Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Kaheh.
Ali, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Photography has always been the art form I felt most connected to, even from a young age. Unfortunately, there weren’t any photography classes offered while growing up, so it remained a quiet interest more than anything.
It wasn’t until the pandemic, when I had a lot of time on my hands, that I fell into the rabbit hole. I nonstop consumed the art: watching videos, reading about, and of course looking at photos. Just becoming immersed in photography.
Once I was able to back to school, I thought I should just give it a shot. I immediately applied for upper level art courses, which was way outside my comfort zone. This class ended up really pushing me, and actually made me fall even more in love with photography. I really wanted the freedom to explore this medium, and thankfully I could do that here. I started playing with self-portraits, lighting and editing techniques. By the end of the year, I realized that this is what I wanted to do
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a creative, one of the hardest challenges I’m still learning to battle is imposter syndrome. It’s incredibly easy to start questioning yourself. Wondering if your work is “enough”, or if this path truly the one for you. I’ve definitely had moments where I feel stuck, comparing myself to those who have inspired me. In creative spaces, these comparisons can become almost second nature.
But I’ve started to realize that if I let those thoughts get the better of me or slow me down, I’ll never reach the level I want to be at. Now, when those feelings arise, I remind myself how much I’ve grown, how far I’ve come, and how much further I will go. One of the beautiful things about admiring people who have already reached the top, is that they can show you things you couldn’t know. There is so much learning to be done just by observing, with intent of course.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer who specializes in portraiture, though I occasionally dip into filmmaking too. My work leans for more stylized looks, with dark and moody atmospheres that have bold pops of color. I always come back to those high contrast looks where color can really dominate the scene, and I think that’s both what I’m known for and what sets me apart.
I’m proud in how I’ve been able to build a body of work that I am actually excited to create, and it’s rewarding to see others interest in what I will make.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a kid, I was incredibly playful and imaginative. Most of my time was spent outdoors with a lightsaber or in a Spider-Man costume, and I spent countless hours reenacting scenes from those films with friends.
As I got a little bit older and people were going outside less, I started to play video games. What I found so amazing about them was their ability to just instantly transport you to another world. So in one form or another, stories and fantasies are what totally grabbed me.
Looking back, I think what always captivated me was the power of storytelling and fantasy. That sense of wonder never really left. Even now in my creative work, there are influences of those inspirations and moments of something otherworldly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alikphotos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali_k.pic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Alikphoto
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ali_k.pic
