Lali Chikobava: Artist of the Month

Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi! I’m a photographer, wife, and mom, and honestly those three things blend into each other most days. I’ve always been someone who notices small details: the way light falls on something, a fleeting expression, a moment that’s about to disappear. Photography has been my way of holding onto those things since I was a teenager. These days I run my own photography business, mostly focused on family and milestone sessions, and I also volunteer photographing community events. I also volunteer photographing community events. 

I’m relatively new to the Princeton area, before this, I spent years living in a big city, moving at that constant, restless pace where you barely notice what’s around you. Coming here was a real shift. I fell for it almost instantly: the slower rhythm, the charm tucked into every street, the kind of beauty you only notice once you stop rushing past it. It already feels like home.

How did you first get into photography?
It started back in school. My parents gave me my first DSLR, and I fell in love with it immediately. There was something almost magical about being able to freeze a moment and revisit it later. Later, my dad passed down his old vintage film camera, and that connected me even more to the craft: slowing down, being intentional, not just clicking away. From there, photography just became part of who I am. It was never really a hobby I “picked up.” It picked me, and it never let go.

Is there anything special inspiring you these days?
Definitely my kids. Becoming a mom completely shifted how I see photography. I used to chase the perfect, posed shot, and now I’m obsessed with real, unscripted moments – a messy hug, a laugh mid-sentence, someone caught not looking at the camera at all. But it’s also the people I get to meet through this work. I’m always struck by how many beautiful, interesting people are right around me. Everyone has this story, this light in them, if you just slow down enough to notice it. I think that’s what keeps me going, honestly: being reminded over and over that there’s something worth photographing in almost everyone I meet.

Where can people find out more about you?
I’d love that! You can find my portfolio and book a session through my website or follow along on Instagram. I share my sessions there, along with bits of my everyday life and the moments behind the scenes. And honestly, if you just want to say hi or chat about photography, I’m always happy to connect too!