[2] In March 1979, when in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution women in Iran began protesting the new government's rule ordering them to wear hijabs, she photographed the gatherings in the capital, in the process becoming one of few documentary photographers active in the country.

Golestan began working as a photographer at the age of 18; for a while she attended photography school in England, but otherwise she learned the craft from working as an assistant to her husband, photojournalist Kaveh Golestan;[3] the couple had married in 1975, and later had a son, Mehrak.

However, in March 1979, when in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution women in Iran began protesting the new government's rule ordering them to wear hijabs, she photographed the gatherings in the capital, in the process becoming one of few documentary photographers active in the country.

[3] Later in her career, Golestan asked to travel to the front lines to photograph the Iran–Iraq War, a request which was denied due to her gender.

[3] Stylistically, Golestan has cited Mary Ellen Mark and Diane Arbus as influences on her work.