Mia Okpalakor Invites You Inside Her Nostalgic, Dreamy Photography

Have you ever looked at an image, be it a photograph or a moment in a film, and wished you could live inside the world it created? Photographer and TikTok creator Mia Okpalakor (aka @miaamedia) summons that feeling with every photo she takes. 

Regardless of the country Mia is working in or the subject she’s photographing, her work has a consistent vision: the lighting is soft; the colours are vibrant; the overall effect is dreamy and captivating.

Mia’s photography is firmly grounded in our world, yet it seems simultaneously otherworldly. She transforms her subjects into something almost magical: a garden appears to come straight out of an animated film, while a forest looks like a fairy wonderland.

Starfish were excited to chat with Mia about her experiences as a travelling photographer, the nostalgic, dream-like world she creates in her work, and the unique perspective she brings to her photography.

Where are you based?

I’m from Switzerland, but I’ve been travelling full-time for the past seven months, so I don’t really have a fixed base at the moment.

Where does your interest in photography come from?

I had some camera knowledge from visiting art school as well as working in a photography

studio for a while. But I haven’t felt as deep of connection to it until I got a camera to document my backpacking trip. While travelling, I finally had the time and energy to invest in my creativity and that’s when I realised I love capturing the world around me and showing it the way I like to interpret it.

Who or what are your creative inspirations?

I love capturing everything, but nature is definitely a big part of my work and where I draw a lot of inspiration from. I also have a lot of photographers I admire, especially women like Rinko

Kawauchi and Ayana V. Jackson, as well as directors like Sofia Coppola whose work has a

nostalgic, dreamy feeling.

Are there particular themes or images you like to explore in your work?

I wouldn’t define my work by subject, but more by a feeling and style. There’s so much I want to explore visually, especially at this point in my photography journey. People have told me my

images feel like dreams or childhood memories, which is a feeling I love to evoke. In a world that often feels very “realistic” and heavy, I’m trying to reconnect with a sense of imagination and

softness we tend to lose as we grow up.

You describe yourself as a “travelling photographer”. What does a day in your life as a photographer look like?

I’ve shifted from moving every few days or weeks to slowing down a bit and actually living in

places for longer, so I can establish a bit of a routine and immerse myself better in each city. I try to always have my camera with me and stay aware of my surroundings, which I think is key for street photography. Lately, I’ve also been doing more portrait shoots, especially at the beach, since the ocean is something I feel really connected to, I love to include it in my work. No two days really look the same, but I usually spend my time exploring, meeting people, trying local food and of course taking pictures.

Do you have a favourite project you’ve worked on or subject you’ve photographed?

With portrait and collaborative shoots, for me the connection with the person I’m photographing is just as important as the final images. I’m still quite new to portrait photography, but it has already given me so many meaningful connections. One of the most rewarding parts for me is seeing someone seeing themselves in a new light. Especially as women we’re often conditioned to focus on our “flaws” first, so creating a space where someone can look at themselves with love and appreciation is such a beautiful thing to me!

You’re also known for making collage art using your photos. Why are you drawn to collage as a form of artistic expression?

I’ve always loved experimenting and have been drawn to collage as a way of combining different mediums and inspirations. Since I’m travelling, it became harder to make physical collages, so I started experimenting digitally instead. It became another way for me to create that surreal, dreamy feeling in my work and build images beyond what a single photo could capture.

How do you think you bring a distinctly female perspective to your work?

I think for a long time I felt like I had to be more “serious” or less soft to be taken seriously in

creative spaces. Photography taught me the opposite. There’s so much strength in softness,

empathy and intuition. I think bringing a more feminine perspective into my work means allowing

space for emotion, sensitivity and imagination, without seeing those things as weaknesses.

Do you have any current or upcoming projects you can tell us about?

Right now I’m planning to do more portrait work, as well as creative shoots that blend fashion,

makeup and environment. I’m especially interested in translating the nostalgic and dreamy feel

through portrait photography.

You can keep up with Mia and her international photography journey on her TikTok, @miaamedia.

Written By: Mia Tobin Power