Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadira F.
Hi Nadira, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Photography has been part of my life since I was very young. I remember going around town using disposable cameras to capture the beautiful scenery presented in Rome. It all started off as a way to pass time, but then through the years I let the bountiful river of creativity float me through a variety of artistic endeavors. From photography to graphic design, to painting to sewing: I tried to do it all. Then, when I was around 13-14, I saved up enough money (babysitting for family friends and cleaning up my grandma’s yard) to buy my first camera. Nikon D3000. I remember giving the cashier all that money and thinking “this passion will be worth it in the end” and.. ironically, I am still hoping it will. Years and countless makeshift photoshoots later, I finally decided to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in photojournalism. The program allowed me to not only learn about the technical portion of cameras but it also taught me how to train my eye for details that I would not otherwise see. But that was not enough. I had to find a way to combine my passion and a potential career, and sadly, I found (in my personal experience) that a Bachelor’s Degree was not enough to allow me to reach the version of myself that I had envisioned for years. Therefore, I am currently about to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management with an emphasis is Marketing, which to be quite frank, sounds a lot fancier than it is.
I would love to combine my love for photography and digital work with my growing interest for marketing and potentially get into the advertising industry. My goal is to create a diverse outlook on fashion advertising and media in general.
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?
Being an international student in the United States had not been the easiest task. Apart from all of the paperwork and regulations to be followed, most industries do not see OPT or F1 visa holders as potential candidates. Unfortunately, after getting my first degree, I was able to land a lot of interviews (all which seemed very excited to work with me) but always got rejected after mentioning my visa status.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a digital artist, I create anything that I feel would impact the viewer. Most of my work revolves around fashion photography and its usage to portray a certain period of time or a certain emotion.
I create surreal pieces in which the model serves as a means to connect the viewer’s mind and mine. Most of the time, I like to leave the pieces untitled, to leave a pathway for the viewer to create their own meaning. By doing so, I have gotten to know a lot of my close friends and acquaintances a lot better. Sometimes I ask questions like “if you could describe it to someone who is visually impaired, how would you describe it?” which allows me to gain a full perspective on how my art affects others.
Through the years, I have grown to be proud of my eye for detail and my ability to make the subject feel at ease while photographing them.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would love to thank Salvador D’Alí for creating such moving pieces as they have allowed me to explore my own mind through the usage of colors, surreal figures and movement. It comes without saying that I thank my parents for supporting me through my creative endeavors. Even though they might not understand all of it, their simple “mmh, bella” to my photos makes me feel understood. I know that one day they will look at what I am or will create and understand that my pieces are a mere spec of what they have taught me.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.designwithnadira.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nadira.psd
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nadira.psd?lang=en
Image Credits:
All photo, styling and make up credit to @nadira.psd Make up credit (for the photo with AUG 11 on and the other photo on white background with the twins modeling on boxes) Itze De Jesus
