Capturing life

How did you come into photography?

Photography happened to me at a time when I was taking a break from my dental career. I had to take off due to some health issues and figured that that was the best time to pick up a camera and learn something new.

A lot of things inspired me - however, there is this specific trip I remember to St Moritz in Switzerland. I had gone there with a brand new basic digital camera, with no formal training in photography.

I recall being so smitten by those mountains and the glaciers there that I went totally trigger happy. I came back with a note to self that I would try and learn the nuances of photography and take my interest further.

Those mountains and landscapes inspired me to pick up that camera and start learning photography.

Is photography a hobby or profession for you?

Photography has been a profession for the last 8 years or so now. I have been shooting weddings, events, portraits and some product and architecture.

For my own self, however, I love shooting wildlife and old architecture.

Other than photography what do you do?

I am a dental surgeon with a multi-chair clinical practice in Banjara Hills. I'm also into Fine Art Printing.

My office space is a very interesting split in half - one side is the clinic and the other is shared between the photography and fine art printing.

How do you handle gender bias in this profession?

I don't think I've ever faced a gender bias that went against me - I've always benefitted from gender bias if any. When I first started shooting weddings, the fact that I was a woman photographer who worked with an all women team became my USP!!

I have only ever found people welcoming me into their spaces. I have met the warmest and loveliest people who have treated me like family and gone out of their way to check up on me during long gruelling wedding shoots.

What do your friends and relatives think about your career?

I must have raised eyebrows when I started photography as a career. But I don't think I have ever stopped to think about what people outside of my core group really thought about my career.

I wouldn't have done half the things I have if I worried about the opinions of others - and in my case I am sure there were many - a doctor taking up photography.

But I have been able to run both as parallel professions. It's been tough, but the journey has been beautiful. I also have achieved a certain amount of success in terms of the kind of projects/work I get, so I think anyone who didn't get it earlier, must be getting it now. No one tells me though.

How do you handle your family?

Life is a total balancing act - it's all about adjustments, and it's all about chalking out your priorities and managing your time accordingly.

If you have a very understanding and supportive family like mine, you don't have any 'handling' to do...

Which is the best shoot you cherish?

Every shoot I have been to, I have cherished. But more recently I shot a wedding in Bahrain, it was the most beautiful setting, and the clients were a very warm and beautiful family, and I have a really good team, which made it so wonderful!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

As of today, I would like to see my company 'Capture Life' on the global map, and I would see my dental practice expanding to a chain of dental hospitals across the city of Hyderabad.

Five years from now I would still be doing what I love most while being surrounded by an amazing family that lets me do just that without questioning it.