House of Experts Ep15: Vibha Kagzi in Conversation with Dabboo Ratnani Studio
House of Experts is a show that ReachIvy kick-started to help those who are unclear about their career choices. We hope through these sessions with some very successful people, we can shed light on a new career path every week. House of Experts plans to make a collection of interactive and informative sessions with experts from various domains. Vibha Kagzi, the host, is the Founder and CEO of ReachIvy.com, a premium study abroad and career consultancy organization. Vibha, a Harvard alumna, is a successful entrepreneur and believes in helping others chalk out their future careers.
Some excerpts from the interview:
1)Can you take us through your early years and the point at which you decided to be a photographer?
My parents were never really into the creative space in the early years. My father was one of the first to start his own business. I remember as a child, on busy days we would all go to the shop and help him. It was in those days that I even learned how to cut and measure cloth. As a child, I loved gadgets, so when we got a camera I would always play around with it. My journey started with taking family portraits and pictures during family holiday. My passion for photography increased through the years and during my undergrad I got an opportunity to assist Sumeet Chopra. I worked with him for four years and I have never looked back.
2)What does it take to sustain in this ever-changing and growing industry?
It requires you to have the passion and drive to experiment and continuously evolve in your work. Being in the creative space requires you to grasp inspiration from everything around you. There is no set formula in photography you have to be aware and vigilant at all times. When I am about to go for a shoot, I start thinking about what new element I can introduce to make the shoot interesting. To sustain in this industry, you need to have the hunger to create and be a lifelong learner. Always be willing to take suggestions from everyone around you, don’t have a closed idea where you think it’s your way or the highway. It’s a continuous process and you can create something great every day.
3)What are some of the challenges you face behind the lens?
Photography is not just what goes behind the lens, it’s about pre-and post-production. It starts with getting the entire team and crew together, planning the shoot, deciding on the location, the kind of music, hair, and makeup. Shooting is just a part of the process, the real struggle is what is done before and after it.
4) What would your suggestion be to aspiring photographers in terms of equipment and accessories?
If you are someone who shoots for less than 12 days a month, the more economical and financial thing would be to rent the needed equipment and accessories. Invest in basic equipment and lights which will help you shoot even at short notice. I feel lens are a great investment that can be used for a long period of time. Don’t invest too heavily in the start itself as technology is evolving at fast pace and you don’t want your investment to become obsolete.
5) What has your biggest learning been in twenty-five years of your work in the industry?
For me the one thing that I have built over these years has been the trust in my name. There is no one in the industry who can lift a figure and accuse me of misusing their pictures. Over the years I have built a trust factor with models and actors, which is one of the reasons I have been able to celebrate twenty years to The Dobboo Ratnani calendar. For me my most important possession is the relationship I have with people. You can’t let go of this trust for a few extra bucks. Keep building value to your name and think long term.
The key learning of this discussion was that trust, reputation and relationships are the three pillars that can help you move forward in any industry.
This was a fun and informative discussion amongst two great minds. Mr.Dabboo’s candid response to all the questions helped our viewers understand the photography industry and all the work that goes into building a brand name. If you are an outsider looking for an in into the industry watch the full conversation to know more, click here.
If you need further guidance for your career, reach out to us!
