Since 2021, April has been observed as Arab American Heritage Month in the USA. We look at ten Arab American photographers we’ve spoken to in the past couple of years. You’re sure to find more than a handful of amazing stories in this roundup.

Simon Chetrit

He loves taking portraits, and Simon Chetrit finds his love for analog portraiture growing daily. But after the Covid-19 pandemic, he’s taken a stance on creating more empathetic and sincere photos, seeing how the world is getting increasingly polarized. Read more about this in our interview with him.

Amir Saidi

As beautiful as wildlife is in all its colorful glory, there’s a certain majestic charm to seeing them in black and white too. Amir Saidi excels at this and finds this method to be more pure and raw, just the way he sees the animals in front of his lens.

Tamara Hijazi

The pandemic rekindled Tamara’s connection with cameras. She did a series then titled 020-We Didn’t Know which documented the umpteen uncertainties that everyone had during the lockdown. She told us why life felt so bleak back then, even for the most basic human interactions between people in the same household.

Rania Matar

Rania draws on many of her cross-cultural experiences and personal narratives to shape her photography. She often looks to find strength, beauty, resilience, and more in the women she photographs.

Farrah Skeiky

She’s anything but nostalgic, which played a big part in shaping Farrah’s visual style in photography. A few years ago, she released her book Present Tense, which takes a new look at punk, hardcore, and DIY bands in DC.

Nina Ahmadi

While the others on our list enjoy photographing others greatly, Nina Ahmadi finds solace in turning her camera on herself. This is twice as challenging since you need to nail not just the technical aspects but also make sure you’re artistically posing just how your mind perceives the shot.

Tasneem AlSultan

A surprising incident from her youth propelled Tasneem to photograph the lives of the often unnoticed but always hardworking maids, helpers and workers in her home country of Saudi Arabia. She felt it was absolutely necessary to portray them in a dignified manner.

All images are used with permission and are copyrighted by the respective photographers. The lead image is by Tamara Hijazi

Featuring the work of local photographer Ken Jacques, a new photography exhibit, “Chula Vista Legacies,” is on display at the Civic Center Library through Aug. 31, celebrating the diverse people who shaped Chula Vista’s history and culture.

Jacques, a professional photographer of over 40 years, has had his works published in more than 120 countries and in 80 different publications including National Geographic, Time and Newsweek. Jacques has also photographed heads of state, including former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan.

The exhibit features founders of beloved local restaurants like Joaquin and Dolores Farfan of Lolita’s Mexican food, to community leaders like former mayors Greg and Cheryl Cox, offering a glimpse into the city’s past, present, and future through the faces and stories of those who have shaped the city.
“We are thrilled to present this exhibit to the Chula Vista community,” said Principal Librarian and Cultural Arts Manager Erwin Magbanua in a press release. “Through these beautiful photographs of these outstanding Chula Vista trailblazers, we hope to inspire people to explore and appreciate our rich history and diversity and celebrate the legacy of our community leaders who have made Chula Vista the wonderful city it is today.”

Chula Vista Legacies is on display at the Civic Center Library at 365 F St. during normal library hours, and at City Hall, 276 Fourth Ave., Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Both exhibits will be available through Aug. 31. This project was made possible by the City of Chula Vista and the Create Chula Vista Arts Grant.

The Biggs Museum of American Art is hosting a concert photography exhibition and they’re doing it with help from you.

The Biggs recently put out a call to the public to submit their favorite photos from concerts; anything from performers and crowds to venues.

In honor of the museum’s 30th Anniversary, 30 winning photos were chosen and are now on display in the “Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul” exhibit at the Biggs.

For this week’s Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon sat down with Kristen Matulewicz – Director of Education for the Biggs – to learn more about the contest and the winners.

Photographer Matika Wilbur was tired of seeing one-dimensional, insipid, degrading depictions of Native Americans in mainstream media and popular culture. So in 2012, Wilbur, who is of Swinomish and Tulalip descent, decided to create her own catalog of images.

She sold everything in her Seattle apartment and, with Kickstarter backing, headed out on the road, cameras in hand. Her goal: To illustrate Native Americans’ diversity and complexity by photographing members of all of the then-562 federally-recognized U.S. tribes.

