We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eyva T.Anor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eyva below.

Eyva, 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?

There are a few projects that really stand out to me, but two of the most meaningful projects were the Alaska project and the Joloko project. When I am not photographing, I produce and manage productions (from commercials to documentaries). So here’s a snapshot of those two roles that I am most proud of:

Creative Conceptual Photography for Joloko Restaurant, Malaysia:

I was introduced to the owners of Joloko, an Afro-Caribbean restaurant owned by a Dutch-Malaysian couple who were so passionate about bringing their bold, culture-blended menu to life.

At first, they wanted creative flat-lay food shots, but once I saw how vibrant and expressive their dishes were, I suggested we push it further. Instead of just photographing the food, we turned it into a conceptual fashion shoot—playing with models, ingredients, and printed fabrics with traditional, tribal-inspired motifs. Each look represented a dish in a fresh, unexpected way.

What started as a simple food shoot transformed into something much bigger—a visual story that celebrated identity, culture, and the beauty of fusion.

It was one of those projects where you get a carte blanche and just had fun throughout the shoot, playing and adjusting as you go along on set!

Keepers of the North: Managing an Award-Winning Documentary in Alaska

This documentary holds a special place in my heart. It was the opportunity of a lifetime — spending weeks in Alaska with an incredible crew to document the Pallister family, who’ve spent over 20 years cleaning marine debris across the Gulf of Alaska.

We joined their week-long cleanup through Prince William Sound, part of a three-month collaboration with FedEx, ADEC (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation), Pyxera Global, and CRDC (Center of Regenerative Design and Collaboration) . The collected debris was transformed through the REAP approach — a net-zero circular economy model connecting the plastic and construction industries to drive real change.

Being part of a creative process that raised awareness and inspired action was deeply fulfilling — and being honored with the 2023 Gold Addy Award for CSA-Best Film, Video, Audio made it even more meaningful!

Eyva, 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?

My Creative Journey

My creative visual sense began early at home with my mom — a true fashionista of her time. She was our personal image consultant, always styling us and making us pose for her Nikon FM2. That camera became my first window into the world of visuals, and seeing through its lens at a young age shaped how I perceive the world today.

Photography didn’t become serious for me until later.

At 22, I was working in TV as a broadcast journalist, producing documentary and lifestyle segments. While I loved storytelling, I eventually felt burnt out and longed for more creative freedom — to create art on my own terms, without relying on a full crew to bring ideas to life.

Around that time, I joined a local photography group called Neuns — a collective of professionals passionate about exploring new techniques during the golden age of Flickr and Nikon CLS. That experience reignited my creative spark and inspired me to take photography further.

With my broadcasting background, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in photography and was awarded a university grant for international internship having achieved consecutive Dean’s List recognition. This opportunity opened doors for me to assist several fashion photographers in London, where I contributed to a beauty campaign for Illamasqua — later featured in L’Officiel Ukraine and Cosmopolitan UK.

My foundation in broadcasting and advertising taught me the inner workings of media — from concept to production — and the importance of evolving with new platforms and technologies.

Today, I work full-time as a photographer for a national advertising agency while building my own production brand, eyvafotografi, which is currently transitioning into Lensdoit Media — a full-scale creative house for video, photography, and art commissions.

Ultimately, I aspire to be the creative partner companies turn to for powerful visual storytelling — someone with a sharp eye for compelling imagery and a solid understanding of the business behind effective advertising.

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

Resilience in Production and in Life

After years in production, resilience feels like muscle memory. The discipline, endurance, and integrity it takes to go from concept to final cut? Definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Between hiring crews, managing logistics, and surviving sleepless nights, I’ve learned that production isn’t just about cameras and callsheets — it’s about keeping calm when everything’s on fire (and somehow still getting the shot).

My biggest resilience story started when I swapped a comfortable corporate life abroad for New York City — no friends, no safety net, just ambition and a camera bag(s). I quickly learned what hustle really means: missing subways, hauling gear up endless stairs, taking underpaid gigs for “exposure,” and learning to move at NYC speed. But honestly, that chaos built my character.

At 15, I told myself, “Eyva, your life’s going to be an adventure.” And it’s been exactly that — not the easy kind, but the kind worth living. When I relocated to Connecticut last year, I decided to get creative with networking — swiping right for new friends (yes, dating apps can be a great networking tool!), turning a paid networking event into a mini photo shoot, and sharing the images with speakers and guests. Some of them actually thought I was the official photographer, and just went with it! One small “hello, can I take a photo of you?” turned into real connections and new opportunities.

If resilience had a motto, mine would be simple: stay curious, say hello, and keep moving — because you never know which conversation will change your story next.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

On Support and Growth as a Creative Professional

Looking back, I wish there had been a program or agency dedicated to supporting creative professionals and migrants — something that could help us navigate the legal, business, and tax frameworks needed to truly thrive.

To be fair, I probably wasn’t ready for that back then. My mindset was all about proving myself, getting hired, and earning my place in the industry.

That’s definitely changed.

As tough as the journey’s been, I’ve learned to embrace it — every challenge, every new skill, every small win. Each day, I just try to show up as the best version of myself and my craft.

Since moving to Connecticut, I’ve been lucky to discover the CSBDC (Connecticut Small Business Development Center) — an amazing resource for small business owners. It’s shown me that support does exist; sometimes you just need to grow into the version of yourself that’s ready to ask for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eyvafotografi.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/eyvafotografi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyva-tunku-anor-8716bb6a/
• Other: https://sites.google.com/view/eyvatunkuanor/documentaries?authuser=0

Image Credits

My Profile Photo of me in Red suit on the green steps: Photographed by Anthony DeCarlo
The rest of my photo portfolio: Photography by Eyvafotografi