Raven B. Varona

Raven B. Varona
Born1990 (age 34–35)
The Bronx, New York, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationNew York University (BA)
MovementPhotography
Websiteandthebisfor.com

Raven B. Varona (born 1990),[1] also known as Ravie B., is an American photographer. She is best known for serving as an official photographer for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 2018 On the Run II Tour, for which she was nominated an iHeartRadio award.[2][3]

Early life and education

Varona was born and raised in the Bronx.[4] She is of Black and Italian descent.[4][5] She cultivated her interest in photography after taking a class in high school, and continued to shoot as a hobby during college.[5] Varona received her bachelor's degree from New York University.[3]

Career

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 2018, Varona rose to wider prominence when she became an 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]

While she had planned to debut her first solo exhibition in March 2020, she delayed opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][3] She exhibited a virtual art show, And The B is For, in late 2020.[6] As of June 2021 she is planning a volume 2 of the show.[7]

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 and frequently photographs depictions of joy.[4] Lydia T. Blanco of Forbes described her work as "bold, feminine, and culturally relevant."[7]

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Meet Ravie B, Future's New Favorite Photographer". The FADER. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Scott, Sydney. "Photographer Ravie B. Speaks Everything Into Existence". Essence. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  5. ^ a b "10 Things This Bronx-Bred Tour Photographer Never Travels Without". www.heremagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  6. ^ a b Yates, Shanique (2020-12-03). "Photographer Raven B. Varona Pens Love Letter to The Bronx Through Her New Virtual Art Gallery". AfroTech. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  7. ^ a b Blanco, Lydia T. "Celebrity Photographer Raven B. Varona Shares What It Takes To Thrive As A Creative Entrepreneur". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-09-30.