Meet Liliya Cooper | Concert and Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liliya Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liliya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I first decided to start my publication, one of the main factors that motivated me was professionalism. One of the most important things in starting a publication is to have drive, a desire to pleasing people and perfectionism. After separating from my first publication I took all of the necessary steps to grow my own brand that had that wow factor. Even though I had just started I wanted to blend in with the rest of the well established brands. When I was younger and I followed countless artists who would tour for months on end I always struggled to find those high quality pictures from the “people with the big cameras” at concerts. I never knew where to find those. Now in the position I am today where I am the “people with the big cameras” I want to make it as easy a possible for fans to have access to the highest quality of pictures of their favorite artists, no matter their fame status.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the main things I pride myself on is changing the narrative of photography, whether it is concert or portrait photography. I have always done things differently when it comes to my work, and that has always helped me stand out. When showing my work to people in the past, they’ve told me, “Liliya the photos are blurry, Liliya I don’t like that its not clear, why don’t you airbrush, my skin doesn’t look smooth enough, or why didn’t you edit out the blurs?” I think that’s what makes my photos so unique, and that’s what makes my photos mine. I got where I am today through being extremely proactive. I didn’t want to wait around for someone to do something for me or have someone tell me to do it. It never hurts to try, they can’t say yes it you don’t ask and being told no isn’t the end of the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The top of the parking deck of the target at the Prado during sunset then I would take them to the blind pig parlor
then drive down 85 south through downtown to see the skyline
then lastly I would take them to Folk Art in little 5 points, the best breakfast spot in atlanta!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Moontower, the first band to ever give me the opportunity to photograph them in a professional manner. They helped me fall in love with what I do and made my drive possible. I owe them everything I have earned in the past year and a half. So I will eternally be grateful to them!

Website: www.photobyliliya.com & www.cooperinternationalmedia.com

Instagram: @photobyliliya & @cooperinternationalmedia

Twitter: @photobyliliya

Image Credits
All images were taken by ( Liliya Cooper )