Edessa Jannin Daliva is a self-directed photographer whose interest in the arts began in childhood. She grew up during a time when the arts were widely incorporated into school curricula and after-school programs, exposing her to a range of creative disciplines, including pottery, glassblowing, knitting, calligraphy, and music..


In the 1990s, she received her first camera and developed her first roll of film, discovering that photography required both artistry and technical skill. She quickly recognized its ability to preserve emotion and connection, laying the foundation for her photographic practice.


By the late 1990s, she had developed a particular passion for candid photography. She is drawn to its ability to reveal people naturally, believing that unguarded moments carry a unique honesty. Photography has since remained a meaningful way for her to observe and maintain a connection to humanity.


During college in the 2000s, she continued developing photography as a personal pursuit while taking courses in basic photography, art, and computer skills. These courses introduced her to camera equipment, film development, and digital editing while strengthening her technical foundation. She continued to develop her skills independently, learning to work with natural lighting, composition, positioning, and perspective in-camera to achieve her desired image without relying heavily on digital editing.


After 26 years of developing her craft, Daliva is now transitioning into professional artistic practice. She has launched a photo-to-canvas business featuring her raw, unedited images while developing a body of edited and staged work for gallery exhibitions and photography competitions.

Her work has received local recognition through the Santa Clarita Art Exhibition, where her work was showcased at City Hall and on the city’s website. She has also been selected to participate in an upcoming art exhibition in Venice, Italy, marking an important milestone in her development as a professional photographer.


Ultimately, she hopes to build a sustainable career that allow her to pursue both medicine and art while creating freedom and flexibility to reconnect and be more present in the lives of her children.