Lilit Bagdasarova, hailing from Armenia, stands as a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance. As a dedicated photographer and filmmaker, her heart beats for the art of documentaries. Nurtured in the crucible of adversity, Lilit’s upbringing was rooted in the aftermath of war, as her family of Armenian refugees sought solace in the post-Soviet town of Tver, having escaped from Azerbaijan. It was amidst these challenging circumstances that Lilit’s journey began, coinciding with her birth in 1989 in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, before relocating to Tver shortly thereafter. Their abode was a single room shared among three, nestled in a dormitory-like setting catering to around a hundred people—an environment that would shape her perspective.
Guided by the unwavering determination of her parents, who toiled tirelessly to offer her opportunities for a prosperous life and superior education, Lilit set forth on her own trajectory. Departing her hometown at the age of 23 following her university graduation, Lilit was driven by a desire to engage with the international realm, stemming from her initial studies in foreign relations. However, her pathway took an unexpected turn as her yearnings evolved.
In a fateful twist, 2016 marked a pivotal year in Lilit’s life—winning the Green Card lottery propelled her to the United States, where her dreams of education found a home. The tapestry of Hollywood unfolded before her eyes as she dabbled as an extra in television shows, awakening an innate fascination. It was amidst this creative whirlwind that Lilit’s choice materialized—she pursued studies in Movie Production, immersing herself in the craft. College life was a canvas of exploration and growth, prompting her to acquire her inaugural professional camera for student projects, inadvertently opening the door to her photographic odyssey.
As the bustling city of New York welcomed Lilit, an unforeseen global upheaval, the pandemic, ensued. In solitude, against a backdrop of deserted streets, she turned to her camera, capturing the essence of humanity in candid frames. This juncture marked a definitive transition, igniting Lilit’s aspiration to embrace photography as a vocation.
From the inception of her career, Lilit exudes a self-awareness of her distinctive photographic style—an authenticity that resonates throughout her work. Her mission is to peel back the layers and capture the raw tapestry of existence—the real lives, authentic emotions, and true personalities of her subjects. Evoking a cinematic flair, each photoshoot metamorphoses into a theatrical narrative, with clients embodying roles akin to Hollywood actors. Beyond mere visual motifs, her creations are underpinned by comprehensive plots, following the structure of a three-act narrative.
A predilection for monochromatic and vintage aesthetics lends depth to Lilit’s body of work. Recently, her endeavors culminated in a triumph—the publication of her photograph on the cover of a prominent US magazine, a testament to her evolution.
Identifying as a peripatetic photographer, Lilit’s sojourns around the world are documented through her lens, mirroring her availability and dedication to her craft on a global scale.
At this juncture, Lilit’s focus converges on a renewed ambition—to resurrect the realm of documentaries, a lifelong passion that burns brightly within her. Although her journey in photography is unwavering, the siren call of documentaries beckons, a revelation that crystallized during her formative years at Los Angeles’ academic crucible.
