Ariana Genilla: Femininity on Film with the Diana Mini

Ariana Genilla is a Las Vegas-based photographer who has been shooting since she was 15 years old. During lockdown she re-established her love for photography and has since turned it into a business. She recently got hold of a Diana Mini & Flash and gave us her thoughts and first impressions of the results!

Hi Ariana, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?

Hi! Thank you so much for having me! I am a freelance photographer in Las Vegas and I focus mainly on fashion and creative portraits, but I do have an eclectic portfolio of elopements, e-commerce and food as well. I love the challenge of perspective that comes with every photo, so I appreciate being well-rounded and free versus sticking to one niche. Along with freelancing, I am also Co-founder and Creative Director of The Golden Collective, a digital marketing agency, so I am blessed with opportunities to work with a lot of well-known brands here in town.

How did you first get interested in photography?

It was somewhat of a slow burn for me. I have always loved it, but never took it seriously until I found my confidence. I was 15 when I received my first camera and I started off like many others by photographing pretty flowers and architecture. Over the years, I only carried a camera with me for fun and to take pictures of my family. Covid came and turned our lives upside down, and photography was all I truly found myself wanting to do. With the encouragement of my husband, I attended workshops and networked until I grew it into a business and the ultimate passion project.

What was your first impression of the Diana Mini ?

First impression was definitely how cute it is! I appreciate how compact and super easy she is to bring with me anywhere. After developing my first set on Lomography’s fine Color Negative Film, I loved the grain and nostalgia in every photo that required no additional finesse to look beautiful.

Do you have a favorite shot that you took with the camera? Is there a story behind it?

I would say that my favorite shot so far is this one of Lizzie McConachie at a local shopping plaza called Fergusons Downtown. It’s giving “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran. This photo actually illustrates a few of my favorite things like femininity, movement, film, and shot style.

Where do you draw your main inspiration from in your work?

I draw a lot of my inspiration from my day-to-day. One tip I learned from another amazing photographer, Claire Bishara, is to realize what my likes are while I go about normal life. I try to write down styles, colors, light patterns or anything that looks interesting to me and keep them in a list to build a shoot from them. Other photographers also inspire me with their style and perspective, like Carianne Older or Nesrin Danan. I am still trying to truly find myself and my personal brand with my work, so seeing that they know their identity and found their success is really what drives me to keep creating.

If you could take your Diana Mini anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love bring her with me to Japan during cherry blossom season. It has been a lifelong dream to visit and photograph everything from portraits to nature and even the food. I would probably bring every single camera I own and a grip of film, but the Diana Mini is the one that will be carried everywhere.

Do you have any advice for shooting with the Diana Mini?

Keep a steady hand, or don’t. I have a few shots that were attempted single handed and a subtle shake can either give a trendy motion blur or wreck your perspective. Also, I 10/10 recommend double exposure.

Where do you see your photography going in 10 years?

In 10 years, my work will develop into a style that is unique to me and people will be able to look at an image and know that I was the photographer. I will be working with more brands and magazine publications, and my business will be thriving to support my family while I never stop doing what I love. I am speaking it all into existence.

If you're interested in keeping up with Ariana and her photographic journey don't forget to check out her Instagram and website!

written by eloffreno on 2023-02-23 #gear #lifestyle #fashion #35mm #portraits