Meet Natasha Agharabi | Photographer & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Agharabi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
A habit that I feel has helped me succeed is taking risks and putting myself out there. I had always had a passion for photography, however, I was not getting anywhere with it because I kept myself sheltered and worked closely with people I only knew. However, this year, I came to realize that staying within my comfort zone was not going to allow room for growth both personally and professionally. For some, it comes very easy to naturally spark up conversations with strangers and build connections. As an introvert, I personally had difficulty doing that all throughout my life. Getting into the mindset of not caring what other people think and just seeking out opportunities started to get my feet running in this industry. I find myself becoming more active in seeking opportunities to build my portfolio or just get some advice from professionals. When I’m at events, even recreationally, I approach the people carrying cameras and ask for advice (at appropriate times of course). I was at Hard Summer Music Festival recently and I saw a girlfriend riding the shoulders of her boyfriend while holding a camera in the air to get the perfect shot. I’ve always joked about doing that with my boyfriend, so to see that in real-time is both hilarious and inspiring. I’m all for that risk-taking as that couple had been with their cameras at Hard Summer. I went ahead and approached them and heard their story which again I took as inspiration. Putting myself out there has not only opened doors for more opportunities but it has also helped me make friends who share the same love for music and photography as I do!

I used to be so anxious about attending concerts alone. I admit that’s one of the reasons why I had a slow start in this field – I was too scared to go out there alone. It wasn’t until one day, I took myself out to Mark Tuan’s concert with my point-and-shoot camera to photograph him and see my potential in the world of concert photography. Though I was just in the crowd and not in the pit taking photos, I photographed great shots that my friends and family were impressed by. I overcame the fear of going out alone to a concert and from then on, it’s felt so easy and natural to take myself out to places. Getting into the habit of becoming comfortable with your own company and taking yourself out has been such an important habit I’ve developed that has helped me grow and succeed. Normalize taking yourself out on dates!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m still very much learning more about the art of photography and what kind of art I want to make with it. This year, I’ve started to develop a niche with my concert photography and portrait photography. I want it to feel dreamy. I want to capture the energy of a concert and capture the atmosphere’s vibrance with it. I love colors so much. I want the colors in my work to elicit the feeling the song brought in that moment. I want colors to speak along with the subjects of my work. I like to work with what’s going on in the minds of my subjects and their surroundings. Growing to find what niche I currently like took some time and exploration. It took a lot of toggling around on Photoshop and seeking out inspiration from other photographers for me to develop a better sense of what I want to capture. It wasn’t easy to get to where I am today professionally. It took a lot of personal growth to really push me to take this work seriously and grind harder than ever. It takes discipline and work–life/school–life balance to keep myself steady and avoid burnout. Finding ways to create an efficient workflow has definitely been a challenge for me. Concert photography requires a lot of late nights of shooting and editing. Throwing in portrait photography and working around work schedules has also been another challenge to balance. Learning to be okay with rejection has helped me overcome the fear of seeking out opportunities. After all, rejection is redirection.

Recently, I’ve learned I have a passion for BTS photography on sets. I have a keen eye for composition when capturing moments on set. I make sure to include every.single.person. working on set. I’ve had crew members tell me how thankful they are that I captured nice photos of them working hard on set because they don’t normally get that. I want to capture not only the key moments on set but every person involved in making the project come to life. It’s also a cool feeling being a fly on the wall observing how a set is running from afar.

As a filmmaker, I directed my first short film this year and it was a challenging, yet rewarding experience. I had been studying filmmaking since high school and continued to do so in college, despite attending UCLA as a Psychology major. I’ve learned how much hard work needs to go into making a film as I’ve experienced the different roles on set. Directing my first short film has taught me the importance of being a leader and working as a team altogether. I never thought I would go from being a BTS photographer on set to becoming a director making a story I wrote come to life. I’ve learned to not let my anxieties hold me back. If you have a desire to make something, even if it seems too ambitious, just give it your all and don’t look back. I hope to continue directing projects and particularly music videos in the future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anyone who knows me will know that I am a foodie and a boba-holic. As soon as my bestie is in the area, I am picking them up and refresh them with boba from a spot in the Valley called BLTea. I recommend their Rose Earl Grey Milk Tea. Afterward, I immediately plan a trip for us to Sawtelle in West LA. There is just restaurant after restaurant of delicious Japanese foods down the street. My favorite restaurants to introduce my friends to have to be Marugame Udon or Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles. Either one will ensure you a delicious bowl of noodles to slurp on. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We can’t forget dessert, right? Well lucky for us, there’s a Somi-Somi right around the corner of Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles for us to treat our sweet tooth. There, we can order an “Ah-Boong” which is a fish-shaped waffle cone and soft serve with a filling of your choice (Nutella or custard are my go-tos). If that’s not what they’re feeling, well perhaps we can get Iranian ice cream at Saffron and Rose nearby in Westwood. The night won’t end there of course. I would take my friend out to Academy LA or the Shrine Expo to see our favorite DJ playing and party all night. Perhaps the night could lead us to a warehouse or underground rave… (where I’d have to fight the urge to sneak in my camera lol)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person that comes to mind is my dad. He deserves a lot of credit for supporting me on this photography journey from the very beginning. My dad gifted me my first point-and-shoot camera as a kid. From that moment on, I fell in love with my camera. I took that camera everywhere as a kid and I would set up photoshoots and make films with my stuffed animals. Seeing the potential in me, my dad enrolled me in a photography class one summer to learn about the fundamentals of photography while I was in high school. He showed me the ins and outs of the Adobe software. Fast forward to even today, he will offer to drive me to gigs and will sit waiting in his car when I’m running late wrapping up a show. Many concert venues in LA are in areas that people, especially women, should be cautious about. My dad will take me to these venues after his long days at work to ensure I’m safe and save me from spending extra money parking at the venue. He has been there from the start of my story and I am so fortunate and grateful to have him. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Website: https://natasha-photography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natasha.photographs/

Image Credits
Portrait by: Emma Vurdien Artists photographed: Bryson Tiller, Pi’erre Bourne, Emotional Oranges, INJI, JVKE, d4vd, Toosii, Def Tech