Meet Khalila Early-Zald
Asheville, North Carolina-based photographer specializing in story-telling through documentary-style photography. I am passionate about photographing food and restaurants, and events, and capturing emotion and stories. As a photographer, it is important to have a niche, but for me, I enjoy capturing a range of subjects.
As a food photographer, I focus on the details and the culture of a restaurant, the personalities of the workers, and the vibrancy of the kitchen life. I have worked in restaurants for 8 years outside of being a photographer and understand the culture of restaurants which brings a unique eye to photography.
As a documentary-style photographer, I focus on the moments happening around us, from capturing a Black Lives Matter protest in Nashville in 2020 to capturing food non-profit events to help support their mission of bringing food to everyone.
EXPERIENCE:
Photographer for Smoky Mountains.com since 2022, Smoky Mountains and Asheville travel guide website featuring Asheville restaurants, attractions, galleries, stores, and hikes.
Event Photographer: Chow-Chow Asheville Food Festival-Emerging Entrepenuers photographer in 2023, Food Connection Chefs in Action Fundraiser 2023, Bounty and Soul Farm to Fork Fundraiser in 2023, WXNA photographer at Bonnaroo 2019, Poverty and the Arts Gala 2019
Featured in Edible Asheville with Blue Dream Curry. Featured in The Guardian, NPR Music, and Folk Radio UK for Sally Anne Morgan musician photographs.
Photojournalism: Ikhaya Lethemba Hout Bay South Africa Fieldwork photographer 2019 and Black Lives Matter Protest in Nashville in 2019 featured in Photojournalism hub and on TV One Urban Honor Awards 2024
Musician and Artist Photographer for Lori Portka Art, Isabella Miremadi, Kate Thomas, Seismic Sutra, Surly Grrly, Andy Ferrell, Sally Anne Morgan
