These days, photography is more than simply a pastime; it’s also a highly competitive and lucrative profession. Over time, it has evolved into an integral aspect of marketing strategies for companies and brands.
The ability to be creative is crucial in modern society. The roles of models and influencers in business and social media have evolved. The days of digital media only featuring models walking or posing while wearing various ensembles are over. Now more than ever, originality is prized. In order to leave an indelible impression on their target market, companies often use fashion photography to showcase their wares.
Photographers have recently been fusing artistic photography with fashion portraiture to create visually appealing photos that are featured in a variety of publications.
By sharing these experiences, they are reaching a wider audience and maybe altering their worldview. What makes them special is the way they see the world, and they’re bringing everyone else along for the ride. India is generating photographers who’ve already captured scenes that communicate to the world & are firmly rooted in Indian culture, thanks to the country’s rich cultural history and long tradition of artistic expression.
List of Top Photographers in India
1. Raghunath Rai Chowdhary
Raghunath Rai Chowdhry is a photographer and photojournalist from India who has covered several important social movements since his birth in 1942. He began his career as a photographer in 1965, & a year later he became part of the team at a New Delhi newspaper called “The Statesman.” He embarked on a new career path in 1976 when he became a freelance photographer.
Raghu Rai’s, Reflections in Colors & Reflections in Black & White are two of his many popular novels. During the Bhopal Gas Spill in 1984, he was there to document the lives of those affected and worked with Greenpeace to do so.
He received the Padmashree in 1972 as well as the William Klein Prize in Photography from the Academie des in 2019.
At the moment, he is based out of Delhi, India, where he serves as a correspondent for Magnum Opus.
2. Atul Kasbekar
The 22nd of April, 1965 saw the birth of Atul Kasbekar, a fashion photographer & Bollywood movie producer in India. The photos he took for the Kingfisher Calendar launched his career. The Photographer’s Guild of India also elected him honorary chairman. Atul Kasbekar’s contributions to Kingfisher Calendar have made the publication famous when it first appeared in 2003. Along with being one of India’s best photographers, he also produces films these days.
3. Daboo Ratnani
Photographer Daboo Ratnani was born in India in 1971, and his work focuses on portraiture and celebrity photography for Bollywood.
He has been self-employed from the year 1994, and his annual calendar first appeared in 1995. He has photographed covers for numerous publications, including Better Homes & Gardens.
He entered the field of public relations and marketing through film, where he found editorial work, which led to portfolio shootings.
4. Sooni Taraporevala
Indian filmmaker, photographer, and screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala, born in 1957, in 1982, she managed to meet Raghubir Singh, who, upon seeing her images of her vast Parsi family, encouraged her to create a book about the Parsi Community.
In 2000, she self-published a book titled Parsis, Zoroastrians of India:
Her photography has been included in shows all over the world, including the Tate Modern in London. She has also written the screenplays for the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated films Mississippi Masala and Salaam Bombay.
The Government of India honored her scriptwriting in 2014 by bestowing upon her the Padma Shri.
5. Dayanita Singh
Present-day artist and photographer Dayanita Singh was born in 1961. To date, she has released 12 volumes, all of which showcase her documentary and portrait photography. In her writing, she primarily concentrates on middle-class and upper-class people.
One of the main focuses of her work is publishing, and she has produced a number of ‘book objects’ that function as books, exhibitions, pieces of art, & catalogues all at once.
She calls herself a “photographer and bookmaker.” In 2008, she received the Prince Clause Prize for her achievements. She made history in 2013 by having a one-woman show at London’s Hayward Gallery.
6. A Rrajrani
A.Rrajni is a household name in the glamorous industry of fashion photography due to his outstanding work that skillfully combines the most commendable characteristics of people and items to create stunning photographs and portfolios.
Among the most in-demand fashion photographers in India, he has worked with a wide range of A-listers over the course of his 21-year career, and his keen eye for composition has made him a household name. Look at the works of A.Rrajani.
Ever since he began his career as a young photographer in year 2000, A.Rrajrani has worked with renowned designers like Rohit Bal, Rocky S,Tarun Tahiliani, Shantanu plus Nikhil as well as Anamika Khanna, and countless more top names in the industry. Having the opportunity to work with major fashion brands allowed him to hone his photography talents.
7. Rathika Ramaswamy
Freelance photographer Rathika Ramaswamy is from Chennai, India, and specialises in wildlife photography.She was born and raised in the very unremarkable village of Theni, but thanks to her dedication to her craft, she has been known as the “First Indian Woman to gain a global reputation for being a wildlife photographer.”
In September 2005, her photographs of wildlife were displayed at the India Global center as part of the “Clean Ganga Campaign.” In 2008, she was named one of India’s “Top 20 Finest Photographers” by the website Birds of India.
8. Sudhir Shivaram
Wildlife photographer and businessman Sudhir Shivaram was born in 1972.
Presently, he is leading wildlife photography excursions and workshops as a full-time profession. He received Sanctuary Asia’s “Best Wildlife Photographer” award in 2012.
Even more impressively, he travels the globe spreading his message of nature and wildlife conservation through his initiatives. He co-founded the non-profit organization India Nature Watch and worked as a Canon brand ambassador.
9. Pablo Bartholomew
Photographer and independent journalist Pablo Bartholomew was born in India in 1955. He is well-known not only as a photographer, and also as a workshop leader and MediaWeb manager.
A great deal of his photography has appeared in high-profile periodicals around the world.
He also photographed the riots and tragedies that occurred in newly independent India, such as the death of Indira Gandhi and the Bhopal Gas Disaster.
10. Abul Kalam Azad
Abul Kalam Azad, a contemporary photographer born in 1964, is convinced that beauty may be found in the most ordinary of things. In addition to making significant contributions to current history, culture, politics, & social issues, he is a visionary photographer.
His work is a social anthropology since he so accurately portrays human emotion and suffering while discussing social issues.
In 2018, the documentary ‘Excavator of Images’ was produced; it focused on his work. He currently holds the position of Chief Editor at the online publication Picture Mail. He also oversees the public photo art initiative known as Project 365, whose members work together to produce and archive photographic documentation of the evolving culture and way of life of Tamilakam.
Conclusion
Among Indian photographers, Raghunath Rai Chowdhary, is considered the greatest. The photojournalist was hired to Magnum Photographs in 1977 after being mentored by Henri Cartier-Bresson, and he was born in 1942. The recipient of the Padma Shri excelled in providing comprehensive coverage of India.
A career in photography has become increasingly popular in recent years, with salaries ranging from Rs. 0.3 lakh to Rs. 6.5 lakh, on average, per annum.
You must follow the above-mentioned photographers on social media sites, explore their work which is not specific to one field, and get amazed by their artistic pictures and videos.