Interviewed by The Success Today – A Digital Webzine
Could you tell us about yourself and your work?
Hi, I’m Akhil Bagga, Founder and Creative Director at Akhil Bagga Photography. I have previously worked as a Client Relations Manager for a Luxury Retail Brand before building my own business in the field of photography. Those two are a far cry from each other but my passion for photography made me quit my job and go ahead with it. I think photography for me has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with how you see them. Therefore I majorly do weddings where I get to create memories for people, capturing their raw emotions in the most candid way on their most important day. Apart from weddings, I also occasionally work in the fashion & beauty genre of Photography.
How and when did you start Photography?
I did my bachelor’s in mass communication where I had photography as a subject and that is when I started having a keen interest in the art of capturing things around. I started seeing the beauty in things and capturing them. After my master’s, I moved to Bombay to assist a film director as an AD which again included a part of photography and motion stills. After coming back, I started working as a Client Relations Manager but always knew at the back of my head that photography is my calling. So I quit my job in 2017 because I had been thinking about it for ages, and I could no longer tolerate it being only a thought. I knew I needed to take action and pursue my passion. And I don’t regret it one bit, it’s been a long road, a tough journey but me and my team have come a long way and with the love I get from my clients I couldn’t have been more grateful.
What is the USP of your work?
Basically, our USP is taking a cheerful look into the lives of people in love capturing their raw emotions in the most candid way creating photographs and visuals that make you cherish love forever. We look at the ordinary and find ways to interpret and convey those interpretations in the most beautiful, meaningful way. Apart from how we capture, I think it’s equally imperative to connect and communicate with the clients, being socially competent and yet professional, making them feel at ease, and basically not just shooting their big day as a vendor but as a part of their friends and family!
What is your Vision and Mission?
For me personally, I think to perceive beauty where others don’t and preserve it in a photograph requires a certain set of skills and perspective. Again photography requires you to see beauty in everything around you and getting in this field has only made me look at everything differently, perhaps in a more beautiful way. I try to scrutinise every last element of the shot, before snapping a photo. It’s not just the aesthetic but also the emotion I try to evoke every time I click. So if I talk about my mission and vision, then it is to give my pictures a context, causing people to react emotionally each time they look back. The Big Smiles and the Tears of Joy on the faces of our clients on reliving those memories is everything that we at Akhil Bagga Photography live for.
What are your achievements in this industry?
I only found my passion in recent years but it’s never too late to start something you’re passionate about. In a span of 6 years, we at Akhil Bagga Photography have shot more than 300 weddings, all of the different cultures, ethnicities, different geographies and it’s been quite a journey. The weddings we have captured have been featured on multiple platforms including WedMeGood, Brides Today, WeddingWire, POPxo and many more. It was initially difficult but looking back now and what we’ve accomplished, it makes it all worth it. We have recently won the Best Photographer Delhi NCR – WedMeGood User’s Choice Awards 2022. But my biggest achievement would be the relationships I’ve made in this industry and the love and appreciation people show for my craft. This industry has taught me a lot and has been an eye-opener for me in a lot of ways. The ineffable joy I get in capturing two people in love, the emotions all around and the outcome which makes them teary eyes with a happy face just remind me to keep going and creating these wonderful memories for people so that they cherish them for a lifetime!
Does your work ever feel tedious to you? If so, how do you stay driven and motivated toward it?
I’d be lying if I said my work isn’t tedious. Anything that you do whether it requires physical labour or not will eventually wear you out, but hustling till the very end is what’s going to make you different from the others. The appreciation you get after your work is done is what keeps you driven. From working at 5 in the morning to all those sleepless nights did drain me mentally and physically but when you see the love and respect that you get from the clients and their families, you just feel like going on and on, you don’t look for any other motivation. I’m grateful for everything that has come my way because I have only taken everything positively and have stayed committed to it.
What are your hobbies and specific interests other than your profession?
My hobbies apart from this specific career would be quite a few…
I love to travel, especially somewhere I can drive to. I’m a cinephile. I don’t just watch movies as a source of entertainment but also from a more critical point of view. Also, I have an abnormal fondness of music, I occasionally sing but more than singing I feel a reminiscent connection to music. And if only I could make a hobby out of eating and playing board games/video games with my friends. Apart from dreaming about food, I love working out, I’m not a fitness fanatic but working out has always been more than just going to the gym and burning off those calories. For me, it’s another passion of mine and is a source of releasing stress, tension and monotony. It’s something that brings calm to my life, my body, and my soul and has only made me more disciplined in life.
You have achieved so much in life, any specific advice you’d like to share with our readers to grow in life?
Success in a career is temporary, success in life is permanent. Where most people go wrong is that they try to completely shift their life in a single day. They want to go from being lazy and unproductive to being Elon Musk within a day which is not possible. Instead, you should try to take small baby steps, follow your passion and never give up even if you fail. Just remember, failure is temporary, it’s the learning from that failure that stays with you and makes you achieve success in the long run. Also being healthy and happy is really important. If you feel worked out, taking a break, developing a hobby, and rejuvenating yourself from time to time is very important.
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