In this powerful episode of The Nerdy Photographer Podcast, we sit down with documentary filmmaker Ilie Mitaru to discuss his deeply moving film First Frames. The documentary follows the journey of photographer and refugee Serbest Salih who travels to refugee camps to teach children the basics of photography—giving them not just a creative outlet, but a voice. For children facing the trauma of displacement, disrupted education, and overwhelming anxiety, the camera becomes more than a tool—it becomes a lifeline.
Ilie shares the inspiration behind the film and what drew him to this story. The idea that something as simple as a camera could provide emotional relief and empowerment was a concept he found both beautiful and necessary. As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that photography offers these children a way to process their experiences, to document their world on their own terms, and to feel seen in a life where invisibility often feels like the norm.
We discuss the careful balance required to tell these stories truthfully and respectfully, and how the project reinforced Ilie's belief in the transformative power of storytelling. The children’s photos are not just snapshots—they are declarations of identity, resilience, and hope.
This episode is a poignant reminder of photography’s ability to do more than capture beautiful images. It can heal. It can educate. It can empower. Whether you're a professional photographer or someone who simply loves the art form, First Frames is a story that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Tune in to hear how one filmmaker is documenting the intersection of creativity, compassion, and global impact—one frame at a time.
Watch the Film Here - https://nerdyphotographer.com/podcast/147-first-frames-giving-refugee-children-artistic-voice/
Contribute to Serbest's photo organization - https://www.fotohane.org/
This episode contains promos for the following:
Want to help The Nerdy Photographer Podcast? Here are a few simple (and mostly free) ways you can do that:
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com