For this project, I collaborated with the City of Lahti to document Under the Cherry Trees (Kirsikkapuiden Alla), a community event celebrating culture, creativity, and connection in Lahti, Finland. What began as an opportunity to photograph the event quickly evolved into creating a complete visual story on behalf of the organizers and the city.

My objective was to capture the event as it naturally unfolded. Rather than staging photographs, I focused on authentic moments between visitors, performers, volunteers, and local organizations, documenting the atmosphere through a documentary-style approach that emphasized emotion, interaction, and community.

Throughout the day, I photographed workshops, live performances, family activities, cultural demonstrations, and spontaneous moments that reflected the event's welcoming character. The goal was to create imagery that could be used across digital platforms while preserving the genuine experience of attending the festival.

The photographs were positively received by both the organizers and attendees, with several images shared by the City of Lahti to promote the event and celebrate community participation. The project reinforced my passion for documentary photography and visual storytelling, demonstrating how authentic imagery can help organizations communicate the spirit of an event.

EVENT: UNDER THE CHERRY TREES

DATE: MAY 9TH, 2026