Hey there :)

The New York Times. In 2010, I went to Haiti with a Haitian non-profit organization to help photograph the destruction after the earthquake. That trip really changed my life. We were making a 

series of documentaries, and I was initially taking photographs for a gallery show and benefit. However, there were so many stories to tell, and so many people wanted to share with us. So I started helping to interview the women who had lost their homes. They really opened up to me. Then something very deep inside me clicked, and it just felt like I found my life's work. My mother had been a child refugee who lived in camps in seven countries before she came to the US as an immigrant. I recognised the struggle and sacrifice that she made to give me my life here, and I wanted to help give back. Since then, I've been making short documentaries to help share people's stories. My hope is to create awareness through my work. 

What does an average day look like for you?

I wake up and take a few minutes for deep breaths and a little meditation to ease into the day. Then I make coffee, feed my hairless kitty, and sit down at my desk to check emails and catch up on messages. I start working on whatever creative project I have going at the time. Sometimes I have client meetings (now through zoom), some days I'm building a creative deck, some days writing scripts, and often I'm talking with my producer about logistics for pre-production or post-production.

If I'm shooting that day, there's not much time for relaxing in the morning, but I do prep by reading over my creative deck, shot list, and interview questions to mentally prepare myself.

On a shoot, it's usually non-stop action for about 12+ hours. Sometimes it's honestly tough to find time to go to the bathroom. 

Usually, I'm talking to the crew about the shots, working with my DP (director of photography/cinematographer) and my team to find the best way to execute our vision. I spend time with the talent before we shoot to make sure everyone feels comfortable and at ease. It's a lot of moving parts. I coordinate with the sound person, lighting crew, the clients, hair/make-up, and of course, my producer who helps to keep everything on track. I conduct interviews with the talent and direct the DP to capture beautiful moments in between.

If there is a time where I'm waiting for the crew to move equipment, or for the talent to finish hair/make-up, I try to find a quiet corner and do a five-minute meditation to reset myself. Last week on our shoot the DP saw me doing this, and I overheard him tell someone, "Aliya is teleporting right now, give her a minute".

If I'm in post-production, I'm sitting in with my editor all day, or writing notes for her to help dictate the vision of the film. Some days I sit in on a colour grading session or a final sound mix. Right now we're trying to do everything remotely, so we've been sharing screens while we edit which is a little extra challenge, but we're making it work. 

What turning point in your career do you consider your “big break”?

I've had two major careers, one as a photographer, and one as a director so I'll give you examples of both.

My first "big break" as a photographer was when I got hired to shoot ads for a denim campaign, and they were featured in billboards all over Times Square with my photographs. My best friend and I went up there and took photos of me jumping up in the air in front of the billboards. We went to art school together, and it felt like a dream to get hired to do something I love like taking photographs, then having them all over NYC, the city that I love.

My first "big break" as a Director was when I got hired to direct a team of celebrities and politicians for a PSA awareness 

What advice do you have for striking a work/life balance?

I'm a very energetic person, and I used to never slow down. For the past few years, I've been doing transcendental meditation, and now no matter what's happening, I'm always able to let go and refresh myself through meditation. It's also important for me to visit nature and connect with the earth. I live in the city and work can be stressful, and I often work late. I try to take breaks and travel or go upstate and take long hikes, smell the trees, and gaze at the sky. It's always a perfect reset.

What anxieties, if any, do you hold about your life/career? And how do you deal with them? 

I feel like my career is always uncertain... but so is life. I get antsy in between jobs and projects, so I try to fill my free time with creative projects. Sometimes I need to take in information instead of putting out work. I watch a lot of films, read, listen to podcasts, and try to stay engaged with creative people. I have a few film communities that I'm part of, and it's really helpful to know that we're all going through similar situations.

How has the current COVID-19 situation affected your industry, and your work personally? How have you dealt with it?

When the shutdown started, I had just finished making a commercial where I was working very long days for weeks. I was ready for a break, but I had no idea how long of a break it would end up being. After quarantining in my apartment for a month, I was asked to take photographs of the essential workers for an NYC benefit video. I went out and photographed the healthcare workers, bus drivers, firefighters, and all of the people who had been working so hard to keep us safe during the shutdown. I really saw the strength of our everyday heroes who had been going to work while we were at home. It was a beautiful and emotional experience. The photos ran in a video for the 

What does productivity look like to you, and what tips do you have for managing your time?

Productivity is whatever you feel good about. At the beginning of the shutdown when I wasn't working, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to "be productive", but honestly I was processing so much, and feeling so much that it was overwhelming at times. I had to give myself a break and stop being so hard on myself. Sometimes cooking dinner and watching a film was all I could handle for the day. But that's okay.

How do you deal with procrastination?

Sometimes I want to do everything I can by running around and getting things done, instead of sitting down and writing a script or edit notes. Often I just need to slow down, so I've found that if I meditate, then sit at my desk, open a blank page and just look at it until I start. Once I've started, it's all fine, and I usually breeze through. But it's just getting to that starting place.

What do you consider your biggest failure? And how did you persevere and grow from the experience?

I think there was a time where I turned away from the things I was familiar with because I wanted to re-invent myself. I now see things differently: I am an accumulation of my experiences. I can try new things and new directions, but I embrace who I am. To clarify, when I moved into directing after working as a professional photographer for so long, there was a time where I didn't want to do photography anymore. I think it was just insecurity. Now I feel confident that I can be a director and also a photographer. It doesn't have to be exclusive. And honestly, it helps more than anything to have a variety of experiences.

When working on a new project how do you overcome self-doubt and fear?

It helps me to know that I've been doing this for a long time, and have overcome various obstacles. Anytime the imposter syndrome creeps up, I remind myself of the challenges I've been through. Being prepared helps me more than anything. If I do the research, write notes, and gather as much information as I can, I feel more qualified based on my preparedness.

What’s the best and worst advice you’ve ever been given?

My mother always told me to follow my passion and do what I love. My father always questioned if I could make a living by being an artist. I took my mom's advice. ;)

Are there any misconceptions about what you do that you’d like to dispel or clarify?

My job may seem fun and exciting, but it's not easy being an independent artist/creative. It's a lot of work, and it never stops. This country really favours corporations, so to work as an independent contractor can feel like a constant battle. And it's not like you can turn it off or take a weekend when you're in the middle of a project. But I wouldn't choose any other life. I'm really happy to pursue my passion and work with talented people who support my vision.

How do you navigate social media, any rules or guidelines you set for yourself?

I don't get bothered by social media. I was so happy when Instagram came out. I was like, "a visual diary platform! How cool." I still don't totally understand the influencer thing, but I work with influencers sometimes. Last week I shot a Tik Tok video (per client request) on our denim ad shoot, even though I've never used Tik Tok. I see social media more as fun inspiration, and a platform to speak your mind. I'm glad that people are speaking out about important issues like the Me Too movement and Black Lives Matter. Collectively we can create change through awareness, so if we have a platform to put information out there, that's great!

List five things keeping you inspired and sane right now. 

Who do you nominate for the next interview?

I nominate Diana Hong, who is by far one of the most amazing women I've ever known. Diana is so creative, so ambitious, and so talented. She constantly seeks out inspiration in everything from design, music, art, and food. She has accomplished so much in her career, yet she always makes it feel effortless. On top of it, she travels the world doing crazy active adventures like helicopter snowboarding in the middle of nowhere, then will jump on a meeting with Tom Ford's entire team and explain her creative vision for next season's campaign. She continually impresses me with her talent, motivation, and drive.

Much love, 
Lilith and Arabella

L+A xx

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