For photographer Dunja Opalko and DJ Doron Erez, creativity comes naturally. It’s in the way they work, the way they live, and the way they’re raising their daughter, Yael, in a home filled with records, cameras, and an ever-present curiosity about the world. Based in North West London, the couple has built their careers around their passions — Dunja in photography, working with clients like Monocle and Hauser & Wirth, and Doron in music, running Batov Records and DJing at London’s venues including Brilliant Corners and Spiritland, and hosts a bi-weekly radio show on Soho Radio.
Their story began in 2012, not in a studio or behind a DJ booth, but on the shared balcony of their neighbouring flatshares. What started as a chance encounter soon became a life intertwined; one that now balances art, music, and the unpredictability of parenthood. Over a decade later, their creative worlds continue to evolve, shaped not just by their work but by the experience of raising a child in an environment where imagination comes first.
Dunja, you’ve been working on a project called Creative Mothers. How has your experience as a mother influenced the project’s goals and themes?
When I recently won the Portrait of Britain award, we took a trip around London to share the displayed winning portrait with Yael. I told her that she’s the reason I started ‘Creative Mothers,’ and that I’m so grateful to her for inspiring it. Becoming a mother during Covid was a tough experience, and not being able to do the work I love on top of that made it even harder. Motherhood shifted everything in my life, from the small details to the bigger picture.
I realised how challenging yet rewarding it is to raise a child while working for myself, and I felt the need to connect with other women navigating similar experiences. I started by reaching out to friends and colleagues like Ola O. Smit and Lauren Wood, and then to others whose work I also admire, such as Laxmi Hussain, Alice Vincent, Charlotte Jansen, and Zoe Chan. My daughter has opened a whole new world to me, both personally and professionally. It’s been a meaningful journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.
Has becoming parents changed the way you approach your work, and have you discovered new inspirations or shifts in your creative process?
We always prioritise what’s best for our family. As a team, we make decisions that feel right for all three of us. Our perspective on time has changed significantly, and we often wonder how we spent our time before becoming parents! As a result, we’ve become much more efficient with our work, which allows us to prioritise and move things forward faster than we might have otherwise. It might sound cliché, but having a child really does change the way we see the world. It offers a fresh perspective on many things and reinforces our priorities and values, which in turn influence both our work and how we interact with others.
Both DJing and photography are about being in the moment. Do you think those skills have shaped the way you notice and treasure your daughter’s milestones?
As a DJ, you have to be in the moment to read the room, and as a photographer, capturing a moment is everything. As parents, we’re switched on 24/7, and being fully present becomes second nature. We cherish every single moment with Yael, and we’re incredibly grateful that our work allows us to both be so present in her life.
Your work involves such tactile tools—turntables, records, cameras, and lenses. Do you think this might inspire your daughter to be more hands-on and curious about the world around her in an increasingly digital age?
We both grew up without social media, so we’re mindful of technology, especially phones. While we see the benefits of staying connected with friends and family, we want to delay Yael’s use for as long as possible, which is why she doesn’t use our devices and we’re mindful with them around her. We secretly hope that by the time she’s a teenager, social media as we know it now will be something of the past. We try to stick to more analogue, slow-paced tools. For example, Yael loves using my Fuji X100VI and gets excited to direct us when taking photos. The way she frames things reminds me of myself at her age.
Our primary way of listening to music is through Doron’s vast record collection, which has been her way of listening to music since birth. She even has her own collection now, filled with soundtracks like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book, and many others of which Doron and I grew up listening to. However, her most favourite records are by Khruangbin, Sofi Tukker, Azimuth and Vince Guaraldi.
Dunja, your work often focuses on capturing the mood of the moment. Do you find yourself documenting your own family life, or do you keep that separate from your professional work?
I’ve always been someone who documents the world around me. As a teenager, I was the one bringing my camera and rolls of film to summer camp. Capturing moments daily has always come naturally to me, and I find it beautiful to look back on those memories. Documenting what I observe on location and in people is a key part of my professional work, so that intuitive approach seamlessly connects with what I do.
Doron, music offers such a meaningful way to tell stories. How do you share your love of music with your daughter? Is there a song or moment that’s become special for your family?
There’s always a record spinning on the turntable in our house. I listen to music from all different genres from Jazz to Global Funk and that’s what Yael is used to. My dad is a singer, and the most meaningful moments are when we listen to the songs he used to sing when I was a kid.
What’s one thing you hope your daughter will take away from growing up in a creative household?
We both follow our passions, and we hope Yael will always remember to pursue what truly feels right for her. Creativity is fluid, and we want her to understand that it sometimes takes a few attempts to reach her goals, and to trust that things will fall into place in the end.
“Listening to instincts is a big part of the creative process, so we encourage her to apply that in all areas of life.”
What do you believe are the most valuable tools or environments for nurturing a child’s creativity — whether that’s through everyday activities, cultural experiences, or specific places and products that have inspired your daughter?
Yael loves to draw and listen to music, so we make sure she has the freedom to do that whenever she can. We’re grateful to live in a city that offers so many cultural experiences for children. Our favourites include museums like the Tate Modern and the Natural History Museum, theatre performances, and browsing record shops, all of which we enjoy exploring together.
A huge thanks to Dunja and Doron for getting involved in this article. At Creative Parent, we’re endlessly inspired by people who bring creativity, care, and imagination into childhood. Your work reminds us how powerful that blend can be. If you enjoyed this conversation, stay tuned for more interviews with makers, thinkers, and doers shaping the future of parenting and play.
