Pooya Nabei Talks Fashion Photography, On Location Shooting And Favorite Cameras

Pooya Nabei, an accomplished photographer hailing from Tehran, Iran, was born in 1983. At the age of 17, he made the pivotal move to Canada, now establishing himself as a prominent figure in the fashion industry.

His photography journey began in 2005, focusing on capturing the essence of nightlife. It was during this time that he first ventured into photographing renowned figures in the music realm such as Lady Gaga and Swedish House Mafia.

Pooya's passion for photography spans a wide spectrum, ranging from conceptual fashion shoots to intimate portrait sessions. Presently based in Vancouver, Canada, he continues to push boundaries in his craft.His impressive portfolio includes editorial and cover shoots for esteemed publications like Schön Magazine, Western Living Magazine, Flanelle Magazine, and Hooks Magazine, among others.

Noteworthy stars, including Karen Fukuhara, Daveed Diggs, Swedish House Mafia, and David Suzuki, have graced his lens. Pooya's work has garnered recognition, appearing in reputable platforms such as VICE, Salon, IMDB, Yahoo, and ScreenRant.

He has been honored with awards from prestigious entities like Communication Arts and Applied Arts, in addition to winning the Silver Prize at Px3 2023. Notably, he has collaborated with the Hallmark Channel, contributing his expertise to shooting movie posters.

He is an expert on on-location shooting. “I love location shoots; especially the golden hours, sunrise or sunset,” said Nabei. “Unlike many photographers who really enjoy shooting on a cloudy day, I personally adore harsh light, whether its highlights or shadows. I also enjoy shooting into the sun when the light is low and would flare into the lens.”

Among his many high profile shoots, he has shot Canadian influencer Jessica Mulroney, known for being a longtime friend of Meghan Markle, in a fashion campaign for Upper Canada Mall, which is one of Canada's largest shopping mall in Newmarket Ontario that first opened in 1974, but has since become a major player in the country's retail scene having boutiques from major brands like Hudson's Bay, Zara and Michael Kors, among others. The mall had a $60 million renovation completed in 2008.

When Nabei photographed Jessica Mulroney, it was in 2016, around the time she was a fashion influencer. “She was a big influencer and we wanted to feature her in the campaign,” he said, “so we photographed her for two days, in a house in Vancouver.”

Nabei works with several types of cameras, but his favorite is the Phase One, a medium format camera. “The dynamic range on this camera is quite beautiful with stunning depth of field,” he said. “It’s also a very slow camera when it comes to focusing, so it’s a completely different workflow on set.”

This slower, almost old fashioned type of camera taps into a certain mentality. In an era where everything is Photoshopped, and where Instagram filters have become common, his approach has seen a shift. “I have always loved retouching and Photoshop work, but that has changed in the past few years,” said Nabei. “I would much rather be taking the pictures and keeping everything as is; I never liked over-the-top retouching, so it’s becoming a very minimal part of my workflow, nowadays.”

While his photography has recently graced the cover of Hooks Magazine in Canada, he also recently shot a film starring his friend Stephanie. “She’s a phenomenal dancer, and I wanted to spend a few hours with her, letting her dance in a free form and I capture what she would come up with,” said Nabei. “As much as I enjoy big productions, something magical happens when you are following your instincts with just yourself, subject and a camera.”

Next up, Nabei is doing an artist residency at Langara College in Vancouver, where he will create a new body of photographic works themed around the hardship and struggles around immigration. He is also considering creating a photo book based on his travels. If I ever did a photo book, it would have to be a portrait book, shot in Japan or the Middle East,” he said. “I took a trip to Japan two years ago and I’m fascinated by their culture and scenery.”

Check out Pooya Nabei’s website at www.pooyanabei.com. All photos by Pooya Nabei.