Ten years, 600,000 miles, and several vehicles later, Wilbur has published her work – portraits and interviews – in a stunning new book: Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America. Over hundreds of pages, we meet Native elders, rappers, professors, artists, activists, linguists, dancers, ranchers, comedians, and more.

“In a lot of ways, this work is narrative correction work,” Wilbur said. “When I was talking to folks, I was aiming to understand, ‘What are some of the true stories about your people that you want people to know?'”

In her interviews with the people she photographed, they shared stories about the lasting effects of colonization and relocation; about environmental destruction done to Native lands; and about the traumatic experience of those who had been taken from their homes as children and sent to Indian boarding schools to be “assimilated,” forced to give up their language and Native identity.

But along with those painful conversations, Wilbur said, she also heard “the best parts: how we’ve healed from that, and what our people are doing to move forward, and to develop healthy and strong and thriving Indigenous nations.”

Wilbur dedicates Project 562 to her daughter Alma Bee, now three years old, with these words:

May your children
hear and breathe
the words of
our Indigenous ancestors.
May we all be so lucky to
know an Indigenous future.

Photos reprinted with permission from Project 562: Changing The Way We See Native America by Matika Wilbur © 2023. Photographs by Matika Wilbur © 2023. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The interview with Matika Wilbur was produced by Michael Levitt and edited by Justine Kenin.

Brooke Locker may be 10 years old but she has already spent half of her life dedicated to taking photos. For Brooke, photography is a medium that challenges her and sparks her creativity.

Brooke picked up photography at the young age of 5 after being influenced by her mother, Megan Locker, who is also a photographer. At first, she started with playing around with toy cameras in preschool, then that curiosity eventually morphed into using her mother’s old camera from college to take pictures.

The subjects that capture Brooke’s interest the most are plants and wildlife. With wildlife, Brooke said getting up close and personal is where the fun begins for her. She finds the beauty of her subject by shooting with a macro lens.

“I really like to take photos of plants, but wildlife is full of motion. I also love motion as well as macro (lenses).” Brooke said.

“Macro is so fun, because you can get up close and get details. The main thing I love shooting with macro is taking photos of spiders and grasshoppers.”

Through the DeWitt County Shutterbugs Club, Locker has placed first and third in the Youth Junior Division and third in the adult flowers/plants category.

Since Brooke is one of the youngest members in the Shutterbugs, she wants to encourage her peers to pick up photography. With her mother’s help, she created a photo group in 4-H where other kids her age can meet up and share their photography.

As far as her future goes, Brooke wants to mold her passion for animals into being a wildlife biologist, while still using her talent for photography, when she grows up.

Currently her goal for the near future is to become a state photography ambassador for 4-H and teach other about photography.

“I just want to travel all over the world and study different animals,” Brooke said.

Deirdre Schlabs

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• Deidre Schlabs studied marketing at college but turned to photography after graduating in 2020.
• The 26-year-old used Fiverr to make $67,000 in her first year as a freelance product photographer. 
• See the email template Schlabs uses to land clients such as Burt’s Bees and M&M’s.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Deidre Schlabs, a 26-year-old product photographer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Insider has verified her income with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I studied marketing at college and had a marketing job lined up but decided to instead go into freelance product photography after I graduated. I had little to no experience when I started out in 2020. Last year, I made $194,000 and worked with hundreds of brands.

While at college in 2018, I began doing photography work for a jewelry company called M Street Studio. I was completely self-taught in photography. I’d photographed weddings before as a side job but didn’t know anything about photographing products.

I took photos of their products — earrings on a model’s ear — and helped the company make its website. It felt really creative.

About a year later, I also started working for a marketing brand. I worked on its website and social media part time for $1,000 a month. That was from February 2019, alongside my product-photography job, all through college and my MBA. I’d planned on going into marketing when I left college.

I decided to try product photography freelance

When I left college in May 2020, I decided to try out product-photography freelancing. I was scared, but I knew that I could do it.

I started my own company called Fluff Media. The first thing I did was set up a website on Squarespace and design a logo to legitimize my work.

I set up a Fiverr profile in May 2020 offering one service: product photography.

I charged low prices and kept my packages simple

In the beginning, I kept my pricing competitive and straightforward by charging per image.

