About Me
A glimpse into my life…
Getting to know your photographer is vital. It lays the foundation for a trusting relationship, which, in turn, can significantly influence the results of your photographs.
Should you wish to learn more about me, below I’ve shared a heartfelt account of my background, detailing my photography journey and the experiences that have shaped me into the photographer I am today. This way, you can gain deeper insights into the person behind the lens and the passion that fuels my photography.
MY JOURNEY
I was born and raised in Etobicoke, Ontario, and I currently live here with my parents, grandmother, and cats. My parents immigrated from India to Canada in the 1980s. My dad often used his Minolta camera to document our lives. He captured everything with care — from quiet, everyday moments to major milestones — especially the ones shared between me and my brother. Thanks to him, I now have an archive of childhood memories I return to often. I can sift through our old family photos for hours on end, filled with nostalgia. Photographs, though lifeless, are full of life, laughter, and love.
My dad’s interest in photography influenced me. When I was around ten, my grandmother gifted me a Polaroid camera. This further fueled my love for photography. Around the age of 18, I took a significant step in my photography journey by purchasing my first DSLR camera. I carried it with me everywhere I went, capturing every moment.
I originally planned to become a high school teacher and completed my BA in Social Science from York University in 2014. At that time, I never saw photography as a viable career choice, as I didn’t believe anyone would appreciate and hire me for my art. But in 2010, while I was still in university, I started working part-time as a photographer, and the experience was transformative. Through photography, I discovered the perfect outlet for my skills and creativity. The joy I found in capturing meaningful moments compelled me to make the decision to embrace photography as my path.
Community Engagement Areas of Focus
My logo includes my cat Zorro inside my dad’s Minolta lens, wrapped in a henna plant and roots. It’s a personal symbol that represents not just my brand, but my personality and the essence of my journey—grounded in compassion, care, and connection. My education in social science, combined with personal experiences, has shaped my awareness of social issues and strengthened my commitment to using photography for causes that matter. I’m especially drawn to subjects that reflect my core values, including:
Healthcare
Living with senior family members and individuals facing complex illnesses has given me firsthand insight into care, accessibility, and support systems. I offer support grounded in compassion and lived experience to those navigating illness, mental health challenges, and grief.
Animal Welfare
I’ve been involved in cat rescue and rehabilitation from a young age—an experience that deeply shaped my values. I remain committed to animal well-being and the human–animal bond, which continues to guide how I advocate for care, compassion, and coexistence.
Nature, Wildlife & Ethical Agriculture
Nature has always grounded me, both personally and creatively. I feel most connected when photographing people in natural environments, and I care deeply about conserving outdoor spaces, respecting wildlife, and supporting agricultural practices that are sustainable and humane.
Women’s Welfare & Empowerment
As an Indo-Canadian female business owner and entrepreneur, women’s welfare and empowerment is a deeply personal cause. It shapes how I move through the world, how I show up in my work, and why I centre stories rooted in women’s dignity, safety, and personal power.
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & Equity
I support Indigenous sovereignty, safety, and self-determination. I stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and care deeply about uplifting voices, honouring traditions, and advocating for justice and healing — especially for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit individuals.
LGBTQ+ Rights & Inclusive Education
I believe in creating a world where all identities are respected and understood. My support for LGBTQ+ rights includes advocating for inclusive education around gender, sexuality, and identity.
Preservation of Vedic knowledge and Hindu Heritage
I’m passionate about projects that uplift cultural and spiritual heritage — including the preservation of Vedic knowledge and Hindu identity. These traditions inform my values and serve as one of many lenses through which I approach creative work.
The Girl Behind The Camera
Beyond photography, I would describe myself as passionate, detail-oriented, and maybe a perfectionist to a fault. Although I’m an introverted homebody, I have a loud voice and an even louder laugh. I enjoy movies and Indian music. I’m a big fan of A.R. Rahman—his music has always resonated with me. If I’m having a bad day, Will Ferrell movies never fail to lift my mood. I also enjoy cooking in my spare time, even if it’s not my strongest skill. In addition, I spend time studying astrology.
Creativity has always been part of how I move through the world. Beyond photography, I love finding ways to bring beauty into everyday life. To me, that’s about peace and purpose — choosing to do things that matter today with the hope of shaping a better tomorrow. This is the heart of who I am, both behind the camera and beyond it.
Cat Rescue and Rehabilitation
Alongside being a Toronto lifestyle photographer and photojournalist, I’m also a cat mom and longtime animal welfare advocate. I use photojournalism and visual storytelling to raise awareness and advocate for cats in need.
My journey with cat rescue and rehabilitation began on the morning of my first day of high school, when a mother cat and her four kittens took shelter in my backyard. Since then, cats have become an inseparable part of my life. Over the years, my family and I have rescued, fostered, and supported more than 30 feral and abandoned cats—working closely with local rescues, shelters, and the City of Toronto to access affordable veterinary care, arrange TNR (trap–neuter–return), and coordinate safe surrenders for injured strays. We currently care for three senior cats and have extensive experience providing neonatal care, administering medication, monitoring health, and managing post-surgical recovery and behavioural rehabilitation. These experiences have shaped my deep respect for long-term animal care.
When our rescue cat Amu passed away in 2018, I had very few photos of her. I kept postponing capturing moments with her, never expecting our time would be cut short. That loss changed my relationship with photography. It’s the reason I care so deeply about preserving memories—especially of the animals who love us unconditionally.
Every day, I feel immense gratitude for the pets I’ve had in my life: Zorro, Casper, Momo, Amu, Mia, Brisco, Julie, Jaanu, and Kaali. The unwavering love they’ve given me over the years has been a constant source of comfort. They’ve shaped who I am, and continue to influence the work I do.
Zorro
I cannot talk about myself or my cats without acknowledging my baby Zorro, as he has deeply influenced the person I am today.
Zorro was my first born and the backbone of my cat family. Zorro was with me for more than half my life. Zorros Hindi name was Jugni, which means firefly. He was the light of my life and lit up my whole world with his eyes. I’d always tell Zorro he was made by Ganesha’s 4 hands, and was then flown down from heaven by a stork and delivered in our backyard. Zorro had the purest most innocent soul. He had an incredibly playful nature and was very naughty and mischievous. Zorro had a big heart, he spread love and taught us how to love.
Zorro passed away on on April 8th, 2022. During the last two years of his life Zorro slowly lost the ability to walk and stand and needed my constant care and attention. My family and I provided full-time palliative care for Zorro, managing daily feeding, hygiene, medication, and mobility needs. Zorro made me understand what it means to be a nurturer. Zorro challenged me and brought out a side to me I never knew existed, I learned so much from him. He taught me devotion, patience, sacrifice and most importantly, unconditional love.
Not a day goes by where I don’t think of him or miss him. His presence, though physically absent, remains an enduring force in my life, guiding me everyday.
“HENNA IS VERY TRUSTWORTHY AND DEDICATED TO HER PASSION IN PHOTOGRAPHY”
Henna is a very exceptional photographer. I feel like she’s part of the family as she’s been with us through major chapters of our lives. She photographed our engagement and pregnancy photos. We don’t have to give her much direction in the taste of our photos, she just knows what emotion to capture in a photo. Also, it helps make us feel like models in her photography. She is very honest to her work and prompt in her timeline.
Henna is very trustworthy and dedicated to her passion in photography. I highly recommend her in any occasion your life!
Aliyana and Saad
EVENT & MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY CLIENT