Through the Lens of Purpose: Nare’s Journey to Building a Photography Business in Sisian

At just 20 years old, Nare Simonyan has already built a name for herself in her hometown of Sisian. Today, many locals simply know her as "Nare the photographer"-a title she wears with pride.

What began as curiosity has grown into a thriving small business. Nare has opened her own photography studio, making it one of only two studios currently operating in the town.

After graduating from school, she enrolled in the Armenian State Pedagogical University in Yerevan to study photography for a year before continuing her education through a three-month intensive photography course. But the moment that truly changed everything came even earlier, when she won an Instagram photoshoot competition.

"When I went to the photoshoot and watched the photographer work with the model, I was immediately fascinated. Right then, I realized that this was what I wanted to do," Nare recalls.

She began by photographing local events, gradually building her portfolio and experience. As her passion turned into a profession, she dreamed of opening a studio of her own. That dream became possible through FAR’s Small Business Assistance Program in Sisian.

Through the program, Nare received a professional camera and lighting equipment—essential tools that allowed her to take the next step in her career.

"I heard about FAR’s program from one of my colleagues." she says. " I thought, maybe it would help me move forward—and that's exactly what happened. I'm incredibly grateful to FAR. It was the first major success of my life."

Today, Nare shares a rented space with her sister. While her sister runs an evening dress rental business, Nare welcomes clients into her photography studio, capturing everything from portraits to special occasions.  Her lens becomes a channel to capture the changes in Sisian through the lives of locals, as well as a source of steady income and future professional growth.

She believes she has already established a recognizable style and built a strong reputation in Sisian. Yet she knows that her journey is only beginning.

Nare plans to move to Yerevan in the future, where she hopes to continue growing her business.

"It will be difficult because no one knows me there. I'll have to earn that recognition all over again," she says. "But I'm confident that I can do it."

Her biggest dream is to own a space of her own and create the photography studio she has always envisioned. Everything else, she believes, can be achieved with hard work, persistence, and faith in herself.