Kiia Valavaara was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1987, and grew up outside of Stockholm, Sweden. She studied photography at Gamleby School of Commercial Photography 2013-2015. After her exams she was working full time as the 1st assistant and retoucher of fashion photographer and director Morgan Norman.
In 2017 Kiia moved to Melbourne, Australia, and started shooting portraits for modeling agencies. She travelled the world for a couple of years, focusing on personal projects and freelancing as a photographers assistant and retoucher.
Today Kiia is working as a commercial photographer, based at Studio Måndag in Malmö, Sweden. She focuses mainly on fashion and portrait photography and her clients consist of various magazines and advertising agencies.
Photo: Asher Gaudion-Hurford
Exhibitions
2011 Kulturens, Lund - Group Exhibition
2011 Galleri Gallica, Malmö - Nostalgi
2012 Kulturmagasinet, Sundsvall - 800 hours
2013 Arbetets Museum, Norrköping - Define Me
2014 Galleri Närbild, Lund - This Place Was A Shelter
2015 Secondhand Store, Göteborg - Group Exhibition
2021-2023 Clarion Malmö Live - Tonje Linnea
Education
2006-2007 Kulturama, Stockholm - One Year Certificate Program, Analogue Black and White Photography
2010-2011 Fotoskolan, Lund - One Year Certificate Program, Digital and Analogue Photography
2011-2012 Forsa Folkhögskola - One Year Certificate Program, Personal Vision & Photography
2013-2015 Gamleby Fotoskola - Two Year Certificate Program, Commercial Photography
Clients
IKEA, Nova Lund, Puma, WESC, Studentlitteratur, Pilgrim, Larsson & Lange, Dagens Industri, Elle, Femina, Elle Decorations, ID Kommunikation, OPO Scandinavia, Jacson, Markslöjd, Nordic Style Mag, Headbrands, The Barber, Above.se, Tonje Linnea, Sök & Finn, Hansa, Väla Centrum, MåBra, POW, Antonio Axu, Joe Nimble, and many more!
