Portrait artist Shirin Tinati has spent years capturing women in their most authentic light, and in doing so, has discovered her own definition of success: the lives she touches, the connections she nurtures, and the ripple effect of confidence she helps spark. In this conversation, Shirin shares how community has shaped her path, the daily practices that keep her grounded, and the legacy she hopes will outlast her photographs.
Redefining Success Through Connection and Love
What does living a life that you love mean to you?
Figuring out what a life you love looks like is quite a task. I, too, am still asking myself that question. For so long, you’re told what you’re supposed to want, what you’re supposed to acquire, what you should have by a certain age. Those things are often presented as the markers of a “good life.”
For me, my life is as good and as successful as the people I’m blessed to love. My work is much more than work—it has been my home. I don’t have children, I couldn’t, and I got married later. So my work became a central part of who I am.
A successful life for me, aside from traditional comforts, is about how many people I have touched. How many people felt a little bit better, a little more valid, because of me? Did I leave anything behind that will continue to inspire someone after I’m gone? To me, that’s success. Because the physical things fade, the material things go. At the end of the day, when you’re lying in bed, you’re alone with your soul.
We’re communal creatures. We’re meant to touch, we’re meant to connect. So for me, the real question is: who have I connected with? That, to me, is success.
The Ripple Effect of Community Roots
How has community supported you on your journey to where you are today?
Community has supported me tremendously. If you think of the roots of a tree, they spread far beyond what you can see. Just when you need it, someone shows up for you.
For example, I started shooting in 2001 and began giving complimentary seminars to young actors and performers, helping them understand how to use the photos I was taking. Then they began supporting each other. That root system keeps spreading, and you end up meeting people years later because of something you started long ago.
That ripple effect makes you realize how small you are but also how significant. Sometimes I hear stories of people connecting because they had me in common, and I get to be the third person watching a beautiful relationship, collaboration, or friendship unfold.
It makes me feel like a small but essential piece in a machine. If you take out one cog, the whole machine falls apart. That’s magical. It makes me value the people in the community even more, because it nourishes itself.
Daily Practices That Ground and Guide
What habits allow you to do the work you do and be who you are every day?
Every morning, I go through a little mantra. I ask myself: What do you want to accomplish today?
Some days, I wake up with a heaviness. On those days, I give myself permission to just get through, to do only what’s necessary. On other days, like this morning, I told myself: My voice matters today because I’m meeting this beautiful woman who’s going to amplify what I have to say. That mindset turns it into an incredible day, because my experiences might benefit someone else.
I ask myself this question every day. Some days, I give myself permission to binge-watch Netflix. Other days, when I feel the fire, I set goals and go after them. At the end of the day, sometimes I hit 100%, sometimes I don’t. But that practice acts as both my cheerleader and my caretaker.
When I shoot, another habit that grounds me is prayer. I’m not religious, but I’m very spiritual. I always say: God, please give me the ability to authentically communicate this person’s voice. Don’t make these photos about my artistry. Make them about their validity.
Helping Women Step Into Their Power
What keeps women from stepping into opportunities and how can we help them overcome it?
It’s incredible how boxed in women feel. I tell women: widen your stance.
I’ve seen for years how women physically try to take up as little space as possible. Or they’ll look at a photo and say, “Oh my God, I look so good. I’m so sorry for saying that.” I’ve heard this countless times, especially since photography went digital. In film, you can’t see the image instantly. But when women started seeing themselves right away, they often apologized for celebrating how good they looked. And I ask them: Why? Why shouldn’t you say that?
Everyone’s fears are different, so my approach is always personal. Some women are so afraid that traditional encouragement doesn’t work. In those cases, I tell them: If you’re afraid to make this about you, make it about me too. This is my life’s calling. Connect with me. You’re not alone.
A lot of women feel like they have to perform in front of the camera. But it’s not about performing. It’s about letting go and connecting. When I can help someone feel that, it’s the most satisfying part of my job.
A Legacy of Nurturing and Seeing the Best in Others
What is the legacy you hope to leave?
One of the deepest pains in my life has shaped how I live: not becoming a mother. I was separated from my own mother at a young age, so I don’t have the imprints of traditional motherhood. I used to think my life wouldn’t matter, because I wouldn’t be leaving anyone behind.
Through a lot of soul-searching, especially this past year, I’ve realized that you don’t have to have children to share the nurturing aspects of motherhood. You can give that unconditional support to friends, nieces, nephews, or anyone in your life who needs it.
When I think about legacy, I often ask: What will people say at my funeral? I want them to say I helped them see the best in themselves. And because they saw that, they passed it on to their children, to their friends, to others. That ripple effect will continue long after I’m gone.
In the end, we’re all part of this intricate, beautiful universe. My hope is that my legacy will be this: that I saw the beauty in people and helped them see it too.
About Shirin Tinati
Shirin Tinati is a portrait artist specializing in powerful, intentional imagery for women who want to be seen with clarity and confidence. Her sessions often lead to meaningful growth in how women see themselves and how they represent their value. For over 15 years, her work has helped women claim their space and show up fully in their professional, creative, and personal lives.