The most basic image was a photo on a plain, white background for $15. I offered a styled photograph for $35 — a photo with props against a colored background. I had one package for three styled photos and one white background.

To drum up client interest in my listing, I tried to cover what the photos should be used for and brands that I’d worked with. If clients wanted a custom package, I asked them to reach out to me beforehand so we could figure out what they needed. Then I’d send them a custom offer.

I reached out to prospective clients I found on social media

I found clients through Fiverr and social media. I’d search through social media, finding brands online that I wanted to work with. I was looking for lifestyle, health, and wellness clients. I sent my Fiverr listing out to prospective clients. When I emailed them, I’d say:

Hello there!

My name is Deidre Schlabs, I own Fluff Media, a full-service photography agency focusing on editorial and content product photography. You can view my work here: fluffmedia.com.

I came across [company name] on Instagram and fell in love with your [compliment about the brand or why it drew your eye]. I especially admire [something you admire or find interesting]!

I am reaching out to see if you are in need of product photography and/or social media content creation. I know how overwhelming it can be to constantly need new content for social media and ads. My goal is to help my clients by creating images that are unique, impactful, and eye-catching. I would love to partner with you to tell your brand’s story.

Let me know if you would like to schedule a quick call to talk through my process and how I can help you. I am available most mornings!

Clients would ship their products to me to photograph from anywhere in the world. It snowballed, and I’d made $5,000 by the end of June 2020.

I took on any client and paid for my own props

Many clients wanted a custom package. I’d shoot any product, no matter what. If a client wanted a photo of a model holding a product in a gym, for example, I would do that.

When I started out, I’d buy the props from Amazon or Target. I’d ask my friends to model for me, sometimes for free or a lot cheaper than hiring a professional model. More than half of my expenses in 2020 went into investing in the business, such as buying props and equipment. 

I’d photograph products in a studio I hired in downtown Chattanooga because my house was too small. The studio was part of a program for creatives and subsidized.

I asked clients to leave reviews

I asked every client to leave me a review on Fiverr.

If I had a client that was truly unhappy with the photos I’d taken, which was rare, and I’d done everything I could to fix them or reshoot, I’d cancel the order and give them a full refund.

That was better than forcing them to pay, which could prompt them to leave a bad review. Now I have more than 600 five-star reviews.

My reviews speak for my work and attract new clients. I don’t do any marketing. I’m bad at posting on my Instagram account.

By the end of 2020, I’d made $32,300 in revenue on Fiverr and $67,000 in total income from my photography — after expenses, such as materials and renting my studio, which came to about $36,000.

I increased my prices and started charging clients for extras

Within a year, I started getting pickier about the products and clients I took on so I could increase my profitability.

I realized the best fit for me was projects I could shoot in my studio room, where I didn’t have to drive around or install anything. I preferred shooting smaller products so they would fit in front of the backdrops I had.

I focused on beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products that were smaller than 1 foot. I stopped doing anything that required installation, wall or ceiling mounting — or on-location shoots.

And if a brand wanted fresh fruit or flowers in their photos, they’d have to pay for that.

With this more focused approach I grew my income to $77,000 in 2021 on Fiverr, and my net income from photography was $157,000.

I landed campaigns for big brands

I started getting a mix of bigger brand clients and smaller businesses. I’ve worked with Burt’s Bees and DoorDash.

After two years of working in product photography full time, I’d built connections with people working in marketing. A contact referred me to a marketing company that was working on a campaign for M&M’s. It commissioned me in April 2022 to shoot photos for user-generated content and professional photos. It paid $3,500.

I figured a company like M&M’s would have an in-house photographer, but it’s still hiring out freelancers. I shot the UGC on an iPhone in Walgreens and the product shots in my studio.

I love shooting for new, smaller companies and established brands — my client mix is about half and half. But I work with smaller brands more often than big ones. It’s good to have a varied portfolio.

Pursuing my creative passion has changed my life

Last year, I made $62,600 on Fiverr, and my net income was $194,000. I’ve worked with about 800 brands.

Life is so different when you work for yourself. Everything I earn is for me and my business.

I’m having so much fun. I sleep in until 9 a.m. most days and have a slow morning doing some editing. I wait until the afternoon to shoot products — that’s when the light is best.

