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

Hi Zahra, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

We’d like to introduce you to the dream team behind Black Iris Photography, Zahra and Danish! We’re not your everyday photographers; we’re visual wedding storytellers.

With both of us (and the rest of our all-star team) excelling in photography and videography, Black Iris offers an unparalleled, comprehensive coverage experience for your big day. We work our butts off to capture more than just moments; we seek to tell your love story with rich authenticity, an editorial touch and a sprinkle of artistry. Zahra uses her background in documentary journalism to fuel her creative fire behind the lens. Danish is also our star drone pilot, capturing both stunning aerial views and intimate moments on the ground.

Something you’ve got to know about Black Iris is we don’t shy away from culture and tradition. We gleefully dive into the vibrant world of South Asian weddings — from colorful Mehndi dances to the intoxicating joy of a Baraat. We love to capture every rich moment, preserving the essence and traditions that make your celebration uniquely yours.

From the camera iris to the editing room, we live for the magic of turning real-life stories into visual masterpieces. Join us on this creative journey, where every frame tells a story and every click freezes precious time.

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

As a professional documentary journalist, Zahra’s expertise is in finding artful ways to share someone’s authentic story. She grew up in Dallas, studied at Northwestern University, and has since reported from the halls of congress in Washington, D.C. to street protests in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Don’t tell her boss — but her favorite part of reporting truly is creating works of art with her subjects that live on long after they’re posted online. Her unique experiences as a photojournalist lend themselves beautifully to her role as a wedding photographer. To Zahra, Black Iris is the perfect avenue for her to capture unique memories for all sorts of couples. If you want to learn more about her experience, you can check out her personal site at ZahraHaider.net.

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

Black Iris Photography is a photo and video business based in Dallas with a rich and editorial visual style. At a time when most photographers create similar bright and airy visuals in their shoots, Black Iris aims for something more: compelling photographs that draw an audience.

We specialize in weddings and engagements, whether local or destination. Our background as Pakistani Muslims lends us to support diverse audiences when it comes to cultural events and traditions, such as desi weddings, and a range of other inclusive services. Please reach out with any inquiries via blackirisphotos.com.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’m a first generation immigrant who grew up in Dallas from age 5. Like many immigrants, my parents worked hard but still struggled with finances. I always hoped to be able to use their sacrifices to create a more secure life for myself. After I graduated from Trinity High School, I was admitted to a top journalism program in the country at Northwestern University. I studied multimedia, film, and politics and launched my career in documentary journalism. I met my husband and we decided to settle down in Dallas, where both our families had roots. While I found a rewarding career in journalism, I missed my passion for art and photography. I realized I finally had an opportunity to create something beautiful in Dallas and work with people again outside of news stories. So my partner and I founded Black Iris Photography, a production company that specializes in rich, editorial photography and films that draws an audience and captivates the viewer. I saw a lot of similarity in other photographers approaching their art with the same bright and airy vibe, but I wanted to go for something more dramatic, gripping and authentic — an artistic quality I grew to love in my documentary work. Now, we work with new couples every weekend as we grow our reputation and build long term relationships with people all around the metroplex.

Contact Info:

• Website: blackirisphotos.com
• Instagram: @black.iris.photos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/black.iris.photo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@black.iris.photos

Image Credits
Black Iris Photography