Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Arseven.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a little kid growing up – I had interest in a lot of things! During my teenage years, I was interested in fashion and I’d sketch designs during class (oops!). At some point, I wanted to be a vet, a doctor, an architect… But my life took me somewhere completely different!
After I graduated from high school, I met a very famous photographer in my area. He was the one to first influence me about photography.
Before I was able to call myself “a photographer”, I read so many books about photography, light and different techniques. I was a full-time learner! And within two years, I was one of the well-known photographers in Turkey. I have no idea how that happened – but it did. I guess we can call it “passion”.
Oh yeah – I lived in Ankara, Turkey for a total of 20 years. I was born and raised in California but you know – when you’re 7 years old, nobody will bother asking you if you’d like to move to another country or not! My parents decided to move back to Turkey and we lived there for a while. Then we moved back to California with my father, but then we had to go back to Turkey due to his cancer. I started my adulthood in Ankara, fell in love with photography – and built my entire life on it. Now, I’m not going to get into the political details – but things started to get harder for “people like me” over the years.
Some may disagree, but I’m one of those stubborn people that’ll keep doing whatever I want to do and if things are going in a direction I don’t like (hint – political ongoing in Turkey!) I have no fear of selling all my belongings, packing a single luggage of clothes, getting an airline approved carrier for my cat (She’s one lucky kitty!) and move across the world in less than a year! Yes – that happened, and everyone who knew me or newly met me here thought I was crazy. Within a few weeks, I thought I made a terrible mistake by moving to a new city, new state – where I was “NOBODY”. I only trusted my portfolio and my skills – but forgot the fact that photography was a profession that brings in the money with a network (which I didn’t have at the time!). It was a hard “first six-months”.
But I made it! I’m still here! And I could not be happier with the direction I’m going right now!
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all! To begin with, art is not always appreciated. To some people, we just push a button and that is it. I wish! It took a lot of effort and hard work thru out this past ten years to learn what I know today – either if it’s light, marketing, customer service or business management!
As I mentioned before, things got a little weird in Turkiye, especially after the Gezi Park protests in 2013. For some reason, I always stick out like a sore thumb! 🙂 I’m not going to lie – because I have no sympathy for the current government of Turkey who has been ruining the country for over 12 years now, I did fear my life would be affected sooner or later. It only took a bottle of bourbon and some courage to decide to leave everything and everyone behind and start over fresh! That was the last time I ever had bourbon though – I’m afraid next time I might try to fly away to the moon because of all the hate people carry in their heart!
My biggest challenge here was networking. I don’t like to pass out business cards and hope for the best. I’m a people person and I like to get to know people and THAT TAKES TIME! It’s almost my 3rd year here and I’m finally doing ok! 🙂
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Tara Arseven Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Everything photography! I started out with photographing musicians and models in Turkiye. I also loved creating emotional fine-art portraits just for my own desire! Then one day one of my friends asked me if I can photograph her brother’s wedding. I thought she was kidding me – apparently, she wasn’t! From witchcraft to wedding bells – it was a drastic change! I quickly adapted to the wedding industry and before even knowing I was better known for my wedding photography! 🙂
Nowadays, I categorize myself as “the wedding and portrait photographer”. It can be family portraits, business portraits, or rockstar promo photos – as long as it involves people, people I click with! Yes – I can’t just take your money and create awesome stuff for you! We have to like each other mutually! And I think this is what sets me apart. This is what I do for a living and I’d starve if I don’t have clients. But I’m real. My clients are real. I love building real relationships. Portraits are the mirror to one’s soul and how can I portray one, if I don’t know them well enough?
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity – which is one reason why I decided to move here!
I have to admit – as much as I love visiting downtown, I’d love it more if “teleporting” was a thing! I already don’t like driving and the downtown traffic is not making it better for me! 🙂
Pricing:
- Wedding photography collections start from $1500
- Portrait sessions start at $450
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taraarseven.com
- Phone: 469.500.4121
- Email: hello@taraarseven.com
Image Credit:
Tara Arseven
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