We were lucky to catch up with Alexia Haick recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is To All the Nasty Ladies, a photo book that has been both creatively fulfilling and deeply healing. The series focuses on the female experience of sexual awakening, tackling themes like desire, guilt, and societal judgment. Rather than portraying these emotions negatively, I use humor and vibrant colors to capture their complexities through intimate still-life and portrait scenes.

Growing up in a Latinx Catholic household, conversations about sex and desire were often discouraged. This lack of open dialogue led me to examine the effects of inadequate sex education and the spread of misinformation. Through the series, I aim to normalize these conversations and offer fresh, empowering perspectives on sexuality and body positivity.

Each image highlights key moments in a woman’s life—from first crushes and discovering masturbation to losing virginity and confronting societal expectations. By deconstructing taboos with wit and sarcasm, I hope to make these often-stigmatized topics more relatable and accessible.

I’m also incredibly grateful to have received the Darrel Ellis Award, a grant from his family that is helping me bring this project to completion. It’s an honor to be recognized in his name. This project is especially meaningful to me, as it marks my first attempt at addressing such an intimate theme.

Alexia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a photographer and filmmaker originally from São Paulo, Brazil, now based in New York. Photography has been a part of my life since childhood—my mother and grandmother are both passionate about the medium. What began as an escape from my mother’s constant photo-taking eventually led me to become the family photographer. Over time, my work has evolved to explore themes of family dynamics and girlhood, with a current focus on my series To All the Nasty Ladies.

Beyond my personal work, I freelance primarily in portraiture, events, and theater photography, and I have the privilege of working closely with two theater companies, Et Alia and GroupBr. You can explore more of my portfolio on social media or my website.

What I want potential clients to know is that I’m deeply passionate about my craft, open to collaboration, and always striving to create work that sparks meaningful conversation. My background in filmmaking significantly influences how I approach photography—storytelling is at the heart of every shot.

Additionally, I’m the co-creator of O Clube dos 35, a community focused on analog and alternative photography. What started as a college project has grown into a platform featuring interviews with photographers from around the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I moved to the United States at nineteen, I thought I would stay for just a year. Five years later, I’m still here—and incredibly grateful for the experience. The transition to a new country, with a different language and culture, proved to be far more challenging than I had anticipated. Being away from my family meant I lost a lot, but I also gained invaluable experiences that I never could have predicted. It wasn’t always easy, and I was too young to fully understand the magnitude of the changes that would unfold in my life. I’m incredibly thankful for the emotional and financial support my family has provided throughout this journey.

At that time, my English was far from fluent, but my belief in my potential and my skills kept me moving forward. Anyone who’s lived in New York knows how tough it can be. This city demands resilience, and I think it pushes people to aim higher, set ambitious goals, and test their limits. That’s part of what has allowed me to thrive, despite the numerous challenges.

Now, as I approach my final year on an F1 visa, the uncertainty of transitioning to a different visa is both daunting and exciting. I’m not sure where I’ll be geographically in a year, but I’ve learned to embrace that uncertainty. It’s become part of my journey, and it continues to motivate me to push forward with determination.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

That’s a tough question, and I’m not sure there’s a definitive answer. However, lately, I’ve found it rewarding to engage with my personal obsessions in life and incorporate them into my work. Creating around these subjects forces me to step back and view them from different angles. In particular, the conversations I’ve had about The Nasty Ladies project have been especially healing. Many of my friends see themselves reflected in the work, and the connection that comes from that has been incredibly fulfilling.

There are topics I once felt frustrated or hesitant to discuss—such as my relationship with my body, desire, and shame—but this project has given me a way to express those feelings. It’s been gratifying to see how people interact with the work, whether in person or online. Hearing different perspectives on sex education has been particularly fascinating, as everyone’s experiences are so diverse. These conversations not only help me understand others better but also provide a deeper way for me to process my own experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexiahaick.com/
• Instagram: @hms.fotografia

Image Credits

Alexia Haick
Helene Suarino
Luá Amaral