We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nayara Pasti. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nayara below.

Hi Nayara, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I try to always work with purpose, but if I had to choose, there are three projects that hold especially deep meaning for me.

The first is my series of embroidered portraits. This body of work merges photography and thread to honor the legacy of women in my family—especially my grandmother—and to celebrate the strength, stories, and individuality of the women I photograph. Each stitch feels sacred: a way of reclaiming time, tradition, and memory. It’s deeply personal and one of the most artistic and emotionally rich directions my work has taken.

The second is my ongoing mother-daughter project, with a special focus on adult daughters and their mothers. We often stop documenting that bond once we grow up, but it doesn’t become less important—it becomes more layered, more meaningful. Not having my own mother with me in my adult life made me realize just how precious that relationship is. Creating space for other women to celebrate and preserve that connection brings me a kind of joy I never expected.

And finally, a project that has taken me by surprise: black and white portraits of kids and teens. For years, I focused on empowering adults—especially women who, for many reasons, had lost touch with their confidence and self-worth. But the response I received from the kids and their families—how seen, strong, and proud they felt—moved me deeply. That shift expanded my purpose in a whole new way.

These three projects may look different, but they share the same foundation: honoring connection, celebrating identity, and creating images that tell a deeper truth.

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

I’m a Brazilian artist and portrait photographer, and my journey into this craft has been anything but linear. I began my professional life as an attorney in Brazil, later specializing in Criminal Science and Political Sociology. As a researcher, I focused on gender studies—writing and studying the complex ways identity and inequality intersect. But after moving to a new country and becoming a mother of two girls, my path shifted—and I found myself drawn to a different form of storytelling. Photography became a way to process change, preserve memory, and create connection.

Today, I specialize in portraits that empower—especially women, mothers and daughters, dancers, and more recently, kids and teens. My work is deeply intentional and goes beyond a typical photo session. I offer a collaborative, heart-centered experience that results in heirloom-quality artwork: stunning wall portraits, handcrafted albums, and, in some cases, embroidered photographic pieces that merge image and thread to honor legacy, culture, and story.

In a world flooded with thousands of images living on our phones, I invite people to pause. To choose just a few powerful, poetic portraits that truly capture who they are. I create artwork to be held, displayed, and lived with. Portraits that make you stop, smile, and feel a sense of deep recognition and joy every time you walk by them on the walls or flip through the album pages.

What sets me apart is the depth of care behind each piece I create. Inspired by my own journey—by heritage, motherhood, and my background in sociology—I see photography as a way to empower, affirm, and preserve identity. I’m here to celebrate the people I photograph in the most intentional, artistic, and lasting way possible.

What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve seen. When a woman tears up seeing herself through my lens, or a young girl walks away taller after her session—those are the moments that remind me: this is more than a photograph. This is legacy, joy, and belonging in visual form.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely. My mission is to empower, honor, and preserve. Through portrait photography—and often through embroidered interventions—I strive to create work that celebrates identity, connection, and legacy. I want the people I photograph to feel seen, valued, and beautiful in a deep, lasting way.

My goal is to offer more than just images; I want to create transformative experiences and enduring artwork. Whether I’m photographing women who are rediscovering their confidence, capturing the timeless bond between mothers and daughters, or helping children see their unique light, I’m always working from a place of purpose. I believe that when someone sees themselves reflected with love, dignity, and artistry, it can shift how they carry themselves in the world. That’s what drives everything I do.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part is witnessing the emotional response—those quiet moments when a client sees their portrait for the first time and tears well up, or when someone says, “I’ve never seen myself like this before.” It’s incredibly meaningful to know that the art I create can spark joy, healing, pride, or even a sense of belonging.

As an artist, I also cherish the freedom to tell stories that matter to me. To blend my heritage, my academic background, and my lived experiences into something tangible. It’s not just about creating something beautiful—it’s about creating something true. And when that truth resonates with someone else, when it touches them—that’s everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nayarapasti.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nayarapastiphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091473606765
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayara-pasti-5a73b025a/

Image Credits

Nayara Pasti