Originality doesn’t always come from finding a new subject. Sometimes it comes from asking a different question about a familiar one. Every major cultural event has its obvious photographs; you know, those photographs everyone wants to make: The grand entrance, the elaborate clothes, the dramatic processions, the colourful crowds, the beautifully adorned horses, the spectacle,...
How a simple branding session became a conversation about identity, upbringing and the stories we carry. A few weeks ago, Hakeem Quadri came into the studio for a branding portrait session. Hakeem is the founder of Atupa, a startup, and the brief was fairly straightforward: he needed a collection of photographs for his social media,...
One of the biggest misconceptions about wedding photography is that it’s primarily about poses. The images that are created through the carefully directed portraits, the perfectly arranged bridal party and the smiles held for a few extra seconds while the camera clicks. And while those photographs certainly have their place, they represent only a small...
Visual storytelling doesn’t announce itself loudly. Its impact is often subtle at first; a pause, a longer look, and a feeling that something resonates even before it’s fully understood. Over time, those small moments of recognition begin to add up. When you invest in visual storytelling, the first thing that changes is clarity. Images stop...
Most people start looking for a photographer when something is already urgent. A wedding date is fixed.A campaign deadline is approaching.A profile needs updating or you have a speaking engagement around the corner.An event is around the corner. At that point, the question becomes availability, not alignment. It is very important to note that meaningful...
Photography is often seen as something immediate. A moment happens, a camera is raised and chakam! an image is made. While that may seem true on the surface, the photographs that stay with us, the ones that feel considered, clear, and lasting are rarely the result of speed alone; they are the results of intentional...
Before and during a shoot, I’m paying close attention to the environment. Not just the physical space, but the energy within it. Is the room tense or relaxed? Will my subject or client be comfortable here? Is he/she nervous or holding back? Is the pace too fast or too slow? Do I need to lighten...
When there is time, there is space to understand. And it’s not just understanding what needs to be photographed, but why that thing needs or should be photographed. Time is one of the most overlooked elements in photography. It’s easy to focus on what feels more visible – the camera, the lighting, the location, the...
Documentary photography trains you to pay attention. When you’re working in real environments, whether it’s on the street, at a public event or inside someone’s daily routine, moments appear without warning. There is no opportunity to repeat them or ask people to start again. Photography can be approached in many ways: some photographers focus primarily...
I’m not really comfortable in front of the camera – this is one of the most heard lines from clients during consultations Sometimes they say it with a laugh. Sometimes they say it apologetically, as if it might make the session more difficult; but the truth is, being camera shy is far more common than...