Ariana Stewart: The Pivot that Sparked a Passion
Ariana Stewart didn’t always see herself behind the lens. She started her college career as a criminal justice major, but a photography class changed her course. Guided by her professor who noticed something special: an eye for detail and a natural creative instinct. That encouragement planted a seed, and Ariana made the leap from law to lens.
“I started using my best friend as a model,” she recalled. “Just doing street photography, trying to figure out how to advance.” She debuted her career with her iPhone, teaching herself how to capture light, composition, and feeling. Eventually, she graduated to her first camera, a Canon Rebel T7–her “baby” for years–before upgrading to the Canon R, her current go-to.
“I always thought I needed the best equipment. But really, it’s about your eye. You don’t need the fanciest camera. You need a vision.”
That vision is shaped by her environment and influences: photographers like Yvonne, Kihmberlie, and creatives like Issa Rae who inspire her to be both behind and in front of the camera. “They make me want to push myself to be more confident and explore new ideas.” When it comes to creating or experiencing a creative block, Ariana builds mood boards on Pinterest, drops notes in her phone when an idea strikes, and scouts locations on the go.
“Let the creativity flow.”
She highlights that there can be challenges producing shoots. From planning to scheduling to set design and working with different people. Ariana says vibe checks are a must. Whether a self-portrait, or a collab shoot, she’s intentional about making everyone on set feel seen and safe. “It's also the job of the photographer to make [models] feel comfortable, that's even just playing music or helping them pose. Just make sure they feel safe and comfortable within the space that you create.”
When asked what’s coming up next, Ariana teases a project around self-love dropping soon. “I won’t say too much, but it’s coming,” she smiled. You can explore more of Ariana’s work at @atunez__ on TikTok and Instagram, watch behind-the-scenes footage on her YouTube, or visit her website a-tunezvisions.mypixieset.com.
