In front of a full room of guests, Karolina introduced the Kinder World concept and its collaborative approach, which will involve a range of local artists working together to create 12 fairytale images.
The images,which will take a couple of years to produce, will convey the imaginary world of a child.
Once completed, the final works will be used to create a calendar, albums and single prints, which will be sold to raise funds to support local schools to help children with special needs.
Karolina, who is known for shooting head-turning personal, fashion and commercial portraits, started the project to support children like her son Mat, 9, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2012.
"Kids like my Mat have individual requirements and needs and funding and resources for these children in schools are woefully inadequate.
"Schools do what they can to support our children's needs on very low funding.
"With a bit more help they could do so much more."
The Kinder World project is creating a backbone to support children who are defying the impossible.
"I believe that with further support our children can grow into independent adults, who can give back to their community in many ways."
Diagnosed at four years old on his family's move to New Zealand from Poland, Mat understands the world more easily through images.
"Words and language are something abstract to him, so we started to communicate using visual images.
"Since then, I totally fell in love with photography."
A self-taught photographer, Karolina joined the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography in 2015.
Not long after, she gained accreditation through the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP) and was awarded a Master of Photography, with 12 of her 13 images awarded.
This year, some of the images received silver and silver with distinction at NZIPP's Iris Awards.
Her latest project, which has been supported by Kate Hartmann of Tutere Gallery in Waikanae Beach, with Toi Kapiti artists, received assistance from local graphic designer Catherine Adam, who designed the logo and George Rybin from Webcorner, who helped with the website.
Now, Karolina is looking for support from local businesses and the community, including a voluntary project manager.
"We'd like to make all our props and costumes with collaboration with local artists and use things we can get through donation, such as wood, paper, paint and fabric."
According to Karolina, her images are "a bit like paints with an old look in them...and an editorial approach that creates timeless, luminous and cinematic images".
"My passion for photography has become a creative outlet and a way for me to tell stories."
¦For more information on the Kinder World Project find Kinder World Kapiti on Facebook or visit www.kinderworld.org.nz
