was a child growing up in Poland.

Her grandfather had left her a camera and she spent her teenage years taking landscape photos around her home.

Magdalena says being able to freeze important memories in time is one of the key things she loves about photography.

She said: “When I was little, I was really close to my grandad, he left me a camera and an accordion.

“I was four years old maybe and later on when I grew up I promised myself that in memory of my grandad I would learn how to play accordion and I used the camera as well.

“That’s how it started.

“Later on, when my son was born, I wouldn’t miss the moments of his life because when kids are growing up, they grow up really fast.

“And I wanted to freeze those moments so I could later on go back to them.

“And when I was a teenager and shooting the landscapes in Poland where I grew up, so I wanted to capture those moments.

“Even now I can look at the pictures and show my kids this is where I grew up.

“We are not going to Poland often now so I like to show them a bit of my memories as well.”

Although her new studio is not open yet, it will be available to clients who have a scheduled appointment.

In the future, however, Magdalena is hoping to keep the studio open for people interested in booking with her and holding consultations.

At the consultations Magdalena will discover what clients are looking for, discuss details, and can even help decide on suitable poses.

She added: “In addition to my wedding and event photography, I now offer high-quality portrait photography services in my studio, including sitter sessions, smash cake sessions, back-to-school photos, graduation portraits, family portraits, and seasonal Christmas and Easter sessions.

“I’m excited to help families capture their most precious memories. Each session is a unique and enjoyable experience, resulting in stunning images.”

For more about the services Magdalena provides, and to see a gallery of some of her work, visit her website: www.mbankaphotography.co.uk