We were lucky to catch up with Dinara Baizakova recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dinara, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I prefer naturalness, originality and simplicity in photo industry. I feel that’s a real art. Art isn’t about over photoshopped faces and bodies and always happy faces. I prefer to show real person through my lens. I use minimum of photoshop when I edit photos. And I even like to take photos of person with no makeup at all. I wanna show every little detail which makes us unique and special.

This way people will be able to accept themselves as they are. And they would be able to understand that we are all have our own flaws which are totally normal. I think beauty and fashion industry made it big problem nowadays. And I love seeing how people are changing that standards. And I want to be a part of it. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Dinara, I’m 27 years old. I moved to the USA 4,5 years ago by myself from Russia. I’m full time photographer based in San Diego, but I also travel to Los Angeles and NYC. I mostly do commercial, brand, fashion , personal, model digitals and portraits.

Each person has their own story. My story starts at a crossroads. On the first road, an engineer who finished her bachelors degree of Civil Engineering with honors in Russia, Ufa. On the second road, my passion and dream.

I guess it is obvious what path I choose since you are reading this interview.

It isn’t just about pursuing my dreams. But it is also about my political views I have about Russian government which made my life be in risk if I would stayed in Russia. And I decided to start my life from scratch in the USA.

I have worked as a game attendant, barista, hostess and waitress before starting photography business in the USA. I had to learn English and new culture. However I’ve been taking photos for 12 years. And for 2,5 year in San Diego. And I think I’ve been successful for that years in San Diego. I have got 4 magazine covers, 15+ publications, interviews, art show. I was the head photographer in San Diego Swim Week fashion show, 2021-2022. Also I am the official photographer for Miss Grand California in 2023. I have worked with Miss Earth Air , Zodiac Boyfriend, Reeses book, Yensa. I started mentoring photographers about 3 months ago. And I launched my first online photography course 1 month ago. Now I’m trying yo promote it as much as I can to make it passive income. I’ve publicly speaking about art and creating content at the begginong of 2023. And also I was participant in a reality show about creative people in San Diego. That was so much fun!

Through my art I speak about social problems as mental health, gender equality, women’s rights, age discrimination, social inequality, the role of women through my art to support minorities. I believe that empathic picture helps to build people’s awareness about world’s problems.

I feel that my mission in life is to change this world a little for the better.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My photography business started back in Russia in 2010. I was 14 years old and I was able to save some money from my relatives gifts. And I was thinking about buying camera or buying clothes. That time I had a friend who convinced me to buy a camera so I would be able to buy clothes and whatever I want in the future. So on my birthday 06/02/2010 I went to Canon store and bought the Canon 1000D + 50 mm lens. That’s how my journey began. After one year I started doing photoshoots for $10 and earning money. Saving them and traveling in another countries, buying new clothes and even my first iPhone! Omg what an incredible time to remember. I was so proud of myself.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Coming all the way from Russia and to immerse into another one is a bit hard. I had problems with my manager at work, he was threatening me to send back to Russia and convincing me that USA doesn’t need one more immigrant. Some Americans were making fun of my English because I couldn’t understand some sentences and words. I wasn’t even sure that anyone would like to work with me as with professional photographer after that kinda experience. That was really hard time for me. And I feel like that trauma affected me so much that I still hate that manager.

But luckily I found supportive people who told me that I’m excellent professional and all the people in the USA are immigrants. So I have nothing to be ashamed of. And I should be proud of myself coming here with no family and support. Building my own brand and earning money of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dinaraphotos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinara.photos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinara.photos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinara-baizakova/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWolDCSTISZO2JR9vawERIA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dinara-photoshoot-san-diego
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/dinaraphotos/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dinara.photos

Image Credits
Anna Kolomnikova Rachel Ray Ashley Taylor Julia Abud Riley Carpenter Elise Brisco De’Shaun Patacsil Dylan Cook Stewart Ray Eugeniya Lomeyko Crystal Ciara Kalia White John Phillip