Some careers begin with opportunity. Others begin with conviction.
For Yared Berhane, photography was never a convenient choice—it was a deliberate risk. Growing up Eritrean, creative careers were rarely framed as realistic or sustainable paths. Fashion photography, especially, sat far outside cultural expectations. But even as support was limited, clarity wasn’t. From an early age, Berhane knew he wanted to work in fashion, in entertainment, and eventually, in Hollywood.
Choosing passion over permission, he stepped forward anyway.
A Childhood Image That Never Let Go
The origin story traces back to age five. During a family visit to a photography studio in Africa, Berhane became transfixed—not just by the camera, but by the atmosphere. The lights. The intention. The quiet authority of the photographer shaping a moment.
Nearby, a fashion magazine caught his eye. The faces, he would later learn, belonged to Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. At the time, he didn’t yet understand fashion—but he understood impact. The images felt powerful, cinematic, larger than life. In that moment, something settled: one day, he would create photographs like these.
That early fascination never faded. It evolved.
Turning Risk Into Discipline
Berhane began working professionally in photography in 2019. What followed was not a sudden leap, but a steady climb—built on consistency, self-education, and relentless refinement. Failure never discouraged him; it sharpened him. Criticism became a tool. Obstacles became training.
His work ethic was rooted in intention. Every shoot, every collaboration, every frame was approached as part of a larger vision—not just to build a portfolio, but to build a brand capable of operating at the highest levels of fashion.
More importantly, he wanted to be visible proof that creative ambition—especially for Eritrean and African youth—was not naïve, but necessary.
A Photographer Who Thinks in Light
What sets Berhane apart is not only aesthetic, but process. His creative approach is deeply conceptual and detail-driven. He studies designers, models, color palettes, skin tones, environments, and lighting styles with the precision of a director building a scene.
Mood boards come first. Then intention. Studio or location. Editorial or commercial. Strobes or speed lights. Bold and powerful, or soft and elegant.
For Berhane, lighting is not technical—it’s emotional. Light shapes mood. It controls narrative. It decides whether an image whispers or commands attention. When lighting, expression, and intention align, the photograph speaks without explanation.
Milestones That Signal Momentum
The industry has taken notice.
In 2023, Berhane was named Photographer of the Year at LA Fashion Show by SAS Studio and received the Best Independent Photographer award from the Hollywood and Africa Prestigious Awards. Invitations followed—New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, celebrity red carpets.
His collaborations expanded rapidly: Rubber Ducky Couture, Eugenia Kuzmina, Melissa Pellone’s Pellone Designer Collection, and high-profile editorials for Éclair Magazine. In 2025, his work with Kuzmina appeared on both the front and back covers of Éclair Magazine’s June issue.
That same year, he was selected as the official photographer for Miss Universe Belize ahead of Miss Universe Thailand 2025, with imagery later featured on a West Hollywood billboard by Style Cruze. Shortly after, Berhane joined the Style Cruze Magazine team as a Los Angeles–based editorial and commercial photographer.
Most recently, under his BWIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY banner, Berhane collaborated with Rubber Ducky Couture and supermodel-actress Bella Glanville on a Hollywood-inspired editorial featured in Vogue Monaco—a moment that quietly signaled his arrival on a global stage.
Success, Redefined
For Berhane, success isn’t virality or speed. It’s commitment. Discipline. The quiet confidence that comes from showing up, again and again, for the vision you believe in.
True success, he says, is earned over time—through resilience, growth, and purpose. It’s the fulfillment that follows consistency, not shortcuts.
What Comes Next
Looking ahead, Berhane’s calendar is as intentional as his work. Upcoming projects include a Valentine’s Day editorial with Eugenia Kuzmina, continued collaboration with Rubber Ducky Couture, and a luxury commercial shoot with Melissa Pellone ahead of major fashion milestones.
He is set to photograph NYFW 2026 and LAFW this March, while expanding his creative team, refining his brand, and positioning his work at an even higher international level.
But beyond schedules and showcases, Berhane’s mission remains steady: to bridge aspiration and access, and to prove—through light, storytelling, and discipline—that creativity is not just a dream worth chasing, but a career worth mastering.
In an industry driven by images, Yared Berhane isn’t just taking photographs.
He’s building visibility, legacy, and possibility—one frame at a time.