about

Now based in the expansive Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, I have spent a good part of my life abroad. This has lead me to see much injustice as well as the different ways that love is expressed in our world. Now I can say that it is clear to me that my mission is to build peace. Through my photography, art, dance and community work my aim is to share about this rich life and so breed a community that furthers genuine peace building through understanding and the willingness to be vulnerable with each other. This is how we, together, can heal our world. 

Since the year 2000, I have developed photographic projects, performances, interventions and installations with this aim. These illuminate alternative possibilities to the limitations placed on so many of us based on socioeconomic class, “race”, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation and immigration status.

Commercially, I focus on outdoor photography portraiture including babies, individuals, couples and nudes. I also photograph all events excluding weddings. Inclusive of performances in music, dance and all other performing arts as well as all festivities and corporate events both indoors and outdoors. Portraiture is quite the intimate experience between the 2 parties, where a collaboration of sorts is taking place. I do not see the person(s) being photographed merely as a subject. The images are created through this collaborative process between both parties together.

I natively speak Arabic, English and am fluent in French as I am improving my Spanish. I studied sociology at Loyola University, New Orleans before receiving a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute, Chicago. I more recently received a teaching certificate with Association Montessori International from the MIP in Prague, Czech Republic which has greatly informed my ability to capture images of babies and children. I am now Asheville Movement Collective’s equity ambassador. 
I love regularly (co) hosting Bring in the World. This is a gathering to celebrate our shared humanity and the beauty of our diverse stories. I am open to collaborating together on this ever-evolving project.

Feel free to reach out to me

salaamshots@gmail.com
202 908 8847
@photosbyrayya


“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” 
― Banksy