Photography is not the art of taking photos.
It is the art of noticing.
It is the art of observing.
It is the art of storytelling through photographs.
I have been taking photos professionally for almost 20 years now, which feels absolutely insane when I put it in words. And one thing that I have realized and concluded over all these years is that taking a photo is honestly the easiest part of the process. Yes, there is a technical skill of knowing what lens to use, what aperture to set, and a few other numbers but once you learn and master that – the actual act of pressing the shutter button is almost too easy.
In 2025, technology has democratized photography. Everyone can take photos with their phone, without knowing a single technical detail. All modern cameras perform flawlessly when you press the shutter – they will autofocus where you want, accurately calculate the exposure, and know how much flash power to output. Many of these tasks once had to be done manually and mechanically, every single time, in the days of film. Therefore, we must question ourselves – what is our role as a photographer?
What you choose to shoot, what you include in your frame, what moment in time you press the shutter button – all of these define you as a photographer.
Your worldview and vision.
Your curation and ideation.
Your thoughts and opinion.
All of these are honed over a long time through deliberate thought and effort. Reading, seeing, living, and constantly consuming content and information – all of these shape your life and vision, and subsequently, your style or work.
I am very grateful to call myself a professional photographer and have the drive to continue to tell stories every day. While the burden of running a photography business can often be overwhelming, the passion to create meaningful work, keeps us going. It is our duty to document today, for tomorrow.
Currently listening to – ’85 Again by Robert Parker
Currently reading – The Entrepreneurs by Monocle
Currently watching – ReRuns of The Office (US)
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