Luxury Magazine Armenia // Issue 52 // Interview with Tanya Kechichian Translation (from Russian): P

Luxury Magazine Armenia // Issue 52 // Interview with Tanya Kechichian Translation (from Russian): Please tell us when and how your photography career began? When I was 16 a friend of mine asked me to join her for some free photography classes offered to high school students at CalArts, a prestigious art college which we were lucky enough to live nearby. It was because of that opportunity that I chose to further my education in the field and ultimately make it my career choice.  What was your first photo? How did you get your first camera? My first camera was a Canon AE-1 that my uncle gave to me, which I still have and occasionally shoot with. When I began, I would often walk around downtown Los Angeles with my dad, photographing cityscapes and interesting window displays, so those are among some of my first photos. Which celebrities have you photographed? It is difficult to work with stars? Whom do you prefer to work with? I’ve never really been interested in shooting celebrities, though I have worked with quite a few musicians. Luckily I haven’t really had to deal with big egos, but usually the most difficult part is getting them to show up on time.   How would you describe the style in which you work? You have created this genre, or take it from someone? I like my work to look polished and classic- I’m not a big fan of the current snapshot-like trend. I enjoy taking the time during the concept phase to draw out my lighting plan and thus give each shoot its own specific mood. With that said, I love shadows, the darker and more emotional, the better.  One can argue that most everything has been done before, and artists all look to one another for inspiration at times. It’s about letting your personality and aesthetic shine through your work that makes it uniquely yours.    What do you like to shoot?  Give me men’s fashion any day, it’s by far my favorite subject. I just absolutely love working with men-I find their ruggedness and energy more exciting and beautiful. What inspires you? From what do you find the energy? Fashion, nighttime, art, cinema, museums, love, music, sleep- I draw from all of these things. I often find myself staring a wall and daydreaming when all of a sudden an idea will hit me. When I’m in desperate need of inspiration I run to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, put on my headphones, and walk around for hours.   What do you know about your Armenian roots? Do you speak  Armenian? Both sides of my family are from Lebanon and my parents moved to the states when they were in their teens. I do speak the language- aside from learning from my parents, I went to an Armenian private school until 2nd grade where I was also taught.   Do you feel yourself Armenian? What do you know about your homeland? I’ve always been curious about and proud of my culture, so yes I definitely feel Armenian. I don’t know what I would do without lebni and olives, bread and cheese.    I  visited Armenia 11 years ago and have always wanted to go back- I was young and didn’t get the chance to really explore as I had mainly gone to volunteer at a camp for under-privileged kids. I remember some beautiful countryside and was mesmerized by the historic churches and great art.   Have you ever worked with Armenians? I’ve photographed quite a few interesting ones over the last couple of years as I began contributing to an Armenian magazine. Since moving to NYC, I’ve met a lot of talented Armenian creatives that are really making their mark and whom I look forward to collaborating with.   What creative plans do you have for the future? Lately I’ve been working on video projects every chance I get. The integration of still and video into one camera has really opened up new opportunities and given way to a whole different level of creative output for me, so I look forward to working on more short films.    Have you ever thought about another profession? What do you like doing in your spare time? Photography will forever be my love and career, but I of course enjoy working in as many creative outlets as possible. Before I dreamed of becoming a photographer I thought I was destined to be a musician, so I still play guitar every chance I get, hoping that teenage fantasy may still come true.  You can check out the full issue here.  -- source link

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