MEET NOMADIC STUDIO

Nomadic Studio was born from our shared passion for photography and documentary storytelling. We chose the name Nomadic because it reflects both our personal journey and the essence of our work. It evokes movement, exploration, and the search for a place to call home – themes that deeply resonate with us.

In 2021, we left our lives in Iran and moved to Canada in pursuit of a better future. This journey has been marked by uncertainty, change, and adaptation. Throughout the process, we have embodied a nomadic spirit. Similarly, our photography business is rooted in movement and flexibility. We don’t work from a fixed studio, but travel to capture stories in diverse locations.

Mitra Samavaki

Mitra is a photographer based in Calgary, Canada. She holds a BFA in Sculpture and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Calgary.

In her 10-year career as a photojournalist, she worked with various news agencies, newspapers, and magazines. This experience fuelled her passion for storytelling and emphasized her belief in the power of photography to raise awareness and create meaningful impact.

I think my passion for photography began when I realized I didn’t have many photos from my own childhood, while my two older sisters had plenty. I was very young when I picked up my father’s film camera and started taking photos of everything that interested me — family, places, and home. From the very beginning, I was fascinated not just by how the camera worked, but by how it could preserve a moment, a memory, a person, or a relationship.

Even as a child, I knew that one day I wanted to be a photographer and pursue photography seriously. I feel incredibly fortunate that what started as a childhood passion has grown into a lifelong career.

Mitra’s work has been exhibited at Contemporary Calgary, +15 Galleries, Nickle Galleries, the Art Gallery of Alberta, The Alberta Society of Artists, the Calgary Central Library, as well as in other galleries across Canada and internationally.

Amir Salehi

My connection to photography started early, flipping through a large shelf of photography books in our family’s home library. I spent countless hours captivated by the World Press Photo collections — even before I could understand a word of English.

My passion truly took off when my uncle, seeing how much I loved photography, gifted me his Minolta X-700 camera and lenses. From then on, my camera was always with me.

Curious about people and the stories happening around me, I decided to study journalism with a focus on photojournalism. After earning my degree, I worked with several news outlets in my home country for about eight years, covering a wide range of political and social events.

In 2021, my wife and I moved to Canada to build a new life. Leaving behind the career I loved wasn’t easy, but I remained committed to photography. I had the opportunity to exhibit my work twice as one of the Emerging Photographers at the Exposure Photography Festival at Contemporary Calgary. In 2025, I was thrilled to be accepted into The Globe and Mail's apprenticeship program, where I had the incredible experience of working alongside some of Canada’s top photo editors.

Today, I continue working as a freelance photographer, specializing in editorial photography, cultural and social events, and portraiture — always inspired by the people and stories around me.

Let’s work together!

Our approach to photography is informed by over four combined decades of professional fine art and photojournalism experience. We are seasoned visual storytellers who know how to capture emotion and craft narrative. The galleries we deliver reflect authentic moments and preserve memories with clarity, consistency and warmth.

  • Including music, theatre, corporate events, engagements, family gatherings! Pricing varies based on the event, but is often around $250/hour. Non-profit rates are sometimes available.

  • For creatives, businesses, individuals, and families alike! We believe portraits should feel like a real moment, not something staged. We love working with natural light and finding locations that mean something to you: your favourite outdoor spot, a cozy studio, your home, or anywhere that holds a memory or tells a little piece of your story.

  • As artists ourselves, we understand how important it is to have thoughtful, high-quality documentation of your work and exhibitions. Hire us to establish your portfolio, create promotional images, or keep a record of your journey.