Name: Shiva Mirzahaidar

Major: Graphic Design

Minor: English Writing & Rhetoric

Katinka Barragan: What got you interested in photography?

Shiva Mirzahaidar: The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I borrowed a friend’s camera and took pictures of her because all my friends were taking pictures of each other. I wanted to try it, and I felt like it was something I could grow into. I then got my own camera my junior year of high school and became obsessed.

KB: What made you start your fashion photography website?

SM: I guess my portfolio grew and I wanted a way to share it with other people. I wanted to create something that would make people take me more seriously.

KB: Did you ever get any job offers?

SM: I mainly do freelance work, but I was offered many jobs to take people’s senior portraits.

KB: So why did you choose to be a graphic design major rather than a photography major?

SM: I guess I wanted to develop a larger set of skills. I would be open to a career in photography but I would rather learn as much as I can and see where it takes me.

KB: Would you consider fashion to be a big part of your life?

SM: Definitely. I’m very much influenced by fashion journalism. All my friends are interested in it too, so it’s nice to be able to connect with people that way. Fashion in general and my outlook on it is always evolving so its interesting to see how I grow.

KB: What’s your dream career?

SM: I would love to work for a fashion magazine as the design or art director.

KB: Any magazine in particular?

SM: No, not really, but Vogue has obviously been a huge influence to me. I’m open to anything that will help me explore the industry and grow.

KB: So what do you mean by art direction and design?

SM: I would like to design the pages or photo shoots. Everything about the visual part of the magazine interests me.

KB: What got you interested in fashion?

SM: In high school I was surrounded by a lot of creative people. They would express themselves through their work and their creations, which inspired me to look for different ways to release my creativity and the different ways I wanted to portray myself.

KB: Who would you consider your fashion icon?

SM: I would say probably my friend Bao. I went to high school with her and now she goes to Pratt. She has her own unique sense of style. She kind of dresses like a goth fifth grader, so its really funny. But she’s the one who’s inspired me to just be myself and not be afraid to take risks in my fashion.

KB: How would you describe your style?

SM: It’s become pretty simplistic recently. I’ve always been drawn to darker colors, but I really want to experiment with my more girly side with pink and pastels. I feel boyish now with all the black and grey and denim. Deep inside I want to explore my 1960s girl-band look. I don’t want to be afraid to try new things because I feel like right now it’s pretty muted.