We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Almonte Mahli E. Rivera recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katherine Almonte, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Encounter the Real is a project that we thought of during the Fall of 2023. The idea started forming and we decided that we wanted to have a collective photographic exhibition of work. To make this work, we decided we needed to involve others and create community. We believe in strength in unity. The criteria that we had is based in a passion for photography. There were no formal accolades required, only requiring that the person experience different forms of overlapping discrimination. What informed us on our selections is wanting change in representation in the arts and photographic fields for BIPOC Women, Non-Binary, and LGBTQIA+ people. This project is just one of the many antidotes needed to help push progress for human rights and social equity for marginalized people.
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?
Grainy Daze Studios is a talented duo of photographers, in love with the creative process and the power of capturing raw emotions. We pride ourselves on our ability to translate those emotions and feelings into stunning photographs that will last a lifetime.
Collectively we have been photographing for over 16 years and both started on 35mm analog film. After becoming life partners we decided to venture in business together and created Grainy Daze Studios. We offer branding/portraits/corporate events/ headshots and more.
We pride ourselves in providing a full service studio by collaborating with other industry creatives. By taking the stress out of trying to find an outfit, do your own make up and hair. There is more time for the client to feel confident during their photoshoot.
We want the people to know that each session is tailored to each individual person and is a collaborative effort between, the client, stylist, make up artist, hair stylist and photographer.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative/photographer is building community along the way to our artistic goals. Creating safe spaces within the community for marginalized people with overlapping identities is rewarding to us because it serves us too. Being apart of an underserved community, we have made it our goal to make a third space to reflect our focus on community. We have paint studies in the afternoons. There are photography meets where models, make up artist, stylist and photographers come together to create and network.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Our mission is being driven by the idea of building larger community safe spaces. This is for underrepresented people so they can gather for soft social justice expression, artistic/photographic learning and discuss events/world happenings in an equitable enviroment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grainydazestudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grainydazestudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grainydazestudios
Image Credits
Grainy Daze Studios