Bio
Mali Azima's perked up when she was asked to take photographs for her 7th grade year book staff. She noticed her photos had something to them.
Later in high school, she had an epiphany in photography class that she would be a photographer.
She chose a college known for fine art photography, but being a quadruple Sagittarius (excited by the new), she took as many fine art classes as she could, except for photography. With every semester, there as a new career pursuit, sometimes two, until finally, she landed on fashion design.
She had some success at fashion, selling her clothing line in boutiques before graduating. In fact, one of the judges of her senior fashion show had already bought one of Mali's designs for her own daughter. Mali won the “Best Dress” award of the show and the future looked bright.
In real life, fashion proved to be though, long and lonely for the philosophical people curious Sagittarius. All that fashion training did pay off, however, because it set her up for an assistant styling job at Neiman Marcus Advertising.
Behind-the-scenes of high fashion photoshoots by every top photographer proved to be, again, a wonderful experience. There was Avedon, Herb Ritts, Ruven Afanador, Diego Uchitel...all the best. the book won many awards for concept and design and the environment of excellence was all very appealing, but she knew assistant fashion styling wasn't her forever career, so up next on her path came interior design.
Lauded interior designer, Paul Garzotto, gave her a crash course tutelage on design, making her read Edith Wharton's, Decoration of Houses, sending her to pull from Dallas' best showrooms, and working with classically trained artisans on custom pieces. Paul also had a handmade tabletop shop, and after some encouragement from her then boyfriend, skateboarder Mark Roach, Mali took some photos to advertise Paul's store. That's when things finally fell into place. The photos appeared in Elle Decor and after that, clients came looking for her.
Her first editorial interiors shoot was of Michelle Nussbaumer’s famous multi-layered multi-patterned multi-era personal home in Dallas. A couple of those shots are still on her website.
Mali has worked with numerous talented and creative people, in many different disciplines, and loves collaborating to produce artistic work that is inspiring and beautiful. She sees challenges as opportunities to be more creative and has a keen sense of knowing when something is in the best light.
Her client list includes Veranda, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, Luxe, Lonny, Country Living, BH&G, GQ, Elle, Neiman Marcus, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Shaw Contract, Jaipur Living, Interior Define, Schumacher, The Shade Store, Currey and Co., countless brilliant interior designers and architects, and more.
She lives in the vibrant, tree-covered city of Atlanta with her teenage son, Moncie, whom she adores, and travels worldwide for shoots.