Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezzah Rafique.
Hi Ezzah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In May of 2020, I was looking for a platform in which I could submit my photography pieces to be published. While I tried to submit my photos to Vogue’s submission platform, PhotoVogue, I was unable to properly send my photos through as the website kept crashing until the submission platform closed. I was extremely upset by this but instead of sulking about it, I went online to find different companies that would provide me with experience and publish my photos.
After about a month, I could not find a single place that fit what I was looking for, so I thought to myself, “let me just solve my own problem.” I texted my cousin the initial idea of creating a digital magazine at 5:52 pm and instantly got a text saying, “Yes yes yes, I’ll be your first subscriber.” After countless sleepless nights and figuring out how to start a company in the first place, I launched ORENDA MEDIA in August at the age of 17. I took my small digital magazine idea and turned it into a digital media company with the aim to create a platform for creatives to share their work and gain experience in the media industry. I began marketing my company on TikTok and posted videos asking Creatives to submit their work for a chance to be published. In the first few weeks, I got nothing. Then right at the beginning of August, one of the videos I posted got a couple of hundred views, and then the next got more, and then finally one ended up receiving the attention of thousands of people & within the second week of August, I had over 150 submissions from people across the globe. Orenda Media Hazze Media
In early 2021, ORENDA MEDIA launched a podcast network dedicated to exploring diverse narratives of people who have changed the world and their own lives and is now working on developing a podcast network with shows that dive into topics of personal growth true crime, and being a first-generation American. In April of 2021, I made the ultimate decision to rebrand. Formerly known as ORENDA MEDIA, Hazze Media now fully operates as of June of 2021. In HAZZE MEDIA, our team is made up of over 50 talented photographers, artists, journalists, and many more creative-minded individuals. HAZZE Magazine, formerly ORENDA Magazine, has been sold across the globe from North America to New Zealand with team members from seven different countries. I’m so eternally grateful for the memories I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learned through this process, and the people I’ve met from HAZZE MEDIA and I look forward to creating an environment where people can share their stories and expand their portfolio. For our future projects, HAZZE MEDIA plans on releasing monthly editorial magazines and growing our podcast network.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When I created my media company, there were a lot of issues I ran into. Some of them include the fact that I was taking rigorous summer classes and was a full-time student so balancing school, social, and home life became difficult at times. Another issue was figuring out the logistical aspect including shipping, book-keeping, developing a website, and finding the right people to help me. Rebranding from ORENDA MEDIA to HAZZE MEDIA was one of the biggest challenges because I had to make the ultimate decision to change the business name. Although I love the meaning behind Orenda, I learned earlier this year that it was not appropriate to use while conducting business as it is sacred to the Haudenosaunee people. Finding a new name took a lot of thought for me but I fell in love with Hazze (pronounced “haze” or “haye-z”) because it’s actually my name backwards! The process of rebranding itself was not entirely difficult for me because I already learned how to deal with the logistics.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
HAZZE Magazine is an editorial magazine that we release monthly with set themes so that Creatives (photographers, artists, journalists, videographers, illustrators, etc.) can submit to and push themselves out of their comfort zone to try to create work based on the set themes we provide. Anyone above the age of 17 is able to submit to the magazine via Kavyar (kavyar.com/hazze-magazine) following the set theme. Our previous set themes include “Reverie,” “Kalon,” “The Influence of Music,” etc.
We also have podcasts! HAZZE MEDIA produces podcasts surrounding inspirational individuals, personal growth, true crime, and being a first-generation American. HAZZE MEDIA is known to promote individuality within digital creations, aiming to bring a new wave of digital expressiveness.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’m an 18-year-old photographer from Southlake, Texas, and a freshman at the University of Texas in Austin! I do creative and fashion photographer and love working with talented creatives from the area to put together conceptual shoots, which I normally would include in HAZZE Magazine to give the people I collaborate with a chance to be published and put in their portfolio. I love volunteering, meeting new people, and photography.
Contact Info:
- Email: hazzemediainfo@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.hazzemedia.com/, https://kavyar.com/dkqie6vatyls
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazzemedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hazzemedia/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/hazzemedia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGWSRnptK4qJ9k0UfcH3y0A
Image Credits
Girl with disco ball: Orchee Sorker, Girl with guitar: Samantha Billotte, All other photos: Ezzah Rafique
