About Aya
With a background in blogging and social media, I’ve been taking photos for years. I began in high school when I purchased my first professional camera and taught myself the basics of photography. I’m proud to be fully self-taught and continue learning and refining my craft! My photographic style has evolved over time, and my website shows a collection of work spanning from my early beginnings to where I am today.
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
– Ansel Adams
Ever since I was young, I’ve had a deep love for art. Creativity has always been my way of expressing myself— whether through drawing, painting, singing, DIY projects, baking, decorating, or video editing.
When I first purchased my professional camera, I photographed everything and everyone. In 10th grade, I would set up a tripod, step outside, and take self-portraits in different outfits for my fashion and lifestyle blog, AbsolutelyAya. At the same time, I ran a YouTube channel where I created DIY and recipe content—photographing thumbnails, filming videos, and editing everything myself.
Baking also became a big part of my creative journey. I spent years baking and photographing my desserts, learning how to style food and capture it in a way that looked just as beautiful as it tasted. That experience helped shape my eye for food photography and visual storytelling.
Eventually, I realized I could turn this passion into something more. I began taking senior portraits for people in my area and decided to pursue photography alongside blogging and YouTube, building my creative skills across multiple platforms.
Education
2016-2022
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
I earned my degree in Business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022. An artist at heart, I’m driven by creativity and purpose-led work, which led me to pivot into business marketing—where strategy meets storytelling and ideas turn into impact.
Throughout this time, I continued building my photography business on the side, slowly turning my passion for creating into something much bigger.
2022-Present
Aya Sellami Photography
Eventually, I took the leap and decided to fully focus on photography in 2025, transforming what started as a side hustle into my main passion and career. Being able to work in my passion feels like a dream. Photography has always been close to my heart and has remained a constant presence throughout my life. I’m excited to continue evolving creatively and to see what the future holds.
“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”
– Dorothea Lange
“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”
– Andy Warhol
