Karam Alani - My Photography Journey

It all began when I was just 8 years old, I picked up my mom’s old-school film camera. Back then, we were just taking photos of the family for the fun of it. We had two film cameras: a Konica Tomato and a Panasonic. Excitement would overcome us as we’d get home from the store after the roll of 36 photos had been developed.

When I was 20, my family and I moved to the U.S. and I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was overwhelmed by the array of camera brands and models; we didn’t have that growing up. Due to my limited budget, I started out with a used digital camera. Getting back out in the world to take photos was again on my agenda. However, I quickly came to realize the limitations of this camera and its inability to meet my expectations.

With time, better cameras, and lots of practice, I got better. Like for many, the pandemic was difficult and lonely at times but fortunately, it allowed me to focus on my passion for photography. Before COVID I didn’t spend as much attention to lighting for my pictures, I’d just see something photo-worthy and simply take the photo. In addition to the limitations of the pandemic, I had to undergo a knee surgery which allowed even more time for me to develop my skills behind the camera lens. I started investing in accessories such as my lens ball and new lenses for different types of shoots and creative photography.

Then, one day I was showing my friend some of my photos and she said “dude, these are really good, you should put them on Unsplash”. So, I did. I started with an Unsplash account and then tried out Pexels. This is when things really started to take off for me. To my surprise, my photos were being downloaded. People actually liked my stuff! Then, the best of all surprises occurred: my Unsplash account hit 1 million views in less than a year!

Achieving my goals is something I take very seriously. One of my main goals is to master my camera, improve my shooting skills, and become an expert in photo editing. My passion for photography literally pushes me to travel and explore new places all over California and elsewhere. I’m currently based in Sacramento, California but frequently make weekend trips up and down the golden state. I recently did a trip in Arizona where I got some fantastic shots of the Grand Canyon and soon I’ll be in Hawaii for the first time. I’ve got many upcoming trips planned all over the country to expand my photo portfolio. I can’t wait to share my photos with you.

Thank you to all the individuals who encouraged me to follow my passion. I couldn’t have done it without you.