Name: Yasmin Tajik
Twitter: @yasmintajik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yasmintajikfineart
Instagram: @ytajik @yasmintajikfineart
Website: Yasmin Tajik Fine Art Prints (yasmintajikprints.com)
Age: 38
Title: Professional Photographer
Married/Single: Single
Kids: None
City you live in: Fountain Hills
A typical day in my life includes… Getting up before 6am, spending time with my dog, briefly checking the news headlines and email to address anything important, workout, then on the computer editing, marketing, networking, and if I have a shoot that’s typically late afternoon, then evenings are wrapping up the day and if my parents are in town spending time with them.
I was born…in Minnesota. Brrrrr!
My favorite thing about Arizona… I love the sunshine and warm weather. I’ll never tire of sunny days and all the the state has to offer, from the desert landscape, to the forests of the northern part of the state, to the lakes, and even the grasslands of the south.
I’m listening to…not much music lately. I’m not big into podcasts, but I do like to listen to elders and learn from their life stories and the timeless advice they share.
My family…is everything to me! Even though we are spread out across the country, we are very close and talk all the time. I’m lucky that I can travel to see each of my siblings and spend time with my nieces and nephews. When it is safe to do so, I’ll be on a plane to go see them all.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… with the Obamas.
One thing I cannot live without…my phone and spf chapstick.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…a stay at home mom. I used to say I was going to have 10 kids. Life didn’t turn out that way, but I’m a great dog mom and aunt to my nieces and nephews.
I’m inspired by…those who face dramatic challenges, and have the resilience to overcome and succeed. I’ve seen these examples over and over again in the stories that I tell through my photography.
The one person who motivates me is…a tie between my parents. I just want to make them proud.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…that everyone feels safe, has a roof over their head, food on their table, is healthy, and feels loved.
The perfect day would be…waking early at the beach, enjoying a calm morning watching the sun illuminate the sky and water, witness the community come to life as others start their day, get a full day of beach activities with my dog, family and friends, and round it out with an ultra-flavorful Meditteranean dinner with great conversation and soul-fulfilling connections with those I love.
My first job was…at Waldo’s Pizza at the local mall where I grew up in Minnesota. I stayed for a month before moving on to the local movie theater.
My favorite escape…the beach. Always the beach.
My life… is grand. I am very lucky and thankful to have the family that I have, especially my parents who are the backbone of who I am. As the daughter of immigrants, I had the unique opportunity to grow up in the US with 2 cultures, which has given me the opportunity to always see life from a different perspective. It’s been a crucial part of how I navigate life and how to help others.
I’m currently working on… my new business of selling Fine Art Prints. It was the natural progression of my photography career to take over a decade’s worth of images and create collections to sell to art lovers who love to give back. A pivotal reason why I wanted to sell fine art prints, is to extend the work I was doing through my documentary work capturing and telling stories on humanitarian issues and social causes. Three of the collections on the site donate a portion of the print sales to a partner charity. And right now for the month of December, I’m offering Limited Release Holiday Minis in 8”x10” size. Perfect for a gallery wall addition, or to give as a gift, and they’re under $100.
I’m currently working on… my new business of selling Fine Art Prints. It was the natural progression of my photography career to take over a decade’s worth of images and create collections to sell to art lovers who love to give back. A pivotal reason why I wanted to sell fine art prints, is to extend the work I was doing through my documentary work capturing and telling stories on humanitarian issues and social causes. Three of the collections on the site donate a portion of the print sales to a partner charity. And right now for the month of December, I’m offering Limited Release Holiday Minis in 8”x10” size. Perfect for a gallery wall addition, or to give as a gift, and they’re under $100.
Always…be learning. I’m a firm believer that the more informed I am, the better I can make decisions for myself and those I love and care about.
Never…close your mind.
Favorite Quote…
“Come to the edge,” he said.
“We can’t, we’re afraid!” they responded.
“Come to the edge,” he said.
“We can’t, We will fall!” they responded.
“Come to the edge,” he said.
And so they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew.”
― Guillaume Apollinaire
Biggest Dream… to have a beach house, and wake every morning knowing that I am making a difference in the world.
My Pet Peeve(s)… hypocrites.
More About Yasmin Tajik:
Hi, I’m Yasmin and I have been traveling internationally since I was 5 years old, and have since explored several countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America, the Middle East, and my list continues to grow. I focus on photographing dynamic people, and how they live in their unique locations, often utilizing my images to educate and bring awareness to issues and diversity found in exotic and ethnic locales.
I strive to not only create impactful images, but to forge one step further and that is to inspire change. Recently taking on the role as a humanitarian photographer, I have partnered with organizations fighting sex-trafficking, girls and women’s rights and education, and animal poaching. Utilizing my blog and social media to share with a global audience, my images document the basic rights we all deserve living on this planet.
It is my goal to inspire compassion and a connection between the viewer of the image and the subject. By finding our commonalities, played out in different countries, climates and clothes, it brings us closer together, creating an understanding that we all want the same things in life, food on our table, a roof over our heads, good health, to love and be loved.
