We were lucky to catch up with Rijha Kamran Hussaini recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rijha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Growing up, my parents were the first ones to really nurture the creative parts of me. I often think about how lucky I was to be raised by people who understood that they were learning as they went too – it was their first time living this life, just like it was mine.

My dad would take his film camera all around Chicago, photographing whatever moved him. His photos were hung all over our house like little windows into the way he saw the world. Meanwhile, my mom took a digital photography class at our local college around the time I was in elementary school. She was the first to hand me a camera—though only under her very watchful eye. At the time, I thought she was being overprotective. Now that I’m a photography business owner myself and understand how expensive gear is… let’s just say I owe her an apology.

They never shut down any hobby I wanted to try, no matter how short-lived (RIP to my violin career). Because of that, I got to explore so many different parts of myself early on. I think it helped me build a strong sense of what I was drawn to—and ultimately led me back to storytelling through images.

Although I chose a different path in college and pursued a career in healthcare, I was eventually pulled back toward creativity – something that’s been stitched into me since childhood. I truly believe that early encouragement planted the seeds for the work I do now, and I’m so grateful it found its way back to me, thanks to my parents.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Rijha Kamran Hussaini, and I’m a documentary and editorial photographer passionate about capturing love, life, and everything under the sun – all on film and digital. My heart lives in wedding and travel photography, and I’ve been fortunate to turn those passions into a career that allows me to tell people’s stories in the most intentional way possible.

Photography and film have always been part of my world. I grew up surrounded by both – watching my dad document life on his film camera and later falling in love with the visual beauty of cinema through movies. That blend of lived experience and cinematic influence shaped my creative eye early on, and it continues to guide how I shoot today.

What sets me apart is my ability to move seamlessly between capturing raw, emotional, unscripted moments and stepping in with a refined editorial lens when it’s time to guide the shot. My work is rooted in real connection and emotion.

I offer photography services for weddings, intimate events, lifestyle sessions, and travel, often blending digital with analog formats to create something that feels deeply personal and beautifully preserved. I’m especially drawn to incorporating 35mm film and Super 8 video into my process. There’s an irreplaceable magic to film – the way it captures nostalgia, texture, and emotion feels almost tangible, evoking a sense of time and memory that digital simply can’t replicate.

I am also drawn to capturing images that hold emotion and movement- photos that don’t just show you what happened, but make you feel it all over again. More than anything, I want people to feel seen in my work. I’m most proud when clients tell me they felt completely at ease in front of my lens, or when a photo brings them back to a moment they didn’t even realize was unfolding. My brand is rooted in care, intention, and storytelling – and my goal is to create visual keepsakes that feel like home.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In college, I was set on pursuing a career in healthcare. It felt like the right path, and while I was interested in it, I didn’t realize I could actually build a life around my creative passions – especially photography.

During my senior year, I discovered UX design and fell in love with how it combined creativity and problem-solving. I earned certifications, completed internships, and spent 6–7 months after graduation applying to jobs full-time. Eventually, I received a marketing job offer – not exactly what I wanted, but I was grateful. I asked for two more days to consider it, as I was also in the final stages for a dream UX role. They rescinded the offer immediately.

It was discouraging, but also clarifying. That moment pushed me to finally step back and pursue what had been calling me all along. I started The Kodak Collective shortly after – and it’s been the most fulfilling pivot I’ve made. Sometimes, what feels like a setback is really just a redirection toward where you’re meant to be.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative – specifically a photographer – is the privilege of capturing the most raw, authentic moments of people’s lives. There’s something deeply special about being invited into such intimate, emotional spaces, whether it’s a wedding day, a quiet exchange between loved ones, or the in-between moments that often go unnoticed.

I’ve genuinely found myself in tears at my computer more than once while editing – because I’ll come across a photo that holds so much meaning, so much tenderness, that it stops me in my tracks. And in those moments, I feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude that this is my job. That I get to preserve something so real, so fleeting, and give it back to someone to hold onto forever.

It’s not just about taking beautiful images – it’s about creating something that feels true to who they are. Something that moves them, that brings them back to the feeling of that day. Knowing that my work can hold that kind of emotional weight for someone else is the most fulfilling part of what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: Working on it!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekodakcollective/

Image Credits

All photos provided are mine :) The photo of the silver cups with the cherries is from an event decorated by The Decor Directory (@thedecordirectory)