Today we’d like to introduce you to Dima Osko.
Hi Dima, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria where I discovered my love for art and went to an art school for six months. Around that time, I decided to move to the States where I lived in Michigan for seven years.
I’ve always been interested in art and fascinated by colors, textures, lines, light and shadow… etc. I decided to go to a Cosmetology school in Michigan and become a makeup artist in 2009, and I still am doing makeup and loving it 13 years and counting!
I bought my first camera in 2011 and took photography classes with the intention of taking professional pictures of my makeup work for my portfolio. Other than taking pictures of my makeup work, I did some portraits for some friends for fun but since I was already too busy doing hair and makeup, I didn’t have the time for photography, so sadly it kind of stayed on the back burner.
Fast forward to 2015, I moved to Miami and dated a photographer who revived my love for photography, made me pull out my old neglected camera and started teaching me the basics all over again. I took my camera on every trip (which we traveled a lot) and started taking scenic pictures but I also had an interest in street photography, documentary photography and journalism photography. I loved seeing how raw and candid those photographs were, full of emotion and movement. I loved how those photographs told a story!!!! It almost felt like watching a movie and it made me feel something. So when I decided to become a professional photographer and take on clients, it was important for me to tell people’s story through my photographs and have my clients relive the moment every time they see those images 🙂
Dating a photographer back then allowed me to see what goes behind the scenes of a photographer’s life. Equipment, editing, composition, coloring… etc. Ironically, exposure to photography impacted and improved my makeup as I gained better understanding of lighting, angles, coloring and editing. Now my background as a makeup artist has made me a better editor and colorist. Makeup and photography definitely go hand in hand.
Did I mention my grandma was a makeup artist and had a salon back in Syria 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It might not be your typical answer, but overall it’s been a pretty smooth ride for me. Being in the industry as a makeup artist and hairstylist for so long definitely made it smoother since I know the ins and outs and how this industry works.
Of course, there are some challenges that come along the way for any entrepreneur and business, the biggest for me is keeping the balance between my current makeup clients as well as all of my photography clients. I love both careers and I cannot give up either one. Matter of fact, they go hand in hand and I sort of become “a one stop shop” to a lot of my clients, often getting hired to do hair, makeup and photography for a lot of shoots!
It requires a lot of sacrifices on my end to keep up with the workload, but it’s all worth it and seeing my clients happy and pleased is so rewarding.
I feel like my whole life, I was meant to be the creative person that I am today, and I wouldn’t make it without the support of my family and friends and of course all of my AMAZING clients who trusted and continue to trust me to capture, document and tell their stories through my lens!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
To be specific, I am a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Miami. On the other hand, family and maternity shoots will forever have a place in my heart and I love documenting them!
You asked, what sets me apart from other photographers?
My answer comes from client’s feedback – I never knew how describe my style as it came natural for me to shoot and edit the way I do.
I always ask my clients, “Why did you choose me over other photographer?” and the answers that I get normally summarizes with:
“Your photographs made them feel something even though I don’t know the people in the photograph.”
“It feels like a movie.”
“Editorial”
“Detail shots”
“It looks like something I’d see in Rollingstone.”
“Unique, not your typical wedding shoot”
I am proud and happy to be able to capture people’s emotions and feelings and freeze it for a lifetime and generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Email: dimaoskophotography@gmail.com
- Website: www.dimaosko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimaoskophotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DimaOskoPhotography
Image Credits
#27 August & Nick #215 – 249 Justine & Gaurav #15 – 72 Ckaudia & Jorge #7 – 15 Paulina & Ismael
