Yes.

I am currently available for commissions in northern/central New Jersey.

I primarily specialize in portraiture and creative photography. I am always open to other requests.

Interested in working with me? Let’s talk!

simsoliviaa@gmail.com

My love for photographing visions and happenings began at age ten when I first experimented with a camera by photographing a deer with a pink nose in the woods behind my home. I had named her Maple, and for five years; 2011 - 2016, I fed and photographed her daily. I taught myself the technical aspects of photography while developing a highly intuitive understanding of the creative process, spending countless hours alone with wildlife, even in snowstorms and hurricanes, refining my craft.

Over time, I shifted my focus from wildlife to photographing friends, family, and eventually myself. This transition to working with the human figure marked a new chapter in my photography practice. In my teenage years, I expanded my skills by organizing photoshoots for friends, and after two years of high school photography classes, I was encouraged to skip two levels, completing my senior year in AP 2D Design. This course deepened my understanding of integrating fine art with photography, infusing my work with purpose, abstract messages, and solving creative problems through various processes.

In May 2020, I started independently working as a photographer, drawing from my diverse experience in wildlife, landscapes, still life, portraits, and experimental photography. Since then, I’ve photographed special moments, business products, one-on-one sessions, headshots, modeling digitals, creative projects, and more - and am still practicing in 2025.

This is my personal statement from 2022 from when I studied art and the closest I’ve gotten to successfully describing my artistic style in words -

My two years of college studying for my AFA in Graphic and Interactive Design taught me how to utilize different forms of media including drawing, painting, graphic/web design, and photography with the intention of purposefully producing work to solve a problem. College structured my understanding of the fundamentals behind art and creative thinking. As a young designer, I am more specifically enticed and inspired by creators within fashion. Photographers such as Helmut Newton and designers, especially Alexander McQueen; as I resonate with his way of designing as he similarly put underlying personal messages from his life into his work. My personal work explores concepts primarily through fine art photography and graphic design.

Just as McQueen surrendered his thoughts and personal life into visually compelling and emotion-evoking experiences, I am to use my similar mindset of being creatively driven to implement this way of thinking into my future career. It is how I have always worked, designing with purpose

I find beauty in portraying dark and sensitive topics. My own reactions to situations that arise in my life inspire my work. I use art to express feelings, therefore allowing for my emotions to determine the work’s progression. My work tests my ability to express what it is I am feeling in an abstract manner; as verbally explaining it can be challenging for me.

I am an emotionally-inclined woman who enjoys dark themes in reality, freedom of thought, and imaginative expression. I have an intimate connection with my work, as most is autobiographical and produced with a purpose. My preferred medium, digital photography, offers a way for me to communicate my darkest sensations, thoughts, and visions, while also serving as a way to make others feel powerful and seen. Portraiture has been a primary approach in my practice, as I like to use the human figure to interpret emotion and creative forms of expression to symbolize deeper messages. My work stands as a reminder to adore one’s genuine self and to make amends for the unsettling elements that arise in life.

For me, working in an achromatic manner conveys emotions in a way that colors simply cannot. I prefer to work in black and white because I see this dynamic as a correspondence to the deep sentiments that shape my work and serves as a nod to the gray area, or being one with the gray. I practice self-portraiture to tie myself closer to works that hold personal importance. Most of my photography revolves around natural lighting to utilize what is around us all rather than implementing artificial techniques. In my personal work I do not partake in photoshopping and touching up the face and body of the subject. This is my way of bringing awareness to the idea that people can, and should prioritize finding confidence in their own skin, without having the inclination to remove pieces of who they are through digital media.

I believe a creative's ability to maintain a personal brand while demonstrating versatility in executing work outside their typical style showcases professionalism, adaptability, and expertise.

While I don't believe all commercial projects need to reflect my personal artistic style, I find that core values—such as discipline, curiosity, effort, and creativity—remain constant across both artistic and commercial work, adjusting to meet the unique needs of each project.

I’m driven by my passion for visuals and their powerful ability to influence and connect with consumers. Understanding how design shapes perception and drives engagement is what fuels my flexibility in design decision-making. My primary focus is on understanding the client’s needs and aligning my designs with their marketing strategy and vision. I prioritize work that fits seamlessly into their approach, ensuring it resonates with their target audience while meeting commercial objectives.

I believe that having a personal brand or artistic style outside of work can be incredibly beneficial within a commercial context. My personal creative outlets give me the freedom to explore new techniques and experiment with different thought processes. This practice allows me to bring fresh, innovative ideas into the commercial space, enriching my design work with diverse perspectives and solutions that may not always emerge from a strictly client-driven framework.

Unless my personal style is specifically requested, I recognize that there’s a time for creative expression and a time to prioritize client goals. It’s essential to know when to apply artistic freedom and when to adhere to the context of the project, ensuring both creativity and business goals are achieved.

I pursued graphic design after high school because of the liking I took to art and the ability it has to convey meaning and evoke specific emotions in viewers in high school. Taking AP 2D Design in my senior year was a pivotal moment—it revealed to me the immense power of visual communication and how intentional design influences the world around us. This experience sparked a clear understanding of my natural aptitude for design and ignited a genuine interest in creating work that resonates with people. It was then that I realized graphic design was not only something I’d excel at artistically but mentally - the processes consisted of mindsets and problem-solving that I truly enjoyed being present with and wanted to be present in my future.

Even before my senior year of high school, I recognized that I was a visual learner, absorbing information most effectively through images and design. I remember music by album covers and not the name of the album. I've always had a natural ability to visualize objects and imagery, with a strong awareness of color and its psychological impact. My tendency to be highly organized also plays a key role in my design approach. Having been a visual learner, I am also sensitive to visual clutter, often feeling overwhelmed by excessive stimuli in my environment. This sensitivity has become an asset in my work, as it allows me to create designs that are both visually engaging and balanced—ensuring they don’t overwhelm the viewer, but instead invite them to interact with and absorb the information in a thoughtful and intuitive way. As I grew older, I developed a deeper appreciation for the power of strong, successful visuals and their ability to effectively communicate information. This evolving interest became the foundation for my decision to study graphic design, as it allowed me to pursue a field that genuinely aligned with my passion for visual communication and design.

I studied advertising because I am fascinated by the power of visuals to communicate ideas, tell stories, and influence behavior. Advertising combines my passion for creativity with a strategic understanding of how design can connect with people on an emotional level. I didn’t want to be confined to the niche of graphic design alone; I didn’t want to be just a graphic designer. My passions and interests extend beyond the traditional skillsets of graphic design, and I wanted to learn advertising to bring my design knowledge into a broader, more impactful context.

Advertising taught me how to use creativity to solve real-world problems and meet business objectives. I’m driven by the challenge of creating work that is not only visually compelling but also meaningful and effective in engaging audiences. The combination of art and strategy in advertising offers the perfect outlet for my creative expression while fulfilling my desire to make an impact in the world of marketing and branding.

In addition, I chose to study advertising at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign not only because of their strong advertising program but also for the opportunity to learn in a public university setting. This environment allowed me to meet and engage with people from diverse fields of study and backgrounds—experiences I might not have had at a specialized art school. I didn’t want to be surrounded only by artists or ‘creatives’; I value the perspectives of individuals outside my discipline, as they often provide fresh insights and broaden my approach to creativity and problem-solving. This interdisciplinary exposure enriched my understanding of advertising, helping me see how design and strategy intersect with broader cultural, social, and business contexts.