Today we’d like to introduce you to Zara Abiera.
Hi Zara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I actually started out in a completely different field, I have a degree in pharmacy. Life has a funny way of doing it’s thing though. I moved here (the US) and I found myself in the wedding industry filming weddings instead.
What started as me picking up a camera for fun and helping get other angles and perspectives, slowly turned into something much bigger. I began shooting more weddings, then small businesses who wanted their stories told with more intention. That’s how Palm & Oak Media came to life, it became this space where I could blend creativity with purpose, helping people and brands express who they are through visuals that actually feel like them.
It hasn’t been a straight line by any means. I’ve had to start over, rebuild, and learn almost everything from scratch. But each season has taught me something about resilience, intuition, and trusting that your passion can evolve into something real and something sustainable. Most days I can’t believe this is what I get to do for a living and the whole impostor syndrome really kicks in but yeah, for the most part, I get to do what I love every day, and it feels like the most honest version of my work and myself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t call it smooth. It was a bumpy ride on gravel road at the best of times, some days it feels like off roading. Even to this day.
Being a creative (which I still struggle calling myself that sometimes) is not just that. You have to wear the many hats of filmmaker, photographer, editor, marketer, bookkeeper and the most difficult hat of all: your own cheerleader. There are many times when I questioned everything: was I good enough? Should I just have gone back to more school and continued the pharma industry route?
There has been a lot of re-building, both personally and professionally. But looking back, every difficult stretch has shaped the kind of creative and person I’ve become, one who values meaning and integrity over perfection.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I find it quite challenging to answer whether I’m a creative or a business. I feel like it never neatly fits in one box. I am a creative in the nature of work and in my heart but I also enjoy the process of building something from the ground up, scary as it is. I see myself both as a creative and a business owner.
Palm & Oak Media has become this living, breathing business that allows me to share other peoples stories meanwhile creating systems and experiences that clients can trust. Balancing the two has been very challenging. Learning how to protect the creative side while growing the business side with intention.
At Palm & Oak Media, I specialize in photography and videography for brands, events, and small businesses who want their visuals to feel emotionally resonant. I like to think that my work feels warm, human, and grounded in real connection.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the visuals themselves, but the way people feel during the process. I’ve built my business around ease and trust clients often tell me that working with me feels calm, intuitive, and effortless, even during high-pressure moments like weddings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.palmandoakmedia.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/palmandoakmedia
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palm-oak-media/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@palmandoakmedia
