Today we’d like to introduce you to Saman Dadafshar.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a self-taught photographer and videographer who discovered photography at the age of seven. I became more serious about it in my twenties and turned it into a full-time career in 2020. Throughout my life, I’ve understood art in different ways, and now that I’m entering my forties, I’m creating my best work yet.
I believe that every photographer creates work that they personally enjoy, and for me, that’s preserving the essence of a person and a moment in a timeless frame. I’ve realized that the best photographers possess three essential qualities: technical expertise, professionalism, and personability. I feel incredibly comfortable with a camera, allowing me to infuse more and more of my personality into each shoot. Creative storytelling guided photos, combined with candid smiles, create a truly beautiful effect. The genuine friendly energy that comes across is truly captivating. In a world often filled with pretenses, a genuine smile is a rare luxury, so I’m happy to be called a luxury shooter.
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?
I’m learning to cultivate a more positive outlook on my thoughts, so I’ll say it wasn’t as much of a struggle as I initially thought. However, when I look back, I realize that I’ve overcome some incredibly significant obstacles. I started working full-time just before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was devastated; my passion was abruptly extinguished, and I had already bid farewell to my previous job. It was the most overwhelming pressure I’ve ever experienced in my life. Despite the setback, I remained creative and decided to use this moment to enhance my technical skills. I realized that if I wanted to pursue this as a career, I needed to strike a balance between business acumen and artistic expression. This newfound perspective also led me to self-reflection and the discovery of areas where I needed improvement within my department. I actively worked on myself, and as I reviewed my work, I can clearly see the transformation in my approach to capturing things.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I was just as apprehensive as many photographers in the early days. Studying renowned photographers before me, I realized that capturing portraits and faces required complete control while maintaining a personable demeanor and creating a comfortable space for the subject to be themselves. Over the years, I diligently practiced this technique, and as I worked with people, I could discern their body language, which resulted in positive feedback from everyone I collaborated with.
Fast forward to today, I approach my clients with a goofy personality and a wide smile, blending the roles of a fly on the wall and the creative force behind an artistic yet fun and natural concept to celebrate the occasion.
I genuinely value feedback from my audience regarding my work, and the consensus is that my photos are enjoyable, natural, and capture the essence of the moment. Whether it’s capturing flying tears or an upside-down groom, I am passionate about capturing authentic moments and living for them.
How do you think about happiness?
Genuine smiles have a magical effect on me. I cherish authentic moments because they are rare and unique. Preserving them is incredibly important to me. If you look at my phone, you’ll find that my photos are screenshots of videos I recorded spontaneously in places that held special significance for me.
Pricing:
- Family Portraits $495
- Weddings $3,225
- Real Estate $269
- Branding $495
- Studio headshots $595
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bestsideoflight.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/best_side_of_light/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saman-dadafshar-101/
- Other: https://share.google/af2BxI7rgfz5On4Az
Image Credits
Curb360
