Meet Dinara Baizakova | Photographer, Videographer, Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dinara Baizakova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dinara, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is connections and people. I’m a first generation immigrant. And I didn’t know much people when I moved to the USA 3,5 years ago by myself. And when I start meeting people they started recommending me to another ones and so on. Some of them became my best friends who still help me a lot in my business and growth. I wouldn’t succeed in photography without all wonderful people, friends, colleagues, artists I met in San Diego.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Dinara, I’m 26 years old. I moved to the USA 3,5 years ago by myself from Russia. I’m full time photographer based in San Diego, but I also travel to Los Angeles and NYC. I mostly do commercial, brand, fashion , personal, model digitals and portraits.

Each person has their own story. My story starts at a crossroads. On the first road, an engineer who finished her bachelors degree of Civil Engineering with honors in Russia, Ufa. On the second road, my passion and dream.

I guess it is obvious what path I choose since you are reading this interview.

It isn’t just about pursuing my dreams. But it is also about my political views I have about Russian government which made my life be in risk if I would stayed in Russia. And I decided to start my life from scratch in the USA.

I have worked as a game attendant, barista, hostess and waitress before starting photography business in the USA. I had to learn English and new culture. However I’ve been taking photos for 11 years. And for 1,5 year in San Diego. And I think I’ve been successful for that year in san diego. I have got 2 magazine covers, multiple publications, interviews, art show and I’m the head photographer in San Diego Swim Week fashion show. Also I am the official photographer for miss grand California for 2023. I have worked with Miss Earth Air , Zodiac Boyfriend, Reeses book.

It wasn’t easy at all – coming all the way from Russia and to immerse into another one is a bit hard. I had problems with my manager at work, he was threatening me to send back to Russia and convincing me that USA doesn’t need one more immigrant. Some Americans were making fun of my English because I couldn’t understand some sentences and words. I wasn’t even sure that anyone would like to work with me as with professional photographer after that kinda experience. But luckily I found supportive people who told me that I’m excellent professional and all the people in the USA are immigrants. So I have nothing to be ashamed of.

Through my art I speak about social problems as mental health, gender equality, women’s rights, age discrimination, social inequality, the role of women through my art to support minorities. I believe that empathic picture helps to build people’s awareness about world’s problems.

I feel that my mission in life is to change this world a little for the better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, I would def do bicycle tour in Coronado, Torrey Pines walk, hidden beaches and art museums in La Jolla. I would go to eat some food at Ironside Fish & Oysters, Born And Raised. And have some fun at Nova night club. And Probably go snowboard in Big Bear.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely would like to shoutout to the director of San Diego Swim Week – Eyga Mojus. She believed in me when I didn’t even have a courage for that. She let me be Head Photographer on her big fashion event where I actually met all beautiful people I became friends and colleagues with.

I would like shoutout to the owner of Kingdom Kismet – Shamara Noriega who also believed in me, and let me a part of her business, and gave me a lot of opportunities to meet influential and outstanding people.

And I just want to shoutout to all people in San Diego who supported and helped in the development of me as a professional.

Website: https://dinaraphotos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinara.photos/?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinara.photos

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dinarabaizakova2451/videos

Image Credits
Shanice Montgomery, Katherine Smith, Ashtyn, Anastasia Sherbakova, Anna Kolomnikova, Rachel Ray