Raven B. Varona
Raven B. Varona (born 1990),[1] also known as Ravie B., is an American photographer. She is best known for serving as the official photographer for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 2018 On the Run II Tour, for which she was nominated an iHeartRadio award.[2][3]
Life and career
Varona was born and raised in the Bronx.[4] She is of Black and Italian descent.[4][5] Varona received her bachelor's degree from New York University.[3]
She took a photography class in high school, and continued to shoot as a hobby during college.[5]
After college Varona began working full-time as a receptionist at a real estate agency,[1] while taking photography jobs on the side.[4] In 2015 she quit her job to pursue a full-time career in photography.[1] Later that year, she met Future through a professional connection and was hired to be his lifestyle photographer.[1] She shot his Purple Reign tour. Varona has since photographed rappers such as Kanye West, Drake, Rick Ross, Cardi B, and Migos.[1][3] She has also worked with Bombay Sapphire.[4]
In 2019, Varona rose to wider prominence when she became the official photographer for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's On the Run II Tour. After sending a Tweet to Jay-Z asking to photograph him, one of Jay-Z's producers contacted her, which led to her being hired for OTRII.[3]
She is planning to exhibit her first solo show in 2020.[3]
Artistry
Varona stated in an interview that she pulls inspiration from film.[1] Of her artistry, she seeks to "celebrate the borough she’s from and the people and places that shaped her" through her work.[4]
Varona has spoken about the scarcity of Black women photographers and her desire to serve as a role model.[4]
Personal life
Varona resides in the Bronx.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Meet Ravie B, Future's New Favorite Photographer". The FADER. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ a b "We Got Ready with Jay-Z and Beyoncé's Tour Photographer, Raven B. Varona, Last Night". Coveteur. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ a b c d e Dwyer, Kate (2019-11-30). "A Photographer Who Toured With Beyoncé and Jay-Z". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ a b c d e f Scott, Sydney. "Photographer Ravie B. Speaks Everything Into Existence". Essence. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
- ^ a b "10 Things This Bronx-Bred Tour Photographer Never Travels Without". www.heremagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
External links
- Ravie B. on Instagram