Daily Inspiration: Meet Leila Keftaro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leila Keftaro.

Hi Leila, 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 picked up photography in 2020 after one of my friends Eduarda let me borrow her dad’s mini Nikon. I started teaching myself how to shoot in manual mode and different framing angles. Coincidentally, about a month later, my sister’s ex-boyfriend gave me his old Canon Rebel T5i, and that became the camera that started it all.
In the beginning, I was taking simple photos of my friends in grass fields, doing after-school photoshoots, and photographing little moments during hangouts. I was mostly experimenting and learning as I went.
In 2022, I started experimenting with on-camera flash and began figuring out what kind of photography style I wanted to create. I was becoming more intentional with my images and learning how lighting could completely change the mood of a photo.
In 2023, I got my first off-camera strobe light. That opened up an entirely new world for me. I started going to different events around LA, photographing Halloween parties, and putting myself out there as much as possible. I made it a point to meet new people and take every opportunity I could to grow, even when I didn’t know exactly where it would lead.
2024 was the year I officially started charging for my shoots. I was still figuring out my pricing and learning what it meant to treat photography like a business. That same year, I traveled to New York Fashion Week by myself, which was a huge accomplishment for me and something I had always dreamed of doing. I didn’t really have a plan going into it, but somehow everything fell into place. I met so many amazing people, made new connections, and fell even more in love with New York. This was also the year I met my boyfriend, Kris, but I’ll talk about that more later.
In 2025, I started learning studio photography. I had always been intimidated by studio work because I didn’t know where to begin when it came to lighting. Kris taught me the basics, and I quickly realized that studio photography was intimidating, but not scary at all. Since then, it has become one of my favorite ways to shoot because of how much versatility and creativity it allows.
That same year, I did the pool shoot, one of the first shoots I had worked on involving seven people, three strobe lights, and direct sunlight. It challenged me in so many ways and taught me more about lighting, directing, and working with a team.
Looking back, every year has been a new chapter and a learning process. In 2026, I made another big step by investing in a new Sony camera. Switching systems felt like a big change, but it also felt like a reflection of how much I’ve grown since I first picked up that Canon.
This year has been so much fun and just felt like I’ve lived a new life every month. I finally have an idea of what my prices should look like, I worked on my first set for V Magazine helping with lighting, and I photographed my first wedding. It feels like I’ve been surrounded by opportunities that I once could only hope for, and I’m incredibly grateful that I’m able to call photography my job.
What started off as borrowing a camera and taking pictures of my friends for fun has turned into something I genuinely love and get to build a career around. I’m excited to see where it takes me next.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle I’ve had so far has been learning how to show up for myself every day and reminding myself that this isn’t just a job it’s a dream that I get to make a reality, as corny as that might sound.
Being a photographer today also means being present on social media. Posting my work, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, and putting myself out there are all important parts of growing my career. At times, it can feel like I’m not only a photographer, but also a content creator. Finding the balance between creating content for the sake of engagement and creating work that genuinely represents me has been something I’ve had to learn along the way.
I’m still figuring out how to share my work in a way that feels authentic while also keeping people engaged and interested in what I do. One person who has helped me tremendously with finding that balance is Gabriel Perez Silva. His guidance and perspective have helped me understand how to approach both the creative and business sides of photography without losing sight of why I started in the first place.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I get a lot of inspiration from traveling, movies, music videos, and Pinterest. I specialize in editorial/creative photography. I’m most proud of the projects that I’ve directed and brought together from scratch or with other MUA and stylists! I think what sets me apart from others is my perspective on where I take my lens and how I treat that as my eye and not another object.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my earliest and favorite memories as a child was living in Syria with my family. Me and my baba would wake up at sunrise make tea and get cookies from the pantry, sit outside on the balcony and just sit and watch. It was one of the most at piece moments I’ve ever felt.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keftarol.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leila_keftaro/
• Other: Tiktok- Leila_keftaro

Image Credits
@nowlifeislivingyou took the personal photo