Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Dixon.
Hi Ariana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2014, I graduated from college with B.S. in Advertising. It was only in my final year of school that I realized this was not the career path I ever truly wanted. Weirdly, I was instantly ready to start over – with no regrets of spending the last four years of my life earning that degree.
By 2015, I moved from Florida to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC. I did not know a single soul – nor did I have a job lined up for myself when I arrived. I really wanted to start on a blank canvas.
After a couple of weeks, I landed a barista job at a local coffee shop, Odds Cafe. I moved in with three strangers and spent the majority of my time cutting images from National Geographic magazines and creating surreal-based paper collages. It was a creative escape / soothing process as I was adjusting to my new home.
After a few months, I was encouraged by friends to share my collages on social media. Reluctantly, I did – and figured, “why not?” The feedback I got was surprising. People really loved what I was creating. Flash forward a few months and I soon was selling my collages at art shows and was even commissioned by many folks in the music industry to create album artwork, poster art, etc. I was blown away at how something so near and dear to me had become a mini business. It was awesome.
Fast forward almost two years later – I was house-sitting for a friend of mine – who happened to be a photographer – had a photo studio set up in his home. I invited my friend Mary over and we indulged in snapping self-portraits with our cell phones. It was this very experience that I realized how exhilarating it felt to go through that whole process of a shoot. From concept planning, the look, the hair, the emotion, the posing, editing the photos – all of it. I was absolutely captivated.
I decided to pull the trigger after that night and bought myself a nice pricey DSLR camera. I was nervous that I had just made an impulse buy, but something in me said, “It would be a mistake if you DIDN’T buy this camera”. It felt essential. A part of me understood my attraction to photography. For years I had been looking at the incredible photos of other photographers in the books and magazines I’d been making my collages with. I always had thoughts like, “I wish I could take a photo like that.”
It has been four years now that I have been faithfully studying, practicing, and adoring being a photographer. Naturally, I am drawn to shooting portraits that are heavily narrative and emotionally based. I see my practice as part making art and part running a business.
I want everyone involved; the models, the viewers, etc. to experience a sense of uncanniness from my work – I want my photos to feel strange and mysterious, but also somewhat nostalgic, as if you recognize a sensation in the body that the photo evokes.
I do see myself falling in love with short films as well. I think we can expect to see short film making from me on the horizon. But ultimately, I see my work evolving just as I see my own evolution as a human – ever-changing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think as creators a constant struggle is what we call “imposter syndrome”. Where I feel like, “well who I am to call myself a professional photographer?” ” Who am I to say I ‘make art’?”
I would say that is a tough challenge to deal with. And it’s all mental. A part of me absolutely feels the pain of that but another part of me tries to use that as fuel to prove those doubts wrong more and more every day. And proving that to myself means putting in the hours, putting in the work. Whether the output is good or bad.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer. I specialize in creatively styled portraits.
I’m most proud of the experiences I’ve had getting to know my subjects and making them feel seen.
I feel what sets me apart is that when you shoot with me, we are agreeing to enter a meditative space together. And for my viewers- I want my shoots to open you up and set you free, even if it’s just for a moment.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the variety of nature that is near LA – beaches, mountains, desert. I love the diverse pool of cultures. I love that there is a place for everyone here.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.arianadixon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p_a_c_t_/
