Much more a philosophy than simply a business name
Sonder is the realization that every person you encounter has a life as vivid, complicated, and meaningful as your own—full of private joys, struggles, relationships, routines, memories, and dreams.There is so much more to every person than I can see.
Seen notes that I will take the time to see you all – notice the things that get missed. Cherish and capture the things that others want hidden.
Sonder speaks to the depth and complexity of an individual life. Seen speaks to recognition, acceptance, and truly noticing someone as they are.
For many families, especially those with autistic, neurodivergent, or children with support needs, traditional family photos can feel overwhelming. Sonder Seen offers a thoughtful alternative.
Annika’s expertise as a speech-language pathologist, sessions prioritize patience, flexibility, and appreciation for how every child navigates their environment.
With the belief that true beauty lives in authentic interaction, joyful spontaneity, and the quiet details defining your world, Sonder Seen sessions are free from rigid posing or performance pressure. No forced smiles, no expectations, just your family being themselves.
Whether that means taking breaks, enjoying a favorite activity, or simply allowing extra time to get comfortable, there’s room for it all. I believe the most beautiful photographs aren’t always perfectly posed. They’re the ones that capture genuine connections, playful moments, and the personalities that make each family special.
Hi, I’m Annika! I’m a photographer, a speech-language pathologist, and someone who believes every child deserves to feel seen, understood, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
With a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a passion for working with autistic children, I bring a unique perspective to photography. My professional background has taught me that every child communicates, connects, and experiences the world differently. I carry that understanding into every session.
I know that traditional photography sessions aren’t always the best fit for every family. Sitting still, smiling on command, and looking directly at the camera aren’t requirements here. Instead, I focus on creating a comfortable, welcoming environment where children can explore, play, and simply be themselves.
Through Sonder Seen, I combine my love for photography with my experience supporting children and families. My goal isn’t to capture the perfect pose. It’s to document the little moments, genuine connections, and beautiful personalities that make your family yours.
Because every child has a story worth capturing, exactly as they are.
I have always had such a love for photography. But pursued speech therapy, and I never want to quit it. I love it so much. But I also am such a sentimental and capture memory person. And knowing my families have so many expenses, booking $300+ sessions, is not feasible. And not even just the financial component, but that it’s hard to commit to something like that not knowing if their child will be regulated with an unfamiliar, not as patient, or not a support need kids person. Or regulated on that specific day and time. But every minute I spend with my families, I am just in awe of their joy, beauty, light, strength and literally everything. Of the children and their families. And they are so worthy of having their seasons captured too. And because I am fortunate enough to have a full time job, photography gets to be a hobby I’m passionate about. whether they are up for 2 minutes or 40, I will go at their pace. If I need to hide my camera and we just play for a while, we’ll do that! If I need to hop and skip and sing like a silly lady, I’ll do it! So I just hope that you can know in your heart too, that this is just something that I dream about, and all I want is to hold space for my families however that may be.