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 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]

Raven B. Varona
Born1990 (age 32–33)
The Bronx, New York, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationNew York University (BA)
MovementPhotography
Websiteandthebisfor.com

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. "Meet Ravie B, Future's New Favorite Photographer". The FADER. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  2. "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. 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. Scott, Sydney. "Photographer Ravie B. Speaks Everything Into Existence". Essence. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  5. "10 Things This Bronx-Bred Tour Photographer Never Travels Without". www.heremagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  6. 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. Blanco, Lydia T. "Celebrity Photographer Raven B. Varona Shares What It Takes To Thrive As A Creative Entrepreneur". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
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