Meet Tohar Or-Amitay | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tohar Or-Amitay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tohar, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always loved photography. When I was 12 years old my parents and I traveled to Amsterdam and befriended a man who owned a photography studio and hosted workshops, and the week we were there he happened to host a famous internationals photographer, and offered me to receive a free one on one workshop on her day off. I learned the technical skills and mechanics of a camera then, and I could occasionally take photos of friends and family for fun. I even had an instagram when I was 14 for photography! I gave up on that dream in high school, not thinking much of it. On my senior year of college, I got married myself and through exploration of different wedding photography I fell in love with the documentary style, real moment, film like photography. I studied elementary education in college and in my student teaching my mentor teacher was pregnant and needed her maternity photos done. I had a cheap camera but offered to do it for fun. While that didn’t end up happening, I suddenly thought of offering myself on Facebook to take photos of people for free, just to try it again. And I fell in love with it again. Around here, there aren’t many documentary style photographers (but there are a few who are absolutely incredible!!) and I decided to take on more and more clients for free until I realized I can actually make a business out of it. In my work I have fallen in love with capturing pregnancies, weddings, couples and babies. I decided to go and become certified as a doula as well to get myself into birth photography as well. The thought behind my business now is that I want to capture people in the biggest and most exciting moments and milestones in their lives. Whether it’s finding your loved one, marrying them, starting a family and growing a human, those are beautiful moments that should be captured and kept forever!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography style is documentary, meaning I want my photos to look like scene from a movie! I’m not about posing my clients but rather capturing the true essence of their story. People often say that when looking at my photos they look like a screenshot of an old love movie and that is the biggest compliment I can get!
I am definitely still growing and developing, photography is not my full time job right now but I want to make it the only job I work one day! (Well that and being a doula) and it has been a crazy long journey, but I am loving the growth and development I have seen with my photos, my abilities, and my clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, my number one restaurant always and forever is Bamboo Sushi! I grew up in Portland, and this restaurant originated in Oregon. It is a sustainable fishing company that created the most incredible sushi restaurant! I go there almost every week at this point, and it is my go to always! A good weekend in the area for me includes getting coffee at BREW Coffee in Lafayette, hitting the flee market across the street, going to sit my the creek in boulder and finishing the day with Bamboo sushi!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First of all, my husband. My husband has supported me from day one, he even got me my first camera! He will now come with me to weddings and assist me and always gets excited to see my pictures, support me, and be my number one fan!
I want to thank Bella Genovesi, the photographer who took my husband and I’s engagement photos. She’s a documentary style photographer and her work has always inspired me, and continues to inspire me in my journey!

Website: https://Toharogphotography.com

Instagram: Toharogphotography

Facebook: Tohar OG Photography

Image Credits
Tohar OG Photography