Sej Saraiya is a cultural-conservation photographer, filmmaker and writer working with Indigenous cultures worldwide. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California, she started traveling to the deep interiors of Asia and the Americas, capturing images that tell stories of remote cultures and their role in enriching climate action. She has had the privilege of photographing various luminaries such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in addition to Grammy/award-winning musicians and actors.

She has also been a mentor, teaching Indigenous youth photogaphy and filmmaking skills to directly impact their communities and document the ways of their elders. She speaks in various forums, holds workshops, and moderates or contributes to panels at universities, museums, and film festivals. Her photographs have been exhibited both in America and India and hang in the homes of private collectors worldwide. She is a board member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and resides in Topanga, CA.

 “Although they account for only 5% of the world’s population, Indigenous Peoples effectively manage an estimated 20-25% of the Earth’s land surface. This land coincides with areas that hold 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and about 40% of all terrsetrial protected areas and ecologically intact landscapes. Indigenous peoples therefore play a key role in efforts to protect the planet and biodiversity.”

- United Nations

As soon as I walked into the theater lobby, I was mesmerized by the larger-than-life portraits of people from places and cultures I didn’t know existed. I couldn’t take my eyes off the magnificent faces so perfectly captured by the photographer. I felt I was looking into their souls, her subjects speaking to me without words.”
— Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker MICKI DICKOFF

“When I first encountered [Sej’s] photos, I was absolutely stunned. Her photos have that unique storytelling aspect that is extremely rare to find in a photographer. These photos are not just the beauty of light or composition, of which she is an expert, but they go deeper and speak to an issue and a story of people that is begging to be heard; something that I’ve never seen in professional photography.”

— ADAM SCHOMER, Award-winning Director, Producer of the documentaries HEAL and WOMEN OF THE WHITE BUFFALO

THE DANCE OF FREEDOM

a documentary film

Contact

For press and media inquiries please write at info@sejalsaraiya.com
(424) 581-9667
Topanga, CA 90290

To purchase fine art prints, visit the Print Shop here.