7 / Seema Miah / Headshot + Portrait Photographer
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© Seema Miah Photography
Seema Miah is a wonderful and compassionate portrait photographer in Aberdeen, Scotland. We’re very proud and grateful that she is also an Associate Member of Headshots Matter.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being surrounded by my loved ones, eating great food and having a laugh!
2. What is your greatest fear or challenge?
When it comes to photography, my greatest fear is feeling I’ll never meet my potential because of self-doubt.
3. What trait do you most value in yourself?
I’m thoughtful - I try to look out for others.
4. What is the trait that you most value in others?
Kindness - not always that easy to spot but it’s a real gift to be truly kind and care for others. That’s why I love Headshots Matter. Dwayne Brown, Sean McLatchie Laithwaite and Jennifer Kimberley Brown have been so kind and supportive of my work, which means a great deal to me.
5. Which living person do you most admire?
It would have to be my mum. She came from Bangladesh to Scotland as a very young woman in the late 1970s, and Aberdeen was not the most welcoming place for immigrants at that time. But my mum has settled into living here, and she is just about getting used to the weather! She has also done an incredible job bringing up our family and being a carer to our dad who had dementia.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Camera gear: I always need another lens.
7. What is your current state of mind?
Upbeat - it’s 1st February as I write this, and after a long and gruelling January, I’m finally looking forward to what this year will bring.
8. What do you consider to be the most underrated virtue?
Empathy - especially when it comes to portrait photography. It’s easy to forget how nerve-wracking being photographed can be. It’s always important to make sure you understand how your clients are feeling, put them at ease, and plan the shoot accordingly.
9. On what occasion do you break the rules?
If a photography session is going sideways, then I’ll throw my shoot plan out the window and do what I can to make my client feel comfortable.
10. What do you most like about your life?
I’m very lucky to have my partner, Daniel, who has always been incredibly supportive of my work, and my siblings and mum have always been there for me, too. And I’m fortunate to have a good work-life balance that allows me to follow my creative passions.
11. What quality do you most enjoy in someone you work with?
Patience! I’m often quite anxious to get things right, so I love it when anyone I collaborate with is willing to hear me out and work with me on creating great portraits.
12. Which words, phrases, or gestures do you most overuse?
‘Like,’ ‘stuff,’ and ‘amazing!’
13. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Dan - he has given me the confidence to really pursue photography, and his laidback attitude to life has made me a bit more relaxed about things too.
14. When and where are you happiest?
Springtime in Budapest or in the Japanese Alps makes me very happy! Otherwise, it’s travelling to a place I’ve not visited before with Dan.
15. Which talent would you most like to have?
Being able to draw photo-realistically would be so cool.
16. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I can be easily distracted. I need to become more focused on following through on tasks.
17. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Setting up my photography business while working full time as a teacher.
18. Where would you most like to live?
I would love to live in the South of Spain in the winter and return to Scotland in the summer months.
19. What is your most treasured possession?
My photos of my family from when we were little.
20. What is your favourite way to spend your time?
Travelling to somewhere I haven’t been to before.
21. Who are your heroes in real life?
Apart from my mum, there are my colleagues in my teaching job whom I really admire. They have devoted most of their working career to working with the most challenging young people and have achieved real success in turning their lives around.
22. What is your ultimate dealbreaker?
If people don’t keep their promises.
23. What is your greatest regret?
Not being more focused on following my creativity when I was younger.
24. What has been your favourite journey?
I really enjoyed travelling through Japan on the bullet trains. Definitely a travel highlight.
25. What kind of legacy would you like to leave?
That I was kind, cared for others and did my best.
For more information about Seema Miah and her portrait photography you can find her at: seemamiah.com and also view work on social at: Instagram / LinkedIn
