WHY PHOTOGRAPHY ?: From VFX to Fashion Photography

Why Photography ? Is a big question. My career began in the world of VFX, where I spent years in front of a computer, crafting visual effects without ever touching a DSLR. As I delved deeper into VFX, I gradually started learning the process of HDRI and photogrammetry, which became invaluable in my work. My strong sense of pre-production and visualization, combined with my speed and quick decision-making, helped me excel in this field.

Despite my deep involvement in VFX, my journey into photography began unexpectedly. One day, a friend took me to a camera vendor to pick up his repaired camera. Until then, I had only seen high-end cinema cameras, but seeing a DSLR with a detachable lens sparked my curiosity. That very moment, I bought my first camera—a Nikon D60 with an 18-55mm kit lens. It was a Friday, and with the weekend off, I plunged into learning photography through YouTube tutorials.

A few weeks in, I realized that theory alone wasn’t enough—I needed practice. So, I started spending weekends doing street photography. This quickly became a routine. After few weeks and search I found and joined a group that traveled to different spots in Mumbai every weekend. As my interest grew, I explored macro, bird, and deer photography, thoroughly enjoying the process. It was a great feeling when I was with people with same mindset.

One of my group members introduced me to a fashion photographer who conducted weekend workshops. Our entire group attended his sessions for three weeks, and that experience changed my perspective on photography—especially in how I viewed and captured people. I gradually transitioned into fashion photography, refining my skills and approach. Within three years, my work was featured in several fashion magazines worldwide. Now I don’t ask myself Why Photography?

Today, I work with both natural light and studio setups, adapting as per the project’s needs. I use a Nikon D5600 for personal work, while on professional shoots, I rely on the Canon 5D Mark III and Mark IV, often pairing them with a 24-70mm lens. My approach to fashion photography is storytelling—I direct the narrative, allowing models to be spontaneous before refining the vision as needed. I prefer fashion photography with less emphasis on glamour, focusing instead on creativity and authenticity.

Planning is essential in my workflow. While I always prepare beforehand to prevent chaos, I remain flexible to client inputs and on-set changes. This adaptability has often led to some of my best work, proving that in photography, creativity thrives in both structure and spontaneity.

From VFX to fashion, my journey has been driven by curiosity, passion, and the relentless pursuit of visual excellence. So the question Why Photography is now Why not. And it’s just the beginning.