Today we’d like to introduce you to Giovanna Azevedo
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?
I was born and raised in Brazil. I moved to the United States in high school and, due to my passion for music, I went into the entertainment industry at the age of 19. I originally worked on the administrative side of entertainment, managing musicians. Eventually, I decided to take a break to pursue my passion for art, which led me to ask Shepard Fairey for an internship. The rest is history. Since then, I have leveraged my contacts as an artist manager for the benefit of my career, but mastering the ability to capture what my eye wanted to see required a much longer and more significant commitment. I spent almost a decade developing my craft in different mediums, predominantly photography.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My road has had a level of intensity I don’t wish on others, I arrived as an undocumented immigrant and didn’t get my work permit until 2022. I recently found a journal entry from shortly after receiving my work permit where I wrote, “I am so scared, it’s not safe to be happy.” This reflected the profound fear and exhaustion I endured due to political unrest and years of living in constant uncertainty. As an undocumented immigrant, I faced abuse and had to work four times harder than my peers to achieve a fraction of the fruit of my labors. Anyone with intimate knowledge of a documented immigrant is aware of the mental exhaustion that it creates, I was a target.
However, anyone who knows a commercial artist — which I classify the artists who support themselves through their work — understands that it requires immense luck, effort, commitment, and connections. Somehow, I felt that being undocumented wasn’t challenging enough, as I refused to let it deter me from pursuing my career as a commercial artist.
In between being undocumented, and pursuing a career as an artist in entertainment – I had my journey laid out for me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a commercial photographer, I shoot for clients ranging from music labels, production companies, multi-national fashion brands, and celebrities. I am known for my ability to set my clients at ease, after working with mostly male musicians whom tend to be more reserved. By setting people at ease in my unique way, I am able to both capture a character and the person they’re hiding.
I am the most proud of my non-profit-related work. Over the past 7 years I have worked with children undergoing cancer treatment and in different grades teaching photography. Giving someone the tools to illustrate their own journey is one of the most powerful gifts a human can have access to. I pride myself in being the person I wanted to be growing up.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think that when it comes to photography, we will see many trends recycle while the technology aspect will take off in ways we did not imagine. The capabilities of cameras and editing platforms these days are incredibly impressive. Additionally, when it comes to intellectual property we will see cases that set the precedent for the next twenty years of media production as a whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.giaazevedo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulistamonalisa_
Image Credits
Image credit for images of me:
Jessica Charria
