Today we’d like to introduce you to Oriel Lachi.
Hi Oriel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
How did start photography? I honestly started photography long before I knew I loved photography I would say around the age of 5 or 7 it was hobby using the yellow disposable Kodak cameras during my family vacation years went by I started to find a love for fashion and started modeling because my friends Patrice & Chanel at 17 I remember doing a series of shoots because I was turning 18 and one day a photographer by the name of Marc told me I have an eye for photography even in front of the camera as a model weeks later he gave me one of his cameras and my granny and dad told me the importance of being able to capture photos by showing me the family photo book of decades worth of art and moments my mom later put me in college for photography at which I got my first F in a creative class ever after that the fuel for the fire remain present for years to come and the rest well it’s history and cinema
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Photography hasn’t always been a smooth road for me a lot of people think it has been for me due to my talent but it’s been the exact opposite especially due to my eye health and condition of having glaucoma and being completely blind in one eye and going through 9 eye surgeries before the age of 7 and implementing photography in my daily life has only made it worse some years. In my time as a photographer I’ve had 12 eye injections in 10 years and also lost my love one due to an accident of a stranger swerving off the road and hitting her resulting in me creating the pink project in dedication to her in 2018 because our prom colors were pink for 2 years I only photographed in pink in tribute to her always wanting to do a photo shoot with me or by me which never happened but I did photograph her funeral and it was the toughest obstacle besides my eye injections of my career
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What is it I do? I create art and curate them to be time pieces that hopefully never expire I mainly do photography but I do poetry and other creative genres to cultivate memories
What do I specialize in?
I honestly wouldn’t say I specialize in anything particular but experience life to its fullest and express it in art form to how I see it to me Art is everything life should be or will become. just happen to do it well by remaining present with myself and the times.
What am I most proud of? The journey the expression of my experience here the memories I share with soo many unique individuals I’ve made community and family outside of my own and moments that will be told to be stories
What sets me apart from others? Just being present with my destiny being present with my God present with my love and family there’s power in prayer and silence if you ask me
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice for someone looking for a mentor?
Don’t be scared do your research and reach out remain teachable and still be you when mentored. My mentor has been family since day one but I have reached out to certain leaders in society and had unique encounters and sit downs
But do your research and reach out that’s my main advice.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @oriellachi_
- Facebook: Oriel Dé Lachi
