Today we’d like to introduce you to Elif Karakoc.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in a family of artists, I studied photography at a fine arts academy, and that really shaped how I see images as more than just documentation but as a form of storytelling. After school, college sweetheart – my husband Cihan – and I moved to Los Angeles to pursue our passion together.
We created iki.works, which means “two” in Turkish, because everything we do comes from working as a duo.
Cihan is the technical genius with an incredible eye for detail, and I bring the emotional and artistic side.
Together we’ve built a practice that brings art and commercial photography together.
Our work covers artistic portraits for actors and creatives, interiors for Airbnb and interior designers, for chefs, food and restaurants, and still life for products.
No matter the client, our goal is always to create images that are thoughtful, beautiful, and tells their story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been easy, but I think that’s part of the journey. Moving from Turkey to Los Angeles meant leaving behind everything familiar and starting fresh in a whole new creative scene. It was challenging at first, but it also gave us the chance to figure out who we are and what we really want to create.
On the business side, finding the balance between staying true to our artistic vision and meeting client needs took some figuring out. Over time, we realized that blending art and commercial work is actually our strength, and it’s what makes our projects feel unique.
Looking back, all the challenges taught us resilience and clarity. They’ve helped shape the kind of work we love to do and the creative path we’re building together.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At iki.works, we create photography that feels like art. We believe every subject has a best light to be featured and we’re dedicated to finding it. We focus on atmosphere and composition, controlling natural light to make every image look like an art piece. We pay attention to the smallest details, select color schemes thoughtfully, and craft images that stand out.
We work with interior designers, Airbnb hosts, museums, galleries, music studios to capture and document their unique spaces, artists and actors for their album covers and artistic headshots, restaurants and lifestyle brands for their delicious food and beautiful products and brandings.
We care deeply about every shoot, making each image visually striking and memorable while capturing the true essence of the subject.
Any big plans?
I’m excited to create more album covers and fashion and artistic portraits while continuing to work with interior designers and brands.
I am also providing art prints for collectors so my personal photography can reach people’s homes.
My goal is to keep blending commercial work with fine art to bring more thought, beauty, and impact into the world through every image we create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iki.works
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/iki.works
- Other: https://www.elifkarakoc.us
Image Credits
Elif Karakoc
Cihan Kaymakcalan
Iki.works
