Ara Güler was born in 1928 in Istanbul and aspired to become a playwright during his high school years. While studying economics at Istanbul University, he worked as a photojournalist for the Yeni Istanbul newspaper. He has also worked for Time-Life magazine, Paris-Match, and Der Stern as a Middle East correspondent.

Ara Güler joined the Magnum photo agency but is no longer a member. Over the course of his career, he has won many national and international prizes, published books and photo albums, and staged numerous exhibitions.

Ara Güler has photographed many notable subjects, including İsmet İnönü, Winston Churchill, Indira Ghandi, John Berger, Bertrand Russell, Bill Brandt, Alfred Hitchcock, Salvador Dali, Maria Callas, Fikret Mualla, and Pablo Picasso.

Today, Ara Güler continues his work in photography and is often found at the Ara Café, which is decorated with his photographs and located just off İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu.