Meet Zara Alina ( Zara Aleksanyan-Stavrou)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zara Alina ( Zara Aleksanyan-Stavrou).

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia and moved to Los Angeles with my family in 2001. I grew up in a creative household and I knew that I’d be pursuing a career that fulfills me and feeds my soul. I played around with acting, interior design and fine art in high school and college but my passion for photography always stood out. After developing an interest in photojournalism, I earned a BA and dedicated myself to learning and growing as a photographer.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve definitely had some challenges since moving to America. I had to adapt to a whole new life that I had no idea how to navigate. I didn’t speak English when I started high school and experienced a huge culture shock so the time most people reminisce about is somewhat of a blur for me. I wanted to learn and experience a lot of things at once and struggled to focus on what path to take. When I finally settled on my career path, I still had to keep a day job (or several) while in school and after since it took a while before photography could become my main source of income. So, just like most creative fields and freelance work, it is a roller coaster but it’s a really fun one.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a photographer specializing in creative portraits and events. I photograph actors, models, artists, entrepreneurs, families, content for brands and businesses and various events. Because of my training as a photojournalist, I focus on capturing the right moments quickly and skillfully. And because of my love of fine art, I try to incorporate creative elements into everything I shoot. I am an admirer of “straight photography” and try to create beautiful images in the camera without relying too much on post-production.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I had the pleasure of photographing Dr. Dre and his family at his mother’s home. Proudest moment so far because of the intimate nature of the shoot and also, I’m a huge fan!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ZaraAlina.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaraalinaphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zaraalinaphoto/

Image Credit:
Kimberley Wintle, Stephanie Daneilson, Valentina Izumi, Lunautics, The Greystone Mansion, The Good Foundation

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