Hanifa Haris

Hanifa is currently the Creative Director, Head of Photography at Verizon. She is a passionate creative leader with over fifteen years of experience in media, agency, brand, and studio spaces. Hanifa possesses extensive knowledge of photography and visual culture. She combines her imagination with rigorous data analysis to create high-quality products with both a wide and targeted reach. With an emphasis on creative excellence, kindness, and inclusion, Hanifa is able to create efficient systems and workflows. She implements innovative creative strategies and builds and mentors teams. At the heart of her purpose is an unrelenting commitment to building community and increasing visibility and opportunity for historically excluded people in entertainment, media, marketing, tech, and fine art. Hanifa has worn many hats and worked as a Photography Art Director, Photo Editor, Creative Producer, Creative Strategist, Curator, and Creative Director.  Her clients have included: TIME magazine, The Guggenheim, The Smithsonian, Inc. Magazine, Rolling Stone, Grand Street Settlement, Fortune Society, The Queens Community House, LEAP,  Al Jazeera America, Benefit Cosmetics, Oglivy, Stag & Hare, Consumer Reports, Student Loan Hero, Healthline, Airbnb & Netflix.  She’s been the recipient of  AI-AP, SPD, POYi & Webby awards.  Born in Brooklyn and raised between Lahore, Pakistan, and New York City, Hanifa is quick on her feet, accustomed to understanding the nuances and complexities of privilege and communication as it relates to culture. Hanifa fell in love with photography at 10 years old and it’s been an anchor in her life since. Hanifa studied at Parsons the New School of Design and the International Center of photography. Art has helped her transform her trauma and her goal is to help others to do the same. Hanifa co-founded paper planez an organization rooted in teaching art + photography in global communities that have limited access to art education. Most recently she taught a workshop at NYU. Hanifa now lives in Los Angeles where she collects photography books with her partner, pairs art & food on A table for two at 212 and is working on a number of personal projects including a  community fine art project about the mental health impact of patrilineal family trees in Punjab and the Diaspora.