Conversations with Anaiah Simons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anaiah Simons.

Hi Anaiah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Redlands, CA, where I grew up doing community theatre, dance, choir, and piano. I also dabbled in some print and commercial work in elementary/middle school and was skipping class to come to LA for auditions pretty often. Fast forward, I graduate high school and move to LA in 2013 to pursue dance. I got my BFA in dance theatre from AMDA LA in 2016 and have been living in the area since. To be super transparent, I was a bit burnt out from college and the insane cattle call auditions I was attending. This caused me to take a step away from the dance industry. I spontaneously decided to take a new path towards Photography. I’d always been interested in it but never thought of it more than a hobby. Once I started playing around with my mom’s old DSLR camera, I quickly realized I really enjoyed shooting and that I had a pretty good eye for it. From then on, I’ve been consistently shooting and creating with fellow artists along the way, and it’s been a blast! 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
To be honest, I have always been blessed with so many opportunities. My life seems to be laid out in front of me, and it’s up to me to take it as I will. Because of this, I have always had many interests and have found myself becoming a jack of all trades. This is a blessing and a curse because I am gifted in many avenues but don’t truly have one big goal I am trying to achieve besides living in my purpose. Most people advise me to just choose one lane but I’m not sure I belong in any one lane forever. I have gained experience in so many parts of the industry, which has been extremely helpful for navigating through LA life in general. After living here for 10 years, I have grown the most as a human. My time here has been worth it for that aspect alone. I look forward to what the future holds and what God has in store for me. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to say that I am a creative portrait photographer. I add the word creative because I think I specialize in capturing people’s essence in an artistic way. I enjoy collaborating with fellow artists because we can create together while simultaneously inspiring each other, which leads to capturing a moment that can’t be recreated. I am proud of the ability to help people feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. It is so important to feel safe in the space and it can feel uncomfortable if you don’t do it often. This fosters a very conducive environment for a free-flowing and fun-loving photoshoot, and who doesn’t want that? 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I have been told my energy is very warm and calm and I think people can tell from pretty early on that I am a grounded and trustworthy person. This has helped me create lasting impressions and relationships with people I come in contact with. An honest and genuine interaction can last a lifetime and has come back to bless me over and over again. Mutual respect and kindness can go a long way and as long as there is an understanding there, you don’t have to worry about me changing pace. I do my best to enter every space with my best foot forward and a smile on my face, and I think that has really served me in the long run. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.papayashotthis.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papayashotthis

Image Credits
Jimee S
Anaiah Simons