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Marilyn Nance: Last Day in Lagos by Oluremi C. Onabanjo (co-published by the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) and Fourthwall Books)

In 1977, more than 15,000 artists, intellectuals and performers from 55 nations worldwide gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture. Brooklyn-based photographer Marilyn Nance served as the North American delegation’s photographer, taking more than 1,500 images throughout the course of the festival

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ATTLEBORO — “Night Moves,” a photography series by Bill Clark, is on display through May 31 in the Community Gallery of the Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park St.

“Through an emphasis on the interpretive power of the abstract, my work seeks to tease and engage the viewer’s inner imagination,” Clark said in a news release. “The resulting images are poetic and mysterious landscapes, revealing energetic patterns and delicate details.”

“While seeming to be chaotic at first glance, these prints entice the viewer to draw closer, to investigate the curious elements of the image, to dance with the soothing rhythms of the repetitive lines, and to try and make sense of the puzzling process used to create such a photograph,” AAM says. “All displayed images were captured in a single shot, within a fraction of a second, with minimal adjustments made in the digital darkroom.

“In the dark of night, the shutter is open, and Clark executes rehearsed gestures with the camera in hand. In this way, he uses the camera as his pen and light as ink to make ‘drawings’ of what stands before the lens. This approach is reflective of the Greek word’”photo-graphy,’ meaning “’ight-drawing.’

“The intensity of Clark’s defined movements, carried out within a compressed time period, influences both his creative focus and the emotional impact of the final photograph.”

After a career of working closely with designers, Clark keeps his studio outside of Providence, where he works as a professional photographer and calligrapher. For more information and artworks visit www.billclarkart.com.

The exhibit is free and open to all.

The Community Gallery is located in the lobby of the museum’s Emory Street entrance. Starting this month, exhibitions in the gallery will span two months instead of one.

“A two month long show will allow visitors to spend more time with the works on display and provide an opportunity for the scheduling of special group tours and visits with coinciding exhibits in the main gallery,” said Abby Rovaldi, AAM programs coordinator and Community Gallery curator.

To learn more about exhibition opportunities in the gallery, email office@attleboroartsmuseum.org or call 508-222-2644 x15.

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If you’re a lover of audio, and are often found listening to podcasts or the best audiobook from Amazon, then you might like to hear of a new radio drama called The Art of Seeing. 

This unique radio drama series follows an aspiring photographer, MacKenzie (also known as “Mac”), who is working to reach her dream of becoming a professional photographer.

• The best headphones for video editing are also great for listening to audio!

Follow the entire cast as they each deal with a rollercoaster of career and personal issues, as you explore Mac, and her roommate Kim, who meets Frank, the professional (rather illustrious) photographer who mentors MacKenzie as she works to reach her dream.

Meet Jackson, MacKenzie’s hot boyfriend and part of the Mac / Jax dynamic duo. Jackson (aka Jax) is dealing with his own challenges as he makes his way as an independent filmmaker in a highly competitive field.

But this is not without any drama, as you look out for self-proclaimed photo guru JD who does not like MacKenzie – and deviously tries to destroy her chances at landing future work or new clients.

This new radio drama is the brainchild of Lee Love, a veteran commercial photographer, artistic director, and beloved photography mentor, who is introducing a groundbreaking approach to educating new photographers.

Love’s innovative approach to photography education, based on his original STEP Methodology (“see, tell, expose, process”), sets him apart in an industry still relying on old-school mechanics. 

The Art of Seeing combines a compelling drama with real-life-like adventures, depicting story situations that resonate with aspiring photographers. The experience, enhanced with integrated artificial intelligence technology, delivers a truly unique and engaging educational experience.

“This creative production is truly one-of-a-kind,” says Love. “Photography education doesn’t have to be boring or dry. With The Art of Seeing, we’re bringing together the power of storytelling, the struggles that many new photographers face and cutting-edge AI technology to create an educational experience like no other.”

If you would like to listen to Episode 1 – The Portfolio (opens in new tab) sit back and relax for over 10 minutes to this new and thrilling photographic drama.

You might also be interested in the best podcasts for photographers, as well as the top photography films and best TV shows about photography.