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!

Using Format