My Wife Atina:

What I love about Atina is her thoughtfulness—she’s a ride-or-die friend, a fierce aunty, and can make anything fun. Her biggest pet peeve is rudeness or disrespect toward others—which means our future kid is definitely going to have good manners! I admire her curiosity and love for reading. I find it so cute when she gets silly and dives into things like learning French just to read a book in its original language or picking up Chinese phrases from social media. I love that she takes accountability and always apologizes when she’s in the wrong. She might come off as having a tough shell at times, but underneath, she has the softest, gooey center. I know she’s going to be an amazing mom.

My Husband Mher:

The thing about Mher is that he's seriously an amazing human being. I sometimes think my parents love him more than me! He's kind, compassionate, and most of all really patient with our nephews and nieces and sometimes even me. He brings a calming presence wherever we go. I think that's why a lot of our photography clients really like him. Besides being an uber talented photographer and artist, he makes people comfortable in front of the camera and listens to their needs. He does the same at home and with his personal relationships too. I love that he's a solution-oriented person. Yes, problems happen but how do we solve them together has become our family motto. There isn't anyone else I would want to be a parent with other than Mher. And he's easy on the eyes.

Career/Occupation:

Atina and I run a photography studio together, balancing work from home and on location. As an artist and photographer, I bring a collaborative spirit and a deep passion for helping others. Whether I’m capturing family portraits, guiding clients through a photoshoot, or lending a hand to friends, I find joy in using my skills to create meaningful connections and lasting memories.

I bring a creative spirit to everything I do, from marketing strategies to publishing my chapbooks, which are small, short books. I’ve released three so far! I value exploration, flexibility, and balance, which help me stay productive while being a present parent. Growing up, I wished my mom could pick me up after school, but as a nurse, she worked long hours. I’ve shaped my career so I can always be there for my child.

Home/Community:

Our home is in a quiet North Hollywood neighborhood, in Los Angeles, where families enjoy walks, kids ride bikes, and nearly every yard has fruit trees and furry friends. We’re just ten minutes from Studio City and Burbank, close to Universal and Disney Studios. Our house reflects who we are—colorful, casual, and inviting, with mid-century modern vibes, quirky art, high ceilings, and lots of plants. It has three bedrooms: ours, Atina’s book-filled office, and an open space ready for new adventures—like a nursery! Outside, our backyard is perfect for play, with fruit trees, veggie planters, and a grassy area for some barefoot fun and backyard adventures with our child. We host BBQs with friends and family, and Mher’s garage-turned-photo-studio adds a creative touch. We love our home so much that we sometimes miss it when we travel!  

Yes, we have that! Coming from an Armenian family, we’ve got the numbers on both sides. Atina has a sister whose family lives in Portland, Oregon, and she also has a lot of cousins here in Los Angeles, with kiddos spanning a wide range of ages. The cousins come together for the big American and Armenian holidays and find time for smaller gatherings throughout the year.

Mher, on the other hand, has family and cousins in Fresno, New York, London, and Scotland—places we always make a point to visit during our travels. Throughout the year, we stay in touch through text threads and WhatsApp group chats. We also have a circle of friends from Los Angeles to New York to Germany, whose kids we lovingly refer to as our nieces and nephews. Our family and chosen family form a big, supportive network that spans across the country and the world, including Armenians and BIPOC artists. Everyone is so excited for us to become parents and can’t wait to meet our (your + us) child!

Interests & Hobbies  

Atina:

● I went to an all Armenian school all my life until college where I graduated from UC Santa Cruz.

● I love fencing. It's a sport I picked up later in life and am excited to introduce to our child!

● I usually read 3-4 books at the same time and detest answering the question "What's your favorite book?"

● I've been invited to read some of my creative work at Beyond Baroque—a historic literary venue in Los Angeles.

● I know where all the good coffee shops are anywhere in Los Angeles.

● My Top Five Fave Concerts: Cher, Prince, Grace Jones, Janet Jackson and Fleetwood Mac.

Mher:

● Both my parents are Armenian and are artists. My dad is a sculptor and my mom was a writer.

● I've been in some sort of band most of my life. My last band, Armenian Public Radio, performed at the Getty and the Smithsonian Folk Festival.

● I love camping and went to an Armenian camp growing up. I was also in boy scouts.

● For my birthday we try to see my favorite basketball team the Phoenix Suns, in their home state of AZ (Go Suns!) and I can’t wait to share my love of basketball with our child.

● My Top Five Musical Faves: Leonard Cohen, Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman, Radio Tarrifa and Haig Yazdjian.

Personal Values

● We believe in kindness toward others and ourselves.

● We don't judge others, we try to understand them instead.

● We believe in meaningful work and acting with intention.

● We believe that gratitude is the best attitude. And honesty is the best policy.

In Closing  

What we promise is a safe, loving, and nurturing home. We’re two parents fully committed to providing everything our child needs and supporting their dreams. We will raise them to be good people in the world, to walk confidently in their character, and to be proud of who they are and where they come from. They’ll have a mom who will show them the beauty in trees, mountain ranges, art from all cultures, and the magic within themselves. And they’ll have a dad who will teach them how to be a caring person in the world and strive to do better every day. They will grow up surrounded by people who love them and who will always show up for them. They’ll be encouraged to dream big, take chances, and see failure as just another opportunity to grow. They’ll have a wonderfully diverse exposure to different cultures and traditions—from art and literature to foods and beyond! We’re excited to share this beautiful world with them and explore other cultures together.

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