Tara Violet Niami is an Iranian-British Australian American award-winning cinematographer and photographer. Tara received her BFA in Photography from Pratt Institute and her MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute Conservatory. Her home base is in Los Angeles but she holds dual US and UK citizenship and is available to work worldwide. She is a member of Sporas, Array crew, and The Old Boys Club (headed by award-winning filmmaker Georgia Snow Nicholas). Additionally, Tara has worked as a teacher, film programmer and festival jury member.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

As a cinematographer, Tara has worked in the fields of documentary, narrative fiction, fashion film and music videos. Her work has premiered at festivals including the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Outfest, and the debut of LA Film Festival-presented by Mubi x Mezzanine.

Her debut feature as cinematographer Eye Without A Face directed by Ramin Niami of Sideshow, Inc. was released in 2021 in Eastern Europe (HBO Central), in the US & Canada (Gravitas Ventures) and in the UK (Miracle Media). Her short film work as DP includes: Slashr directed by Amir Moini and produced by Driven Equation which has premiered around the world such as FilmQuest in Utah, Fariha which screened at the MENA Film Festival in Vancouver and NewFilmmakers LA, Queen of Swords which was in competition for Best Experimental Short at Stockholm City Film Festival and Ghazal which screened at Aziz Amour LA’s Yalda Event and CineFile Video.

PHOTOGRAPHY

While attending Pratt Institute, Tara worked as a fashion photographer for Tavi Gevinson’s ROOKIE MAG. Her photographic work has been featured in multiple publications in the US and internationally including: Indiewire, Entertainment Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes, Vice Magazine, Le Monde, and Dazed & Confused Magazine. Tara’s solo photographic exhibit Self Reflections: 2008-2018 was held January 2018 at The Lodge Gallery, Los Angeles. Tara’s photography has been included in international group exhibits in cities including London and Berlin and published in print.

Tara worked as a production still photographer on films including: Focus Features’ The Mustang and Amir Naderi’s Magic Lantern which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The poster for The Mustang, featuring her photograph, won a Silver Clio. 

FILM PROGRAMMING & JURYING

Tara co-organized and co-hosted, alongside Masterbuilt Lenses, Shatter the Ceiling, a virtual panel with award-winning women in cinematography Arlene Nelson ASC, Ashley Connor, Nicole Hirsch Whittaker ASC, and Natalie Kingston. It featured intros by Ellen Kuras ASC, Natasha Braier ASC, Rachel Morrison ASC, Mandy Walker ASC, and Kate Arizmendi.

She curated films for organizations and collectives like FREE THE WORK and WOMEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, and co-programmed and co-organized screenings/industry networking events including: Jamyat-alongside Afghan-American filmmaker and artist Negine Jasmine Sekandari- a film festival program centering filmmakers of color in LA which included films like Civic (now on Criterion Channel) and Terrace Theater, with Iranian-American artist and filmmaker Maryam Farazhadi, which highlighted films by Iranian and Iranian American female filmmakers. Tara also served on the documentary jury of the Memphis Film Festival.

TEACHING AND LECTURING:

Tara currently teaches Cinematography at Chapman University’s Dodge School of Film and Media Arts. Previously, she has lectured on cinematography for Brown Girls Doc Mafia, a collective and organization supporting the work of Black and brown documentary filmmakers, and American Conservatory Theater graduate school amongst other schools and groups.

Tara’s full resume is available upon request.